Although the Kokanee Kross Grand Nationals at Mount Seymour tapped a few of the regular pro riders, the third and final Nike Snowboard Cross (SBX) event, Feb. 24 on Blackcomb, was a near sell-out with 150 participants.
Vinny Ligeti, 12, is now four for four in Nike series contests, winning both halfpipe competitions, and two of three SBXs in the 12 and Under category – he might have been five for five, but was away at a provincial competition during the previous SBX. He also won the Atomic Slopestyle on Jan. 28.
He was followed by Whistler Valley Snowboard Club teammates, Max King and Michael Mains, and Team Wiggletooth rider Kyle Livingston was fourth.
In the Junior Girls 13 to 15 bracket, WVSC rider Sarah Kopinya once again beat the competition to the finish line, topping Devon Brooks of Richmond, teammate Katelyn Scott, and Lindsay McLennan of West Vancouver.
In the Junior Guys 13 to 15, locals Reid Johnston and Nick Vagelatos finished first and second ahead of WVSC riders Grady Widdess and James Crowe.
The Amateur Women 16 and Over brackets went to locals Isabel Ribeiro, Kyoko Nakano, Danah Besson, and Yuko Naruse. Pemberton’s Jeff Stordahl won the Amateur Men, beating Kazumasa Nishio, Koji Fuji, and Lloyd Adams of Whistler.
The Pro Women’s category was a national and international affair with Stephanie Williams of Collingwood, Ont., beating out Marni Yamada of Seattle in the final bracket. Locals Shirley Caron and Maki Tanaka finished third and fourth.
Perry Bizyk won the Pro Men’s cross, while Eric Greene, Garett Halayko, and Dave Brown finished second, third and fourth.
The next Nike event is the slopestyle March 3, which will include an amateur skiers category. All of the remaining Nike events will include amateur skiers, including a halfpipe event on May. 5.
