Joe Eddy wins 10 k at Mountain High. This Saturday was like the 11th running of Mountain High’s Triple air. This contest is kind of a cross between a big contest and a local sort of deal. You guessed it; the course is made up of three jumps in a row, and the best run of two won it. Am’s, young pros and some veteran always show up. Heck, a few years ago Shaun White took home the first place money. The vibe is always good, with beers flowing and attitudes left somewhere else. The Triple Air is always fun to check it out and WAY less security the X Games, which were going on this weekend too.
Notes and Quotes
∙ The weather kind of blew everything out. The forecast was for sunny skies and a high of 50. Well, it got super foggy and rainy. Visibility was so bad that at times you could not see the next jump
∙ Even in the fog Bode Merrill’s 4th place run included a switch back 5, back 7 and front 9. The podium finishers had similar runs – pretty metal with no visibility
∙ So Cal has had almost no snow this year but snowmaking has saved Mountain High’s season. Conditions were not too bad considering
∙ The winners of all the divisions got Kawasaki motorcycles – sick
∙ The pro turn out was pretty hefty, the am turn out was pretty small
“I don’t like those skis, they’re different” – some young kid on the lift talking about a telemark skier
“Its fun, better than last year, the jumps are a little bigger” – Lonnie Kauk
“It’s a little hard cuz you’re going a little slow” – Danny Williams on the second jump
“I will blame the fog but really it is our ability” – Kyle Lopiccolo on not getting into the finals
“It was really fun at first but then the weather changed. I was glad I was not in the finals” – Kyle Loppicolo
Results
Women’s Ams
1 Bryn Valaika
2 Nirvana Ortanez
Women’s Pro
1 Bev Vuilleunier
2 Nicki Slechta
3 Desiree Melancolin
Amateur
1 Nicholas Sibayan
2 James Robin
3 Mikey Radziwon
Pro
1 Joe Eddy
2 Spencer Link
3 Lonnie Kauk
4 Bode Merrill
5 Nate Kern
Rahm Klampert and others hanging at the start tent just before things get started
Wes Luke on jump #2 of 3
Mac Spedale – 7
Ian Thorley with a difficult switch back 7
Cory Cronk, high desert local, spinnin’ …
Cory Cronk chillin with the crew at jump #2
Bode Merrill braves the difficult condition on his way to 4th place. A rain-snow-fog bank rolled in for the finals that made everything ultra challenging. Many finalists could not even hit the third jump
Last year’s winner Cody Rosenthal
Lonnie Kauk has a lot of style as this Japan 7 shows. When the weather got tough I knew Lonnie would get a podium, he does not give a shit if he blind, he can still pull nines – 3rd place
Jack Mitrani in the house and not at the X Games
The winner, Joe Eddy with a Cab 9
Here is Chelane Miller backside rodeo 9; the best trick of the day
At the end of the day free Bacardi, Wahoo’s tacos and beer was given to the participants. Usually there is quite a celebration but the rain put a damper on things
