A wise man once said (actually it was a chubby little fella sporting an Oly hat balancing a bottle of Bud on his belly), "Go large young man — Mammoth large," and today that's exactly what riders did. Dressed in purple bibs, they screamed through hard falling snow and gusting wind to rip a frontside hip. Those that stomped the landing went balls to the wall for the quarterpipe, hoping to link two big hits and snake the cake from the stacked crew that was charging the Grand Prix Big Air and Style course on the slopes of Mammoth Mountain, CA.
The take-off was a bit slow at first and just a few could muster two clean tricks, but as repeated tracks hardened the runway, Carlo Mondavi dialed it in and threw an inverted cab five off the hip and a crippler seven above the quarterpipe. These tactics earned him 1st and a sizely purse. No, not that kind, it was actually a $3500 check.
Stealing 2nd was J.J. Thomas who was responsible for huge frontside airs and clean McTwists off the qpipe. Rob Kingwill took 3rd with equal amplitude and comparable style.
"...A pot belly and moon boots prevented the sappy soul from pursuing me, but he did threaten to 'remove' me from the event..."
As for the women, Jaime Macleod stepped off of last weekend's X Games slopestyle podium and spun the hip, stalefished the quarterpipe and took 1st for the women. Right behind her was Catherine Nieves who was launching large for 2nd and Marni Yamada went to the wall for 3rd.
During the comp, announcer Pat "The Eye" Bridges kindly warned all slopeside gapers to, "Stay on the groomed runs and away from the trees...it's too deep in there. The visibility is a hazard and you're safest on the marked runs." Amen! Please folks, it's for your own good. Stay on the green groomers or you'll choke on all that powder!
And now, I must comment on the manners of the TV crew on hand. I don't think their moms raised them quite so proper. Get in their line and they'll scream at you. It's almost embarassing. I was speaking for a handful of photographers when I replied with, "Could try being a little nicer," and a hand gesture that only my mitten could hide. A pot belly and moon boots prevented the sappy soul from pursuing me, but he did threaten to "remove" me from the event.
Can't we all just get along?
Did I mention it's still dumping? In fact, it's snowing so hard that nobody can find the snowboard cross course and event organizers have cancelled the race.
Folks, I'm sorry to report...dat's it from Mammoth! The fourth and final stop of the Grand Prix is scheduled to go down March 23rd in the great Northeast (Sunday River, Maine.)
Peace I'm out...
