Battling for bragging rights: Local shops flash park skills at Boreal contest (with slideshow)

Sixteen teams from Northern California’s premier ski and snowboard shops descended upon Boreal Mountain Resort on Wednesday for the fourth annual Red Dawn Shop Battle. The winner-takes-all contest pitted four-man teams of employees and sponsored riders in a jib-arena grudge match to decide which merchant’s shop would be crowned 2008’s best.

Locally participating shops included Tait’s Boardshop, Porter’s, Totally Board, Tahoe Dave’s, Shoreline, Boards N Motion, Shread and Butter and the Boreal Underground.

The battle began under gorgeous sun in a contest arena next to the base of the Accelerator chair. The park staff at Boreal created a unique three-way drop-in ramp that allowed riders to choose between three hits — a frontside hip wall, a backside hip wall or a central platform that featured a towering vertical bench and bonk-able truck tires.

Team scores were based on the individual strength of all four skiers or riders.

Contestants took unlimited runs during the two-hour jam session with each run awarded a score between one and 10. Riders were forced to mix it up on all three terrain elements as their two best scores from each of the three features contributed to the team’s score.

One of the contest rules was that each team had to include at least two actual shop employees. The other two team members could be sponsored athletes. Contest organizer and local ski rep Matt Connelly felt including the employees was vital for shops to really prove their expertise.

“Having employees represented gives the shops an opportunity to let people know that their personnel doesn’t just talk the talk,” Connelly said.

From the opening bell of the battle, riders attacked the terrain features with raw abandon. The big takeoffs and small, pocketed landings deterred no one as corked spins off the hips and board slides or bonks to the tip-top of the vertical bench were tossed within the first half hour. Some creative teams organized runs where multiple members assaulted a feature at the same time.

With 64 athletes distinguished only by jersey numbers, it was difficult to say which team was up mid-contest, but it was obvious that all the shops brought their heavy artillery. Notable tricks by Shoreline’s Ben Wynn, Porter’s Brandon Cocard and Boreal’s Pat Wenkel set the standard.

When the jam was over the judges retired to their chambers while contestants enjoyed buttery laps in the terrain park, a delicious roast beef lunch and free beer. Between food, friends and stellar park conditions, it was a fabulous post-comp afternoon.

A torrential swag storm of free gear rained upon the crowd to start the awards ceremony. Taking the trophy back to the North Shore from 2007’s South Lake winner, Shoreline, it was the Boreal Underground team of Pat Wenkel, Colby Marble, Jaime Melton and Henry Ryerson that won the coveted title and the ammunition trophies.

While Boreal’s team members were thrilled to take the title, they were not shocked.

“To be honest, I’m not surprised we won,” said Wenkel. “Our team was stacked with talent!”

One snowboarder was also recognized as the contest’s top athlete — Shoreline’s Ben Wynn. Wynn had good things to say about the day.

“It’s a fun and unique contest,” he said. “Definitely my favorite comp of the year. I was stoked to be named top rider.”

With bragging rights determined for another year, contestants jumped back to the beer, the terrain park or both. Connelly couldn’t have been happier with the result.

“It’s been an amazing day,” Connelly said after the awards presentation. “Mother Nature cooperated beyond expectations. We had great shop support and the crew at Boreal totally delivered for us.”