Event

The Gerry Lopez Big Wave Challenge 2017

A Basic Truth

Ben Shanks Kindlon

It’s cloudy and cold for April in Oregon. High force winds make the waves a bit choppier than we’d expected they’d be. But these heavy gusts won’t deter us, nor the few hundred snow surfers who have amassed on Mt. Bachelor for the seventh annual Gerry Lopez Big Wave Challenge. The surf inspired event attracts riders from the world over to descend a series of snow sculpted “waves” in a contest that focuses more on speed, flow and innovation than spin count. Sans sun on the horizon, we join our fellows in the lineup.

Elijah Pyle poking out a method with proper PNW style. Photo: Colin Wiseman.

A surf style event at Mt. Bachelor? You can be sure Josh Dirksen will show. Josh won an award for best layback this year. Can you see why? Photo: Colin Wiseman.

Kent Callister, rocket grab backflip. A crowd-pleaser for sure. Photo: Colin Wiseman.

Riding Mt. Bachelor is a bit like surfing at Trestles, one of Southern California’s premiere breaks. Lower Trestles rolls in four to 10-foot swells and its cobblestone bottom helps to form beautiful, consistent A-frame waves that break both left and right. While Trestles isn’t as powerful as a place like Pipeline, its high-performance nature makes it a breeding ground for trick-savvy surfers; a perfectly curling canvas that inspires style, control, ingenuity and grace. Mt. Bachelor holds the same kind of vibe. While Bachelor isn’t as steep of a mountain as Jackson Hole or Mt. Baker, it’s well-known for its wind lips, natural hits and the smooth, freestyle-oriented approach of the local riders. And that’s what makes it the ideal mountain to host a competition that stresses aesthetics over amplitude.

Kazushi Yamauchi, a.k.a. Orangeman, is a staple attendee of the Big Wave Challenge. His approach to this year’s course earned him a well deserved Best Surf Style award. Photo: Ben Shanks Kindlon.

Another rider to take home a Best Surf Style award was Barrett Christy Cummins, pictured here. With poise like this, Barrett is quite the Wahine. Photo: Coin Wiseman.

Another Orangeman? No, this is Doi Hayato, a.k.a. Sharkboy, throwing his fins out over a wave. Photo: Colin Wiseman.

Another thing the Big Wave Challenge encourages: fun. Before the gathering, Gerry sent out a special message reminding this year’s competitors to have as much of it as possible. “I grew up surfing in Waikiki, where the beach boys taught all us youngsters that the best surfer was the one having the most fun. That was the foundation of my surfing, and then surfing became my life,” Gerry wrote. “Sometimes things can get in the way of that fact but ultimately, when we clear away all the ‘other stuff,’ it will always come back to this basic truth.”

And this year, to further inspire the swell of good times, the event went to a jam format rather than any kind of limited drops—it led to more runs, more flow, and more opportunity to feed the collective stoke.

The kaao ana (legend) himself: Gerry Lopez. Photo: Colin Wiseman.

Gentemstick snow surfer Waji Wazy takes pride in his laybacks. And it shows. Photo: Colin Wiseman.

While the course may be the focal point of the Big Wave Challenge, hit runs in between heats also play an important role in the overall fun of the event. Garrett Warnick knows the deal. Photo: Colin Wiseman.

An unkown Wahine carving heelside, grabbing toeside. Photo: Colin Wiseman.

Alex Yoder, carving through a cloud of his own creation. Photo: Colin Wiseman.

Mt. Bachelor local Max Warbington piecing together his winning run. Photo: Colin Wiseman.

Gabe Ferguson was loving the high-performance vibe of this year’s course layout. Despite some hard pack landings Gabe was throwing airs all weekend long. Photo: Colin Wiseman.

Josh Dirksen spraying spectators on the Rocky Point Rights. Photo: Ben Shanks Kindlon.

Tucker Andrews was among the Biggest Air awardees. Go figure. Photo: Ben Shanks Kindlon.

Bend local Josh Ramp speeding through the Big Wave Challenge course. Photo: Colin Wiseman.

Tema Tamai has a bright future in snow surfing. His father, Taro Tamai, is the godfather of it all. Photo: Colin Wiseman.

Destry Serna with a big fly out near the announcers’ tent. Photo: Colin Wiseman.

Awards are given away at the Big Wave Challenge, but the event is about so much more than winning. It’s about our community, and the wellbeing of those who make up our sideways society. As we surf the sea, the streets, the mountains and life itself, we must always keep in mind this basic truth. It’s about having fun. High winds might keep us at bay sometimes, but there’s always calm in the future. Gatherings like the Big Wave Challenge help remind us to smile through it all, and keep our eyes on the horizon.