Not a lot of mountain resorts can boast a snowboard event as late as May 19, or even scrape together enough snow to built a four-metre quarterpipe, but with an alpine snow base hovering at more than two metres, conditions were perfect for this years Showcase Showdown.
Feeding off the energy of the crowd, and looking for a share of the cash and prizes available, a lot of competitors were easily boosting higher than the 12-foot marker on the top of the quarterpipe.
While the loudest cheers of the day went to a guy on a GT SnowRacer knockoff who was lining up the pipe from the top of Headwall, there was a warm reception for the athletes from the hardcore spectators that came out to watch, and stuck around even after it started to drizzle.
Pitted against some serious heavyweights, newcomer Sebastien Desmarais won the mens pro division and $4,000 in mad money. Ride Snowboards pro David Aubry took second place and $1,500 in cash after finally nailing his jump. Third and $800 went to Doug Smith.
The womens pro division went to Colorado snowboarder Megan Pischke, who went a little bigger with her corked spins than the other riders to earn $2,000. Yukiko Hotta and Chiyoko Iwabuchi of Japan were second and third, earning $800 and $250 respectively.
In total more than $10,000 in cash and prizes was given out on Sunday. In the qualifier on Saturday, Dennis Bannock won the $500 mens big hit award while Yukiko Hotta won the $250 the womens award.
Showcase Showdown Results:
Pro Men Finals
1. Sebastein Desmarais 23.9 points
2. David Aubry 22.0
3. Doug Smith 21.7
4. Jesse Fulton 20.7
5. Josh Duncan 14.1
Pro Women Finals
1. Megan Pischke 24.9
2. Yukiko Hotta 22.5
3. Chiyoko Iwabuchi 21.5
4. Molly Purnell 18.1
5. Dominique Vallee 14.4
Amateur Men 19 and Over Finals
1. Petter Hesso 23.8
2. Chase Conway 22.5
3. Joey Han 18.6
4. Yong soo An 16.9
5. Etienne Chartier 15.0
Amateur Women Finals
1. Sarah Kopinya 16.8
2. Julie Alach 10.7
3. Stephanie Just 8.3
4. Ashli Norheim 7.9
5. Laura Berdette 6.6
Amateur Men 18 and Under
1. Vinnie Ligeti 21.7
2. Lucas Debari 21.1
3. Aaron Shapiro 20.7
4. Marc Mains 20.4
5. Johnny Lyall 19.1