The first event of the Sprite Park Rider Series, held Jan. 11 in the Blackcomb superpipe, attracted close to 100 different competitors, with lots of skiers and boarders in every age group.
The skiers outnumbered the boarders in this contest as a result of the B.C. Freestyle Championship Series, which drew freestyle skiers to Whistler from around the province.
The snow on the bottom of the pipe was hardpacked and the walls were a little on the icy side, but visibility was good for most of the day and competitors made the most of the jam format. Competitors were allowed as many practice runs as they could squeeze in during the time allotted to their category as long as they squeezed in two judged runs by the end. Only the best run counted.
The highlights of the day included:
The runs by some of our top local snowboarders including Crispin Lipscomb, Ryan Rausch and Dan Wainwright;
Vinny Ligeti finishing seventh out of 20 competitors in the 17 and over category hes only 15 years old;
Under 13 skier Keltie Hicks clearing the walls on both sides of the pipe;
Bekki Reads solid spins in the womens snowboard halfpipe;
Marc Eshlemans McTwists and 720s in the 14-16 age category to edge out the other competitors by more than eight points.
The Sprite Park Rider Series continues on Jan. 25 with a slopestyle in the Blackcomb Terrain Park. You can register in advance at any Whistler-Blackcomb guest relations or ski school sales location, until 9:45 a.m. on the day of the event in the Rendezvous Lodge, or by calling 1-800-766-0449.
Results:
Ski Boys 13 and Under
1. Joe Schuster 26.4
2. Cameron Schuster 24.6
3. Nick Leboe 23.0
Ski Girls 13 and Under
1. Keltie Hicks 23.8
2. Taylor Kirk 22.4
3. Kara Heal 21.0
Ski Boys 14-16
1. Austin Ross 27.2
2. Riley Leboe 24.9
3. Justin Dorey 17.9
Ski Girls 14-16
1. Sarah Hogg 13.9
2. Ashlin Tipper 12.9
3. Emily Higgins 12.5
Ski Men 17 and Over
1. T.J. Schiller 26.0
2. Brendon Kelly 21.2
3. Kevin Labatte 19.8
Ski Women 17 and Over
1. Cat Smiley 22.9
2. Maria Marian 18.7
3. Adrienne Staley 16.0
Snowboard Novice 13 and Under
1. Tamo Campos 23.1
2. Bryan Bowles 19.5
3. Jeremy Wallace 18.7
Snowboard Men 14-16
1. Marc Eshleman 23.8
2. Jamie MacFarlane 15.7
3. Skyler Flavelle 12.4
Snowboard Women 17-Plus
1. Bekki Read 23.9
2. Katie Tsuyuki 21.0
3. Molly Milligan 17.5
Snowboard Men 17-Plus
1. Crispin Lipscomb 27.3
2. Yves Martineau 23.0
3. Ryan Rausch 21.8