World Ski & Snowboard Festival Slopestyle Recap

Photo Credit: Adam Taber Photography 

At first the weather looked grim on April 19th at the Monster Shred Show Slopestyle. The same thick fog that was around the day before was there again. Athletes had to swim through a sea of mist to find the features in Blackcomb’s Highest Level Park. However; the gods were smiling by the afternoon and things cleared up just in time for the finals.

The talent was as huge as the course jumps as 33 riders competed for the $15,000 top prize and to be crowned king of steaze at the WSSF. In the end it was Norwegian Emil Ulsletten who won. His final run consisted of a blunt 270 on the down rail, 50/50 frontside 360 with a tuck knee grab on the step down, a frontside double 10 on the first kicker, a backside 360, and a back 9 to cab double 9 on the last feature. Ulsletten came up from 10th place after the qualifiers. Not an easy feat.

Eric Willet from Breckenridge Colorado who came into the qualifiers in first was knocked down to second. He throw an impressive run with a front double 10 to front board to fakie out on the rail, and a switch- back 9 to a lofty back 7 on the last jump. It wasn’t enough to keep him in the top spot. Willet does have a win at the Billabong Air & Style Innsbruck to claim this season as well.

Tyler Nicholson from North Bay, Ontario represented Canada on the podium rounding it out in third place. His run was technically sound with a gap front board on the down flat down, a nose tail 450 off, a cab double 10 on the first jump, a switch tail 450 on the up rail. He did a back 10 double on the second jump to a front 10 on the last.

 

After the checks were handed out on the mountain the awards ceremony continued in the Village with K-OS rocking out with the crowd.

Just before the finals I was fortunate enough to get a short interview with Eric Willet, Eric Beauchemin and Spencer Link as they were sitting 1st, 2nd and 4th respectively heading into the finals. Sweet guys, that brought some heat to the course. Here we discussed the conditions, pre-run jitters and health food.

KH: It’s a bit warm today; the slush must be slowing you down. How do you cope with the conditions?

SL, EB and EW: Wax!

SL: I wouldn’t say it’s that slow.

EW: You just got to tuck it for the jumps and you can’t edge too hard, you got to kind of keep a flat base.

KH: Do you guys have any kind of morning routine to get yourselves ready for the comp?

SL: I had Lucky Charms.

EW: Chocolate chip pancakes.

EB: I blew it. I had a bagel.

KH: I see you’re the healthy one! OK one more. Do you guys get nervous at the drop in at all?

SL: You’re more nervous for the qualifiers.

EW: Ya if you don’t make it to the qualifiers it was all for nothing. It kind of sucks.

SL: Once you’re in the finals it’s not bad.

Spencer Link managed to defend his spot and finished 4th, Eric Beuchchemin was knocked down to 6th. All three boys also competed in the Big Air April 20th.

 

The final results:

1. Emil Ulsletten 84.50

2. Eric Willett 83.33

3. Tyler Nicholson 78.33

4. Spencer Link73.50

5. Maxence Parrot 72.50

6. Eric Beauchemin 66.83

7. Brett Moody 58.83

8. Jeremy Thompson 46.33

9. Jon Versteeg 37.17

10. Charles Reid 15.00

 

And the official video of all the action:

 

World Ski & Snowboard Festival Slopestyle Recap