BURTON OPEN 1/4 PIPE INVITATIONAL
Fri 12th August 2005Ok, Day 3 of the Open and it's still going off!! With it basically snowing up a storm all day the night rolled in and the snow keep coming. The drive from Wanaka up to Snowpark at 7pm was a mission and a half. We had fresh snow all on the road and a bunch of punters driving "Daddy's Truck" up and were just all over the show. The car behind skidded off the side and the car in front stopped on the corner blocking traffic and causing some mad skidding.
Anyways, up to the Snowpark and it was getting crazy!! Car park full, snowing, limited vis and the HUGEST 1/4 Pipe NZ has ever seen. The Snowpark TP posse had hand shaped the 1/4 all day and it was WAAAAAAAAYYY bigger than it has ever been..... EVER!!!!! I caught the chair up in the straight up dark with no lighting and it was an experience in itself. Riding half way down the hill in the dark way crazy so I was cruising but the riders that were there were there for business. I rode up to the quarter and it was crazy..... full speed, minimal light, sounds cranking, grandstands, cameras and a HUUUUGE 1/4 Pipe........... No pressure boys!!
All the Burton crew were in force including Luke Mitrani, Danny Davis, Mason Aguire, Molly Aguire and Salomon rider Rio Tahara was also riding. NZ had the usual transition specialists with the likes of Ants Leffelaar, Will Jackways, Jah Harris, RMB and Sammy Marcotte!! I started shooting and the 7-9pm jam session was heating up. This is some of what I saw:
Luke Mitrani: Back 7's and 9's
Rio Tahara: Hugest Back Rodeos and gangster claims
Jah Harris: Huge Air to Fakies
Will Jackways: Boosting as usual
RMB: Dope Back 5's and gangster 7's
Molly Aguire: Back 7 to flat and gnarly stretcher off..... Mad props!!
Mason Aguire: Cleanest back 5's, 7's and a dope ill Backside 900
Neilz Ypelaar: Smooth Switch McTwists
Sam Marcotte: Front 5's, 7's and a 900
Stefan Karlson: Big bootty Backside airs
Jonothan Cheever: MASSIVE
Anthony Leffelaar: Super Steez cripplers
So it's past 9pm and I had seen some of the worlds best chargers just compete under super challanging conditions and they earn every dollar the get paid fair and square cause that's some pressure they were dealing with and they killed it. The crowds all bailed back to the cafe for a beer and a few chargers got on the mission back to their cars asap to beat the traffic coming down the hill. A ridiculous huge day with some riders on there board all day AND night!! Churr!! Tomorrow is THE day so I hope it clears up and we get to see the Pipe shredders do there thing.
Big ups to Sam and the Snowpark crew for getting it all on lock, Sanjay for the 24/7 MC'ing, Ruben and all the SFC crew helping out making the event the sickest seen to date. Cheers Burton for the RIDERS PASS and the free beer and snacks. I'm saving made cash!! ahhah. Catch up. Peace.
Holler
1st: Mason Aguire OPEN MENS
1st: Cheryl Mass OPEN WOMENS
