Satuday October 18th, 2008; Chris Sorman Wins Icer Air On The Streets Of San Francisco.
“This is just like the backcountry but in a parking lot” said Keir Dillion. Well that is not entirely true, nor did the E-surance/Icer go down in the streets of San Francisco either. The event that took place in AT&T Park for the last 2 years was downgraded to AT&T parking lot A this year. Despite the downgraded location, next to the docks were bodies are dumped, it was still a fun event and as Chas Guldemond said, it was “A good time”.
These pre-season events are fun and at least a slight cure for your itch waiting through what seems like the endless fall season for the first flakes of snow or the first snow guns to fire up. If you live in Colorado, you can already be riding but if you live in say Pennsylvania and are 13 years old and jonesing to snowboard, checking events like this online are the best you can get for now. Instead of a run in ramp like normal, this event had a catapult to bring the riders up to speed; think snowmobile pull but more like an aircraft carrier. The jump was also a hip, not a straight jump like previous years. It seemed challenging to hit and the snow melted fast but that did stop some ripping from going down. Wyatt Caldwell’s switch 5, Charles Reid overall ripping and falling from going for it, Ian Thorleys double back flip, Chaz Guldemond and Shayne Popisils huge Method were all memorable tricks.2008 Gap Session winnerChris Sörmanfrom Sweden took it all though. Chris won the best trick format early on in the contest while going substantially higher than every one else, then kind of slowed down but he won none the less.
Maybe the coolest thing about the event is just seeing snowboarding in San Francisco, one of the coolest cities in the US for sure with some of the hottest girls ever. I heard the girl to guy ratio is like 3 to 1 too.
Riders Included:Chris Sörman, Jake Black, Wyatt Caldwell, Brandon Cocard, Chas Guldemond, Tim Humphreys, Pat Milbery, Hampus Mosesson, Shayne Pospisil, Charles Reid, Chris Sörman, Ian Thorley, Bobby Witty, Charles Reid, Seth Hill, Wyatt Caldwell,
2008 Esurance Icer Air Results:
1st: Chris Sörman
- San Francisco. Huge international cargo ships like this come in and out everyday. The Horizon consumer sitting in the bay right behind the Icer Air
- This years amazing new feature. You could easily compare it to the Warp tour but with a snowboard hip and shitty bands.
- The pulley system. A rider would grab the rope in the middle while a guy would stand with a big looking remote and press a green button which catapulted riders to the hip.
- Chas keeping his thoughts on the pulley to himself
- Holding on for the ride
- I guess it didn't work out to bad.
- Overview of the downgrade parking lot area. You can see the giants stadium where last years event was held.
- Shayne Pospisil boosting one of the highest airs of the day
- Seth Hill mid seven
- Pat Milberry was there
- Ian Thorley rushing back for a second try on his double backie
- Ian mid rotation double back
- The Bay bridge and the harbor
- Joel Gomez founder of sessions. He was there back in the day with Aaron Vinvent, Damian Sanders, Terry Kidwell and Chris Roach.
- Deck view of the pulley runway
-US Open big air winner Tim Humphreys holdin on tight through his spin
- Chris Sorman boosting higher all day
- Wyatt was the first guy to hit this hip switch. This is a front three or something.
- The Icer stage upon where ears were polluted with the noise from the band men, women, children, grandmas, boys and girl... or something like that. Sounded like a cross between nickelback and 311.
- three....two...one...
- Blast off
- Chris Sorman
- Pizzle boosting this huge method he almost went out of the frame.
- Humpy poking
- Chris Sorman's huge airs and early on stomps send him straight to first place
- Chas likes to get inverted
- Chris Sorman your 2008 Icer Air champ
- This is what the landing looked like. Bomb hole mania
- Take a number for interviews...
- Can't come to SF with out a stop to the Golden gate bridge.