While Fashion Week raged in New York, a different kind of throw-down was happening in Vancouver – the Winter Olympics.  And though the athlete’s primary goal was to kick athletic ass, several of them scored major points in the style department, too.  Witness Australian snowboarder Torah Bright, who won a gold metal for her half-pipe routine and debuted a new collection for Roxy on the slopes.  We spoke with Torah during a break in Utah.

Congratulations! Thanks!  It’s fun now that it’s over.  I have a few days at home being really normal, and then it’s off on a plane again tomorrow, and I have no idea when I’ll be back.

What are you doing to relax?  I’m a beach girl at heart, so whenever I’m home, I love to surf with my friends.

You got a concussion a few weeks before the Olympics – how do you get back on the board without fear?  For me, it’s all about putting myself in a place where I can have fun with it.  Whether it’s the Olympics or standing up to give a speech in front of people – which is actually really scary for me – I just try to make it fun, or at least make it funny.  With my injury, I took the time and took the precautions to make sure that I was fine to ride, because you have to put your wellbeing first after a concussion.

So how long were you off your board before Vancouver?   I hadn’t ridden for two weeks, actually, and that was a bit unnerving.  But I was like, “Well, I know I can do what I’ve got to do, but my family is in the crowd and my friends are in the crowd, so after this whole thing is over, we’re having a party regardless of if I get a medal.”

But you did!  Yeah!  And we definitely had a party!

We’ve gotten some emails asking about the Goggles you wore during your Olympic ride.  Someone said they reminded her of a Chanel bag.  The goggles are part of the Roxy Ride Edition Line, which I help design, and all of them are bedazzled in some way.  They come in that cream color with a gold strap and they come in a black color with a silver stretch.  And when I was coming up with ideas, I was looking at my Chanel bag, so that’s exactly the vibe I wanted them to have.

Do you test Roxy’s new gear to make sure it works on a professional level?  Yes I do.  The trick is, you need a product with all the sport technicalities to it, but it’s also got to be aesthetically pleasing, so I’m involved in every process of the design and– did you hear the rooster in the background? 

I thought it was your ringtone.  Uh no, it’s definitely a rooster.  We’re at a farm right now, sorry.

No problem.  So… um… you test gear for Roxy?  Especially snowboards. I’m doing a whole bunch of test boards that have all different kinds of construction and I ride them to test them out.  I was doing that in New Zealand last year to make the Olympic board that I rode.

Do you talk to your snowboard?  Well some people, when they’re waxing their board, they talk to it.  But for me, it’s just my buddy.  I don’t talk to it, I don’t name it, but I give it love.

What’s on your iPod right now?  After the Opening Ceremonies at the Olympics, KD Lang sang Hallelujah.  It used to be one of my favorite songs, and when she sang it, I was like, “This is amazing!”  So I started listening to that again!  And I’m really into Regina Spektor right now; I love her.

Where do you keep your gold medal?  Um, I don’t know where it is right now!  It’s either in my handbag, or it’s home in my sock drawer.  I should find it.
--FARAN KRENTCIL

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