Yesterdays Open Class Slopestyle May be the Marquis event of the week. 78 Men lined up and Hunter, Joe, Eric and Spencer all put in their Bids for a spot in the 16 man Final. Hunter Looked good on each try but just flew too far on his cab five in both runs. Joe took a stiff crash in run one and laid down a beautiful run in his second try to end with an edge caught riding away from the sixth and final feature. A tough break ending what was surely a final qualifier run. Spencer and Eric moved through the qualifier as per their usual slopestyle routine. In the final Spencer earned a top five with a cab seven switchback nine opener! So Technical and stomped. EB's final run as an SMS Student Athlete was a five to five to double back rodeo that he made look too easy. He was just around tenth but the progressive nature of Beachface Killah's run typified the incredible snowboarding show that he has put on for the past two years with Ian at his side. They have stood atop the course at finals and on podiums all over the land and pushed the snowboarding art in every level of contest. It has been an honor to watch.
For the women in the a.m. Jenn and India came in tenth and eleventh place missing finals but riding strong. It has been a great season riding you both, have a great time in Mexico this week. Kiley Kennedy survived the drama of lost tiebreaker followed by an expansion of the final field that first bumped her out and then took her in. She qualified sixth into the field of eight and made the best of the opportunity. She put out her patented half cab method to Huge roast beef grab air to method, to air off the rocket box, and a boardslide to fakie, cab 270 on and off the final box. A strong and proud show in her first Open Class Nationals.
Today the comeback of Makayla Tierney was completed as she took sixth place in Halfpipe with only a few weeks riding this season. She rode solid and smoothly following her straight airs with the biggest three-sixty of the day (double click that pipe shot on the right!) into a newly learned switch front five.
Also in the same field of youth girls were Phoebe, Karen and Marian. Lena K rode in the junior class simultaneously with the youths. Lena put down one of her greatest halfpipe runs ever charging for the drop to her biggest frontside airs and finishing strong with a back three. Congrats on fourth place Lena. Karen kept it together with some smoothe airs and a click or two in her spins so the runs were not her best but in light of the overall performance she has put in all week she has to be happy. I have been impressed by Karen's Slope and SBX riding already this week.
Marian Lobell also ran solid and also aquired a new cab five for her self. I know Marian was happy with her runs I just wish I had a photo. maybe Sully can add an edit. Nice work stepping up to your own challenge to do that run Marian.
Finally but also in the youth class Phoebe Novello started the day charging with a first hit Backside five-forty that might have won best trick of the day. She nailed it three times in practice but struggled with it in the contest, over- rotating a bit first run and slipping out a check after putting it down in second run. That changed her line and slowed her momentum too much for a strong score. Phoebe has ridden hard all year and is among the most progressive young women out there. I really wished I could do more to help her nail that down today but her snowboarding is her real reward and she is past it already.
JJ Hawkrigg put in a nice couple of runs for sixth after we were done. Strong work all week long for overall performer Hawkrigg... Jackie is still out there boardercrossing with the nations fastest for a national championship... Great Job To all the athletes and coaches. Thanks for another proud and fun SMS Year Mike Scott Sully and Ian. Most of all thanks to all the parents for making this thing go. Enjoy spring break...
post script: More results are in from today and the overall tallies are now out. First congratulations to Jacqueline on yet another USASA National SBX podium. Always fast and always right in the fight. Third place behind an olympian and your noram nemesis who I hear nearly ran out of time with you bearing down through the end. Nice stuff.
Now Congratulations to the SMS Development crew for all around ouststanding riding. In the Breaker girls JJ Hawkrigg was 6th in the overall combined. Karen Kobayashi 2nd in the Youth division followed closely by her teammate Marian Lobell in 3rd. Lena Kuchera was 3rd in Junior girls. All four SMS Development Team Girls in the top 6 in overall combined with 3 out of 4 on the podium. Nice Job girls and congrats Sully!
Finally Congratulations To Kiley Kennedy for 3rd in the Open Class overall combined. Kiley was forced to compete in "open" this year as a result of her great showing at the US Open. Way to face the music girl. Dancing.
