1. v SNOWBOARDING
Open season for boarders won her fourth Grand Prix title.
By MATT BOXLER There are many other spring A rider jibs on a barrel on one
F
snowboarding events in New England of Killington’s Bear Mountain
or top snowboarding worth checking out. Signature terrain parks.
professionals and the rest of You say you want a Revolution? Then
us who aren’t quite as talented, mark your calendar for March 9-11, when
there’s no place like New England come the US Snowboarding 2009 Revolution
spring. Whether you’re competing for a Tour makes its final stop at Sugarloaf.
$100,000 cash prize or for an open deck The Revolution Tour is one of the nation’s
chair on which to bask in the sun, there’s top junior events and has already made
no better place to be once the calendar stops at Copper, Boreal and Mt. Hood.
flips to March. The tour features competitions in
Just like each of the 26 years halfpipe, slopestyle and snowboardcross.
before this one, the biggest spring Put together a team of four, show
snowboarding event of all takes place up at Sunday River’s South Ridge on
once again at Stratton Mountain. The March 22 and you’re in the No Bib Jib.
27th Annual US Open Snowboarding Sunday River’s final No Bib Jib of the
Championships brings the world’s best to season is a single rail event with plenty
compete in halfpipe and slopestyle. of winners, plenty of special prizes and
Stratton marks the final stop of the plenty of everything else you expect to
Burton Global Open Series, where the find in a spring competition.
top male and female riders in the events If you’re looking to squeeze in some
held year-round and in six different late-season improvement into your riding,
countries will be awarded $100,000 the Ross Powers Snowboard Camp is for
each. It’s also the last stop on the men’s you. The two-time Olympic gold medalist
TTR (Ticket to Ride) World Snowboard and his pro instructors from across the
Tour, where the top male will be awarded country will coach you up at his home
the TTR world title, along with another mountain, Okemo, on March 23-25.
hefty check. The three-day camp is open to
Athletes will begin their practices intermediate and advanced riders who
for US Open events on Monday. are at least 10 or older. Proceeds from
Preliminaries begin Tuesday and the the $499 enrollment fee will benefit the
finals are scheduled to be held on Friday, Ross Powers Foundation, a non-profit
Saturday and Sunday. All events are free foundation for athletes with financial need.
to the public to view. Powers will host a one-day camp
Put 100 of
the world’s top
Killington Resort
snowboarders
together with
$130,000 in cash
and prizes and
you’ve got quite a Loon Mountain will calendar, there is still Cranarchy. Loyal
competition on your host the Droppin’ In constituents of the Darkside Terrain
hands. Not to worry, Women’s Camp for Park will have the final word of the
the resulting halfpipe experienced riders season when the resort hosts a rail jam
and slopestyle ages 13 and up. and barbecue beginning at noon on
battles are free for The two-day camp March 29. Rest assured, it’s never too
Rick Levinson/Stowe Mountain Resort
spectators when costs $198, which late to go to the Darkside.
Killington hosts the will include two days If you feel like stretching every last
US Snowboarding of lift access, lunch, conceivable day out of the 2008-09
Grand Prix on March free gear, personal season, then pack the car for Stowe on
14-15. video review and May 23 for the fourth annual Last Trick
This is the second top-tier coaching. Rail Jam.
The Stowe halfpipe will be piled up and
year in a row that Season pass holders Make it a Memorial Day weekend to
re-tooled with terrain park elements to
Killington has hosted get a $20 discount. remember by signing up for this free jam
host the Last Trick Rail Jam on May 23.
the final stop on the Reservations are session, which will take place on a huge
Grand Prix circuit, in required. pile of snow formerly known as the Stowe
which cash and prizes have totaled more earlier in the month, March 7, at Mount Whether you’re an amateur aiming for halfpipe. The park crew will rearrange all
than $300,000 this season. Killington’s Sunapee. Contact the resort for more a cool prize, or a professional looking to the rails, boxes and jumps for one last
event at Bear Mountain will feature information about cost and registration. win some cash, Wachusett Mountain’s hurrah down the Main Street trail.
the resort’s 430-foot-long, 22-foot-high Riders from across New England will Crunk Cash Comp on March 28 has what Huckers, jibbers and anyone who
superpipe competition on Saturday, flock to Loon on March 25, to compete in you’re looking for. This end-of-season enjoys piles of sun-drenched snow in the
followed by the Paul Mitchell Progression a giant rail jam and huck fest with 5,000 in competition will be held on the Look Mom mountains should check it out. There’s
Session Slopestyle on Sunday. cash and other prizes up for grabs. Now in trail/terrain park, where riders and skiers no charge and plenty of music, food,
In addition to the event winners, the its ninth year, this Eastern Boarder event alike are invited to “go big” or “go home.” beverages, beach chairs and giveaways. v
overall Grand Prix champions will be — Last Call — always has been a favorite After the final Cranapalooza of the
crowned at the end of the competition. for both spectators and competitors. season, after the Spring Splash, after Matt Boxler is a Massachusetts-based
Last year, Vermont native Kelly Clark Calling all women: On March 28-29, every other event on the Cranmore snowboard columnist.
20 SPRING 2009 .com