The North Face Masters of Snowboarding made its way to Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley on February 13-15. These freeride snowboard events brought competitors from all over the US, Canada and even as far as Argentina and New Zealand. Crested Butte’s own Mary Boddington earned valuable Freeride World Tour points with here 2-star victory at Alpine Meadows and 5th place finish at the 4-star at Squaw Valley.
Words by Rob Vandervoort / Will Dujardin
CB Represent! Rob and Mary soaking up the Tahoe sun.
The 2-star event at Alpine Meadows was held on High Yellow, a north-facing bowl sprinkled with trees, cliffs, and chutes. Eighteen women and 54 men dropped into fast and firm conditions. Mary held off some stiff competition to take first with her high speed run that featured three airs, she finished it with a big method for extra style points. Stomping a huge backside 360 in the middle of her run, Lizzy Beerman placed 3rd behind Claudia Laflamme from British Columbia in 2nd.
“I heard some negativity about the venue: no snow, moguls, blah-blah-blah,” explained Mary after. “I told myself it’s just snowboarding and I do it everyday so I just went out and rode it how I would normally ride something like that. Fast, fluid and some small airs, mostly just stay in control!”
Over in the men’s division, Canada’s Jonathan Penfield had a clean line that he finished with a huge backside 360, earning him 3rd place. North Tahoe local Greg “Grizz” Terziev blistered the venue, mixing in a frontside 360 in the middle section, and stomping a huge cliff at the bottom. This run had him sitting in first nearly all day, until Harry Kearny’s run. Kearny, a former Legendary Banked Slalom champion, had never competed at the North Face Masters before. His run was high-speed, involved a technical section in the middle, and a backflip over a stand of trees for the win.
The next day’s 4-star competition was held on Squaw Valley’s CII bowl. This venue features multiple 40+ foot cliff outcroppings. Chutes and small cliffs are mixed throughout the large cliffs, and there are numerous technical routes throughout. The snow was hardpack to say the least, as confirmed in the highlight video.
Marissa Krawczak, riding out of Squaw Valley, shredded the steep, icy, rutted face that was the drop in faster than any of the other female competitors. She made her way quickly through the venues, stomping her airs, and receiving 3rd place. South Tahoe local Casey Lucas had a strong, clean run, as usual, riding fast and dropping cliffs earning 2nd. Longtime Squaw local Iris Lazzareschi took top honors, also getting a cliff named for her stompage of it. Her score blew the competitors out of the water. Crested Butte’s Mary Boddington took the most exposed line of any female, and tied Rosemarie Daiek for 5th.
Hans Mindnich, at 20 years old, took 3rd with a run that featured a switch backside 180, a half cab, and a backside 180, with a switch straightline out. Holding down the top spot for most of the day, Sammy Luebke linked a frontside 360 and a backside 360 into his run. Hailing all the way from New Zealand, Ruari MacFarland took 1st place away from Luebke near the end of the whole affair. MacFarland’s run consisted of a backside 360, and a large double at the bottom.
Despite firm snow and laughable commentary, everyone had a great time. The weather was sunny and warm, and nobody got hurt. That’s always a positive.
Thanks to Rob Vandervoort for the top-notch reporting. He actually placed 8th at Alpine Meadows and 13th at Squaw Valley. He wants more, so he’s not bragging. Stay tuned for more from Rob!
About the Author
