When did you hook up with Burton?
Three years ago. I was riding for Sims at the World Championships in Europe and they came to me and said "Anne can we see you in the office?" At that point it was perfect timing for me.

Who do you usually travel with?
I used to travel a lot with Trevor[Andrew] and Keir [Dillon]. The past year I've been riding with Kjersti [Buaas] and Kelly [Clark] a lot, This year I'm moving to Mammoth with Kelly, and Kjersti will be there I think. So this year it will be more of a girl's crew which I think will be good for all of us because we've all been kind of split up, travelling with the guys and only get to see each other at contests.

What’s so good about Mammoth?
It's an awesome mountain and it's a good place to based out of. It's close to a lot of places in the US and it has great riding - anything from park to freeriding.

Do you think your riding progresses differently if you’re riding with the boys?
It really depends. When I was riding with the boys they pushed me a lot but riding with the girls now, they do too - like Kjersti, Kelly and me - we all push each other. But the guys are still way ahead of us. I think style wise and getting inspired, you have to look up to the guys. I learned a lot from riding with them.

Does it annoy you that the guys get more magazine front covers and video time?

Photo: Jeff Curtes/Burton

No not at all. I think if I didn't snowboard and I went to watch a contest, I would be so much more impressed by watching the guys than the girls. I could name a few girls that I'm really impressed by their riding - I think they're awesome - but guys, overall, have so much more of a show.

Come on, name some names then.
Janna Meyen, is definitely my favourite snowboarder, Tara Dakides is good and I've seen Kjersti, Kelly, Annie Boulanger - those riders throwing shit that make me think: "Wow - that was amazing!"

What about the prize money issue? The guys are still getting more cash in some of the contests.
You know, I ride just as hard and I bust my ass and they're still better so I think they should get paid more. I go to all the same photoshoots, I travel just as much and I do pretty much the same as them but I'm not on the same level and I think it just speaks for itself. They're steps ahead of us and so is they're prize money. And that's okay with me.

Do you think that the Olympics have been good for snowboarding?
I went to Japan and after that it really didn’t do anything, but I think Salt Lake did a lot. It was four years later and the level just rose - people were so impressed. So many older people I talk to - I mean even like grandparents - were like: "I was so amazed by what I saw in the Olympics." The big issue has been the qualifying for the Olympics but I think Salt Lake was a good thing – for going mainstream - I think it’s exactly what we needed.

How did you feel, taking part in it?
I think for us snowboarders the Olympics is just another contest. It's the same people you compete with. There were even some people missing. What's cool about snowboarding is that we're all cheering each other. At other contests it’s like: "Me myself, focus, focus." We look at it like - winning the Olympics is going to change a lot compared to winning a world cup, mediawise, but in our little world it's the same. It’s just a contest.

What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
I think Artic Challenge [in Loften in Norway in 2000] was the one thing in my whole career that I remember most. It was nothing but fun.

What was it like?
Well, on my way up there, I remember I was sitting on the plane and I was like "Oh fuck Anne, what are you throwing yourself into? Do you really want to do this." Even up to the breakfast the morning before it I was like "What am I doing?" Then I go up there I was like 'Oh this is so fun!"

What’s life on the road like?
I love it. Sometimes I think "I need to chill out for a few days" but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm getting my base in Mammoth this season so I'll be able to leave my stuff there.

Where’s your favourite place to ride?
It so depends on the conditions. One of my most memorable days was in the backcountry in Whistler and I've had so many great days in Mammoth too. It so depends on who you're with and the conditions. This year in Japan we had a really good crew of girls. It was raining all day but it was so much fun.

Have you got any goals for the forthcoming season?
There are a lot of things I want to do. By the end of the year I just want to have enough footage or film to show people that I'm capable of doing pretty much everything. I don’t want to be placed in the category where people say "Oh you're the pipe rider."
I want to show that I can deal with everything. Like I went to Chile and I went hellying the other day - the first day I was scared as hell. I just want to show that I can deal with everything to do with snowboarding.