The second round took place at Tamarack resort in Idaho this past weekend. Just like the event last year it was a powder day. Just like last year other contests were going on the same weekend, like the Session and Mt Baker banked slalom to name a few. Just like last year the new guard of pipe riders stepped it up and it was red to see new faces up there. It was a very good time.
You will notice the lack of Gretchen Blieler and Hannah Teter in the women’s pipe. Well, they were there; Hannah was recovering and Gretchen did some protest run’s that consisted of all straight airs and did not make the finals. What she was protesting, I don’t know. The snow made the pipe hella slow on Friday but it cleaned up for the Saturday finals. Tamarack is the new Aspen, everything is top notch and the mountain is smaller but very fun. In fact, I am even getting married there in September. Go check out Tamarack someday.
“When the action heats up there is nothing like grabbing a Bud Light” – Pat Bridges
“Whatever I end up is all good” – Elijah Teter after his third place run
“I have been putting a lot of pressure on myself so I just kind of relaxed and did the run I could do”
Louie Vito was number one up at Tamarack, I knew he had a 1st place in him. Him and a few others went to the airport in McCall and flew in a corporate jet to Truckee to compete in the Jeep King of the Mountain on Sunday
Ben Watts shows you the pipe
One of the funnest things about the Grand Prix at Tamarack is that with heavies like Shaun White and so on at other contests, you get to see new kids step it up. Greg Bretz stepped it up to second place.
Louie Vito’s winning run consisted of a 7 double poke (shown) to Cab 10, front 9, back and a straight air
Ellery Hollingsworth got 3rd place in the women’s division
Scott Lago did one of the best 9’s ever, even Pat Bridges exclaimed “that is one of the smoothest 900’s I have ever seen”
Zachary Black qualified 1st and ended up in 5th place
Here is Zachary Black up close
Brook Shaw liens
Tricia Byrnes is 33 years old and was the only person in the Grand Prix with a college degree. What do most 33 year olds you know do?
Kelly Clark does a double overhead 720. Kelly even tried a 1080 in her second run.
Ben Watts does a backside 5
Greg Bretzs second place run consisted of a front 9, back 9, front 7 (shown), cab 7, and a straight air
Brennan Swanson with a Method tailgrab – is that like a tindy? I think not
Women’s second place finisher – Clair Bidez
Women’s winner Kelly Clark and Tina Dixon
while hot action went down in the pipe local Idaho kids were having fun sliding down the side of the pipe
I was really glad to see these guys had autographs from Kelly Clark and Ellery Hollingsworth on their chest and not Louie Vito and Scott Lago – that would be weird
Women’s podium, Ellery Hollingsworth, Kelly Clark and Clair Bidez
Men’s podium, Elijah Teter, Louie Vito and Greg Bretz
Men
1 Louie Vito $14,000
2 Greg Bretz $7,000
3 Elijah Teter $3,500
4 Scott Lago $1,750
5 Zacahary Black $1,000
Women
1 Kelly Clark $14,000
2 Clair Bidez $7,000
3 Ellery Hollingsworth $3,500
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