The design behind the poster art for Marcel Dolak’s PacWest Banked Slalom has remained unchanged since the event’s conception. It depicts a banked slalom course with snaking, alternating left and right turns down a snowy pitch. Towering over the course stands the legendary Hyak Beer Can, a water tower painted to resemble a can of Olympia beer. Although instead of having the word “Olympia,” just like it’s real-world counterpart, the Hyak Beer Can’s front label reads “Summit,” short for The Summit at Snoqualmie, the resort roughly 50 miles east of Seattle where PacWest Banked Slalom goes down.

Event poster for the 2024 PacWest Banked Slalom. Art by Marcel Dolak and Quincy Quigg.

On the picture of the course is a snowboarder, arms outstretched, eyes ahead, making a graceful backside or frontside turn on the course, depending on the year of the poster. The rider pays homage to the unmistakable style of the late great Craig Kelly, the godfather of freeriding. Craig’s influence runs deep in Dolak’s race. After all, in the early days of snowboarding, Craig trained, raced and rode the bygone half-pipe here at Summit East, known better by its former name, Hyak. PacWest Banked Slalom is about celebrating the past and building the future of snowboarding.

If you want rain, all you need to do is schedule a race. Photo: Dan Bott

Shane Bardiau on course at the 2024 PacWest Banked Slalom at The Summit at Snoqualmie, WA. Photo: Brett Perry

The race started at half-past soggy. After a largely sunny and spectacular week of digging, racers were greeted on Saturday morning by heavy rains and drenching wet Pacific Northwest snow. Jackets soaked through and gloves turned into sponges. Hardly anyone outside of the race was on the hill, making the day just that much sweeter when partially sunny skies took over in the afternoon. It stayed that way for the rest of the event, bringing only the highest appreciation of the good weather for all 290 riders in attendance. Between laps on the course, slushy conditions allowed racers to cut out perfect side hits outside of the race.

Milana Michalek turning through Heckler’s Corner. Photo: Talon Monteau

A few up-and-comers on the lift. The next generation is looking strong in Washington State. Photo: Dan Bott

The highlight of the event, however, was the awards ceremony. In attendance was Eric Blehm, New York times best-selling author of the newly-released Craig Kelly Biography, The Darkest White. Jeff Fulton, the man responsible for bringing the original Burton snowboards into his parent’s Bike Shop in Mt. Vernon, WA. Jason Basarich, former pro-rider and friend of Craig, from Mt. Baker, WA. Tony Welch, one of Craig’s childhood friends. And Eric “Swaney” Swanson, an original member of the iconic Mt. Baker Hardcore. All were there to share stories of Craig, and tears were shed by those who knew him. Those who didn’t became a lone degree of separation away from him. A powerful moment, tying a legend of a previous time to the present. It was a re-ignition and passing of the torch to the next generation of snowboarders in attendance.

The rain cleared and the sweet, sweet sun made its long awaited appearance, much to everyone’s delight. Photo: Dan Bott

Eyes up, looking ahead. Photo: Brett Perry

It’s hard to say what snowboarding will look like as time goes on. But I do know that the groms in attendance at this event and others like it will one day blaze that trail for us, in their own way, now inspired directly by those who once pioneered it themselves. Events such as PacWest are built to bring snowboarders together, cultivate the community, and inspire the next generation to charge forward into the future. And although each race category only has one fastest time, every single one of us wins when we elevate PacWest Banked Slalom and events like it across the globe.