Mitch Williams won the Battle at Baw Baw – Matt Sedunary came second with Tom Pelley taking out third. I don’t have details on the win, nor do I have photos or video at this stage… all I have is a phone call from Drew to tell me who got on the podium. Check back soon and we’ll have photos, video and a more detailed wrap of the day for you.
UPDATE: It was a rad day and everyone was stoked on it. The weather was great, there was cheap food and the park was the best it’s been. Read on for some photos. Video to come shortly.
In fact I think this contest made a mockery of most competitions and certainly all Australian resorts. The guy at Forum (it literally is one guy) teamed up with Cactus Black and Mt. Baw Baw and schooled everyone on how to run a contest. I even saw the CEO of Mt Baw Baw snowboarding through the park. Holy shit, it was a good day!
For the past two years everyone has pitched in and helped make this contest the best grass-roots event of the season. Seriously, I wish every weekend at the mountain was as fun as this contest is!
Tim from Baw Baw and the Cactus guys were still putting the finishing touches on their new 8 meter wide wall ride as the contest got underway. I don’t think any of the contestants minded the slight delay, it was an 8 meter wall ride after all! Besides, the new ‘whale-tail’ and c-box had already been installed and the sun was out.
I was stoked at the turnout for the event. A new crop of soon-to-be big-names made the drive up the, well let’s be honest here, sketchy 1 and a half laned road to Baw Baw.
The whole day I couldn’t stop thinking about how good it is for Australian snowboarding that Baw Baw now has a better rail park than Buller and Hotham. And they’ve done it with a base of less than 40cm! Granted its a small setup and there are no jumps, but a lift ticket costs $71 and they had sausages and a can of drink going for $4. That has to be a new record for value at an Australian resort!
I think this contest, and Mt Baw Baw, are only going to get better and better. The mountain is well and truly behind snowboarding and I think with a little bit more infrastructure, a jump or two and some more slope space dedicated to a full-blown park, they’re really going to make people think about where to buy a season pass. One things for sure, I feel sorry for Pepsi’s contest next week, it would be like trying to follow this guy’s speech.
Alex Kutaysov.
As we arrived they were putting the final touchs on the new wall ride. Epic.
Ralph getting his hands dirty.
The Whale-Tail.
Flat-Down Box.
C-Box.
The bigger Down-Bar.
Forum team riders actually tweaking the setup.
The smaller Down-Bar.
Jamie from Cactus Black and Ralph from Forum looking focused.
Marc Baker and his tight pants.
Come-back Catsburg and his cigarette.
Catsberg really knew how to ‘handle’ a snowboard contest.
Runner up Matt Sedunary/
Ben Lonsdale. The only brand rep to actually compete…
And to take out the judging tent. Ben, you’re keeping it real.
Rick says this day at Brighton was the best day he has ever had snowboarding. He didn’t want to get rid of his ticket because of the good time he had.
A few minutes later after seeing the setup he quickly changed his mind. Go Baw Baw!
Marc Baker and Jackson Allen holding up the wall ride.
The best MC is the business. Chris Jepson!
Wow, good score for Mark Catsberg.
