The second of five events in the Park Rider Sessions presented by Telus went off on Dec. 30, with a slopestyle event on Blackcomb.
In snowboarding, Japanese rider Ryoki Ogawa wowed the judges and spectators to win the Male Snowboard 17-plus category. He was followed by Cody Sheperd and Clayton Whitehouse. Natalie Good was the only 17-plus female rider and she held her own.
In Male Snowboard Boys 14 to 16 it was Darcy Sharpe's day, followed by Keaton Gibson and Luke Lattin. Sam Walser was tops in the Boys 13 and Under category, followed by Garrett Lattin.
The skiers came out in solid numbers, with Brenden Reid taking the Male 17-plus category, followed by Daniel Marantz and Joel Batchtold. Cassandra Sharpe won the Female Ski 17-plus group, followed by Amanda Webster.
In Male Ski 14 to 16, Jake Rouches was the rider to beat, followed by Brenden Kelly and Logan Pehota. Mitchell Wilson topped Ski Boys 13 and Under, followed by Callum MacConnachie and Braden Metza.
The next Park Rider Sessions event is set for Jan. 16, another slopestyle on Blackcomb. Skiers and snowboarders of all ages can take part in this casual, local event.
Advance registration is $29, all taxes included, at Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations desks, or you can register on the morning of the event at the Rendezvous Lodge for $35. Registration is available until 9:45 a.m., to be followed by a competitor meeting at 10 a.m.
Helmets are mandatory and all minors must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
The day after the Park Rider Sessions was the first of four King of the Rail events scheduled for this season.
The event took place under the lights at the base of Whistler, a new venue with three rail choices - a straight down rail, a short pipe or a flat box with a drop to the landing area. There was a huge turnout of skiers and riders of all ages.
As always, skiers and riders voted themselves for the winners of each category, with a cash prize based on the number of entries in each group. Both Snowboard Male 16 and Over and Ski Male 16 and Over maxed out, with Dom Morneau-Grenier winning $100 as the top skier and Chris Fellner $100 as the top snowboarder.
Lucas Pelletier was first in Ski Male 15 and Under, earning $15. Darcy Sharpe was the top Snowboard Male 15 and Under, earning $30.
Amanda Webster was the top Ski Female 16 and Over and Marie Andree Rahce the top Snowboard Female 16 and Over, both earning $15.
Darcy Sharpe and Marie Andree Racine were crowned as the King and Queen of the Rails, Robin Du Pasquiet won the draw prize for the Atomic skis, Dan Ato won the draw for the Burton snowboard, and Ben Poechman won the Nintendo Wii.
Dozens of other draw prizes were handed out from Can-Ski, DNA, Nintendo, Atomic, Telus and others.
The next King of the Rail event is Jan. 15. Registration starts at 5 p.m. at Showcase Snowboards, with a rider meeting at 5:45 p.m.
The competition is a rail jam, which means competitors get an unlimited number of runs during the contest, which runs from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Helmets are mandatory and underage competitors need a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
