Yo Beat: Issue 14: The Weekend Warrior Issue

Competitions: The Perfect Weekend Escape

It has been brought to my attention that people don't like to read, so rather than explaining in words why working the compeition circuit can save you all the weekend headaches, I'm going to do this.  The following are photos illustrating this season's east coast competiton scene, and how you've missed out by not being there.- Brooke Geery

In my expert opinion, the best part of snowboard contests are the parts that have nothing to do with snowboarding.  Take for example Taryn, the scantily clad ring-of-fire-twirling girl at Mt Snow's first big air of the season, the Pig Air.

And while the fire was great, some snowboarding did take place at the aformentioned competetion.  When shown this photo and asked why Nick Schofield didn't make the finals, the judges replied, "Must be the camera angle." Of course not landing on his feet could have done it too.

Moving on, we go where it actually didn't pour rain for an e.c. contest, to Sunapee, NH.  This would be the first stop on the Stimilon tour.  On your left you will see Zach "Bust-a-Nut" "Diamond Girl" Diamond, who needs a posse, and when you direct your attention to the right, it's the human rubber band himself Shawn Durst, who grabbed his baord about 472 times on this very day.

This might just be one of the best big air photos I've ever taken.   Scotti Arnold is a child prodigy who was bred in New Hampshire, where all good East Coast big air riders come from, (maybe because they have parks).  Here he's doing his signature 720 tailgrab.  If you attend enough contests, you'll notice that everyone has their trick, and there's nothing wrong with that.

When ESPN comes to town it's a whole new ball game. The lights are brighter, the crowds are bigger and the entry fees sky rocket.  Of course if you're lucky enough to have a sponsor who pays this bills, you too might get to ride the crappy jumps that are included.  Here we have the first stop of the Bud Light Boarder Battle at Killington, VT.  Left is big air champion Marcus Tarte, who's perfect rodeo flip left the competiton in the dust, and on your right, Mark Reilly, who proves pipe riders can ride jumps too.

Of course, what would this story be without a halfpipe contest.  I hate pipe contests, they're boring to watch and stressful to do, but if you go to a mountain academy, they might just be your bag.  Catherine Nieves seems to like them, or at least she does enough of them.  Boarder Battle Half Pipe.  Killington.

Luke Wynen sold out from the East Coast so he could go ride halfpipe on a different coast, but as it turns out, he's actually pretty good.  Still, all the claiming and the bets he could do was 6th.

Rahm Klampert on the other hand is a true hometown hero.  He's been riding this very halfpipe since it opened, and never even thought about selling out.   That must be why he won.

Jeremy Baye doesn't even have a board sponsor.  He had to take out a loan from his dad to do this contest, and then he didn't even make it to the finals.   LIfe's a bitch, but at least he has a cool car. (Could you talk about his car a little more?)

Back at contest I actually care about, the next stop on the Stimilon tour takes up to piqturesque Waterville Valley, NH.  Left: Steve Brassard rides an Original Sin snowboard, and that's why he keeps popping up in the finals. Right:  Jer Cook gives a big thumbs up to competitons.  Yea! Big Air!

In the left hand picture, Adam Moran is either falling face first into the flat or catapulting his way into second.  You'll have to go to Stimilon's home page to find out.  Sometimes amatuers are better than the pros, take the picture on the right: Todd Smith does some nifty aerial manuever, and he doesn't even have a shot at the cash, just a nice free snowboard.

So, if all these pictures of people having more fun than you make you want to go out and join the competiton circus, then I urge you to take the plunge.   Whether you watch or participate, there's always room for one more. 

Incase you have no idea what goes on, here's a list of the upcoming events here on the ice coast:

And if you're not over snowboarding by now, the West Coast is calling your name.  Sell out.