Module: gallery_album
Item: LBS 2014
Displays the photo gallery for a selected Gallery Album.“The course is extremely icy,” said Gwyn Howat over the microphone. “We used a chainsaw to cut blocks and build the banks.”

It was an intimidating introduction to the 2014 Legendary Banked Slalom at Mt Baker, WA. Under a very un-Baker-like cold snap that saw temperatures nearing single digits and high pressure overhead, the natural halfpipe had turned into something more fit for another one of those sports currently taking place in Mother Russia. Say, ice luge.

With Olympic slopestyle clogging the mainstream airwaves, 300 hundred-plus racers and a healthy portion of the snowboard industry had taken the road to Mt Baker instead of the road to Sochi, choosing to turn some berms in the Pacific Northwest. What they found waiting was unlike any LBS previous.

Starting at the top of Chair 8, long, mellow low-angle sweepers made up the first half of the course. Things got a little tighter approaching the traditional start area at the top of Chair 5, where a tunnel let recreational traffic pass over the racers. Dropping into the natural halfpipe was where things got a little tricky. “Sheet ice” was the most common description of the first half-dozen turns down the steepest part of the run, leading to quite a few legendary blowouts—even Terje went down on finals day, which led to a subsequent and almost as legendary method air. Those who survived the heavy ice were left with another 20-or-so lefts and rights before crossing the finish line in somewhere near two minutes.

Speaking of Terje, I might argue that there was more talent gracing this icy, rutted track than there is on hand in Sochi. Gigi Rüf, DCP, Temple Cummins, Josh Dirksen, Seth Wescott, Jason Robinson—the list goes on. And of course twelve-year-old Isabella Gomez of Issaquah, WA, who took third today in the Women Amateurs division racing against 16 to 29 year olds.

While qualifiers went down under sunny skies and cold temperatures, those who had scraped their way into Sunday’s finals were greeted with rising temperatures and lingering clouds. A dusting of fresh snow did its best to soften things up, but the course remained a healthy mix of ruts and ice-gnar. And on this day, racers would have to survive it twice. Haakonsen went in with the fastest qualifying time, followed closely by Josh Dirksen and Blair Habenicht. Their early success was trumped by Harry Kearney, though, as the 20-year-old Colorado transplant secured his second roll of gold duct tape. For the ladies, Marie France-Roy earned her first LBS Carhartt jacket. But old guys fear not—eight of the top ten men were over thirty years old. Seems turning is timeless.

As the parking lot cleared under increasingly heavy snow, I couldn’t help but think that Mother Baker had approved of this, the 29th annual Legendary Banked Slalom. Those who had navigated a low-tide race course were heading home to rest up in preparation for what looks like a deep, deep storm cycle. Forget Sochi—it’s snowing in the Pacific Northwest.

A huge thank you goes out to the Howatts, Sierra, Eliah, Britt, Julia and the dedicated crew of diggers, gatekeepers, event organizers and, of course, to the snowboard community. We’ll see you on Chair 5 in the coming days.

Winners

Pro Men: Harry Kearney

Pro Women: Marie-France Roy

Pro Masters: Pat Abramson

Pro Women Masters: Marni Yamada

Next Generation: Jaydn Chomlack

Juniors: Hank Kennedy

Younger Amateurs: Jacob Krugmire

Older Amateurs: Spencer Cordovano

Women Amateurs: Martina Nemcova

Women Masters: Kelly Edmonds

Masters: Scott Reynolds

Mid Masters: Tim Gallagher

Grand Masters: Jay Moore

For full results click here.

Main Image: Evan Litsios.