Practice was one thing, but when it got good 'n dark, and scary icy, they busted out the lights and the big air really got down, which is exactly when Ben Hinkley came out struttin'. The show, or should I say his show, began with a Rippey Flip (reclined, stalled, 180 back flip — forget it...you've gotta see it,) followed by a lawn dart (stalled, head first front flip.)
The crowd liked it and he did too, "I hope you got a good shot of me cuz I was grabbing my balls! I
had to grab my balls on that one!"
All in all though, he was pretty modest, "Everybody was killing it tonight...I'd have been happy with second." After the show he hit the road and walked towards Copper to celebrate by sneaking in to see Coolio. Damn Ben, you could probably hire Coolio with that check — 10Gs was all his tonight.
Chad Odderstrom's cab nine was all that could contend and a pile of giddy fans gang tackled him after his spin and the judges handed him 2nd. You see, nearly one thousand spectators showed (okay, maybe not 1000 but a lot), and stood in the cold next to the gargantuan Bud Light can and whooped it silly. Saturday night happens to be on the loose and the quacks have given chase. Needless to say, someone had to streak, so he ran buck long enough for the TV cameras to track him, and dove back in the crowd as if security was chasing. Yeah right! Go get dressed...fah-reak!
Todd Richards made his 13 sponsors proud with 3rd. He stomped a cab 900 on the hard-a$$ landing, which they covered in warm steaming manure (to give it depth.) Mmmmmmmmmmmm...manure.
One joker, with a half-empty two liter of Coke tried to charge the fence for a hurdle attempt...
The women went off too with a bunch of 3s and 5s of every size. I found Dresden Howell above the light scaffolding for 1st. Juanita Platz hammered the deck on her second hit, but her first boost was fine for 2nd. Jamie Macleod came in 3rd out of the small contingent of flinging females in attendance.
Once all spinning stopped, a crew sporting Wranglers and backwards baseball caps charged the landing to scoot it sitting down and leave their complimentary blue jean stain. That there triggered it all...monkey see, monkey do, if you will. One joker, with a half-empty two liter of Coke tried to charge the fence for a hurdle attempt — not even close! I think his knee hit the rail and sent him to face. Props though — he didn't lose his drink.
The bumpin' continues at Sherpa & Yeti's when The Humboldt County Freestyle Kings roll it out...should be stinky. Tomorrow we all drop on the pipe. Danny Kass, who snaked the first Grand Prix pipe in Vermont, qualified first today. Can he survive the night?
— Lucas Kane, MountainZone.com Correspondent
