The World Ski and Snowboard Festival is in full swing in Whistler, British Columbia and the snow conditions are getting better and better. Last weekend under a bluebird sky The Shred Show took place, where some of the best international snowboarders took to the slopes in the slopestyle, big air and boarderstyle – a boardercross-style race with slopestyle features.
USA’s Kyle Mack took the top spot at the snowboarding slopestyle at the Nintendo Terrain Park – with a best out of three runs Mack pulled, amongst others, a switch backside 1260 and a backside double cork 1080 Japan grab and a frontside 360 grab. His score of 86.5 was enough to earn him the $15,000 grand prize. Coming in second Canadian Sebastien Toutant scored 85.22 and Matts Kulisek, also Canadian, picked up third place with a score of 82.33.
Mack also podiumed at the Big Air event that took place at skiers plaza in front of a large crowd. Mack came in at a close second with a score of 93.55. First place went to Max Eberhardt (CAN). Eberhardt threw down a perfect backside triple cork 1440 mute grab on his second run to earn a score of 95.33. Coming in third place was Justin Morgan from the USA.
The boarderstyle a messy but thrilling race were four boarders race each other on a boardercross track but with rails and jumps. What’s not to like. On the track the crazy riders must take on three mandatory features at the start of the course. Ollie over a barrel, Pond Skim and Step up forest- (a step up with a few trees planted which riders must avoid)
After that there is a 15ft step up and a step down before the final 30ft jump with a mandatory spin – many riders were over shooting the jump but then it is hard to gauge speed when you are racing. Four Whistler locals made it to the final, Cody Logan, Chris Rasman, Rube Goldberg and Jon Versteeg. It was Goldberg who came out on top to win the $1,000 prize.
As the snow clouds descend on Whistler for some mid-April flurries the World Ski Invitational will take place on the 18-20 April. The ski slopestyle will see our very own James Woods take to the slopes – the only Brit in the competition.
At the intersection film competition a roster of world class athletes and talented film crew had seven days to make the best ski and snowboarding film they could. The winner was Nate Lav and the Man boys – who with their two minute video (see below) took home the $10,000 prize money.
A special mention went to Zac Moxely a 17-year-old Whistler native who is still in high school. He won the “best-on-the-mic-award” for giving credit to his mum.
Edited by: Farah Lodhawalla
