Noah Robertson
Have you ever felt intimidated by a swarm of young rippers out on the hill? They’re small but their voices are loud, and they ride fast and move in a hungry group like a pack of wolf pups. When they rock up to the park they hit it like a runaway freight train: one unbroken line of shredders. As the head coach of the Jackson Hole Ski Club (JHSC) Freeride Program, I get to follow a posse just like that around the mountain and watch people scramble to get out of the way. But their chaos is controlled. These kids move with purpose, following a leader down jump line after jump line. And I know that if I ride up to the front of the pack I will find Noah Robertson.
Noah only fully joined the Freeride Program last year, but he has been involved in the Club’s skateboard side for years now. His talents on a skateboard translated immediately to snowboarding. He’s a true Jackson Hole Renaissance man—he also raises pigs with Teton County’s 4H Club and plays just about every position on the 8th grade football team. His enthusiasm for everything he does is loud, persistent, and infectious.
Noah’s style pairs well with his snowboarding ability. He is strong and naturally athletic, often leading by example as he tries to figure out a new trick or feature. As his coach Hunter Piggot said, “Noah has serious style, especially when spinning off big jumps. He is a heckuva strong rider for his age and his riding will only continue to improve.” He attacks new tricks without fear, quickly masters them, and adds them to his bag. It’s an impressive thing to witness. At the Woodward Copper Snowboard Summer Camp this past year, Noah learned how to spin effortless 720s on his skateboard into the mega ramp foam pit, dazzling onlookers.
His drive to learn new tricks encourages his teammates and peers to join the battle with him. He’s helping to keep the fire alive in the Jackson Hole snowboard community. Even when he’s not leading the charge himself, he’s cheering everyone else on. His encouragement elevates the team’s time together and pushes their progression.
We saw Noah’s toughness and resilience last season when he dealt with a mid-season broken ankle. Injuries are a drag at any age, but Noah was back on the hill to join his teammates at the Wednesday Night Lights rail jams in the spring. Before the injury he had already earned enough USASA and IFSA competition points last season to qualify for Nationals, but unfortunately the broken ankle kept him home. He’s ready for redemption.
The JHSC Freeride Program is fortunate to have Noah carry the Dropping Next torch this year. His steady commitment to snowboarding alongside his other interests and activities exemplifies the type of student-athletes we have in our club. It’s been really exciting to have a front row seat watching his growth as a rider and a person. Noah and his friends (and previous torch-bearers) Ace Emery and Ellis Swain are part of a crew of young rippers that are building up for a full mountain takeover in the coming years. Keep your head on a swivel!
– SM
Stefan Merriam is the head coach of the Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club Freeride Program. You can find him eating Noah Roberston’s dust all winter long.