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Drawn and quartered

X Games competitors showing interest in Showcase Showdown quarterpipe contest What goes up usually comes down. Sometimes they wind up on the safety mats, but usually they come down.

X Games competitors showing interest in Showcase Showdown quarterpipe contest

What goes up usually comes down. Sometimes they wind up on the safety mats, but usually they come down.

This Monday, May 19, Showcase Snowboards is hosting the sixth annual Showcase Showdown quarterpipe contest. For many local riders, it’s the last competition of the season, and with $10,000 in cash and another $10,000 in prizes on the line, there’s no reason to hold back.

This year’s event will be a little different, thanks to the X Games Global Championships, which take place from Friday through to Sunday. The organizers of the Showdown have been working with the co-ordinators of the X Games, who have agreed to promote the quarterpipe Showdown contest during the X Games superpipe contests.

"We are also very pleased that some of the athletes from the X Games have accepted our invitation and will be participating in the Showdown," said Showdown organizer David Goldberg. "The talent pool has yet to be identified. However, I have just received word that 16-year-old Burton rider Shaun White will be attending this year’s event. As you can imagine this is huge for us. Needless to say, we expect a larger crowd at this year’s event."

There are both pro and amateur categories in the contest, both of which are wide open to the public. Although the roster has yet to be put together, the men’s pro category is already filling up with local talent. Some of the top names who have shown interest, and have competed in past years, include Dennis Bannock, David Aubry, Jesse Fulton, Rube Goldberg, Justin Lamoureux, Sylvain Beauchesne, Tosh Osaka and Jesse Kumlea. The women’s pro category will likely include Megan Pischke, Yukiko Hotta, Dominique Vallee, Roberta Rodger and Mercedes Nicoll.

There will be a training day for registered athletes on Sunday, May 18 from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and 12:30 to 2 p.m.

In the Showdown on Monday each competitor will have two judged runs with the best score counting. The top 25 per cent of results in the amateur and pro categories will qualify the riders for a best of two run final.

The prize money will be split between the top five pro men and the top three pro women, with final results determined by a one hit cash round.

The quarterpipe will be open for training from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by four heats. The amateur men and women will ride from 11 a.m. to noon, and the pro men will jump from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The amateur finals take place from 1:45 to 2:15 p.m., and the pros finals and cash finals will run 2:30 to 3 p.m.

The cost to register is $60 for amateurs and $90 for pros, which includes the post-Showdown party at Steep’s Grill in the Roundhouse Lodge, with giveaways and draw prizes for participants. All contestants will need an event waiver, as well as a valid Canadian Ski and Snowboard Association membership, which can be purchased for $10 prior to the contest.

Register at Showcase Snowboards in the Westbrook. Space is limited for each category, so get there before Monday if you want to be guaranteed a spot.

Day of competition registration is also available on Monday morning in the Roundhouse Lodge, if any space is available.