For immediate release
December 30, 2007
Contact: Bonnie MacPherson, director of public relations
Okemo Mountain Resort | 77 Okemo Ridge Road | Ludlow, VT 05149
802-228-1947 | bmacpherson@okemo.com
OKEMO POWERS SERIES SLOPESTYLE COMPETITION RESULTS
Spring-like surface conditions graced the slopes, making the snow soft and moveable – a comfort to those with the tendency to miss their landings. Forty-one competitors each had their time to shine with three chances to jib and spin on the five features set up in the Dew Zone Terrain Park, built by Parks and Pipes Manager Dennis Brady and his crew.
Features in the slopestyle competition consisted of a 25-foot. table-top (essentially a big jump), a flat-gap-down box, an up-rail-to-barrel jib, a tire jib, and a wall ride.
Winners in the Men Under 16 Snowboard category were Alex Von Braun, age 13, from Greenwich, Conn. who took top honors; Randall Reynolds, age 15, from Higganum, Conn., who won second place; and 15-year-old Eric Verillo from Kihnelon, N.H., who placed third.
Benji Farrow, age 17, impressed the judges tenfold, and won first place in the Men 16 and Over Snowboard category. Following behind him were Brian Tempini, age 17, from Fairfield, Conn., in second place, and Jordan Wells, age 22, from Proctorsville, Vt., rounding out third place.
The only shoe-in for a first place win was Harry Landy, age 15 from Monroe, N.J., who was the only competitor in the Men Under 16 Ski category. Although he was solo in the competition, any challenger would have had to work hard to keep up with Landy.
In the Men 16 and Over Ski category, Dale Talkington, age 15, from Weston, Vt., spun his way past the judges and into first place. Closely behind him were 18-year-old Bjorn Werner, from Shutesbury, Mass., in second place, and Travis Heyer, age 16, hailing from Amherst, Mass., in third.
Women played a part in the Slopestyle festivities as well. Taylor Owen, age 14, from New London, N.H., won first place in the Women Under 16 category, and Maddy Fass, also 14, from Westport, Conn., took a close second.
Two competitors boarded in the Women 16 and over category, which created a win for hometown hero Maggie Seiple, age 19, from Ludlow, Vt. 17-year-old Garrison Rufa, from Chester, Vt., took a shining second.
Reps from Darkside Snowboard Shop, Zoo York, and Okemo Mountain Resort came together to judge the competition and gave non-stop commentary for the exciting action. Judge Chris Del Sole thought the three run qualifying format was great. “It really allowed everyone to put it all on the line; and let me tell you, some of those little groms were throwing down!”
The Okemo Powers Series will continue on Saturday, Jan. 27, with the Half Pipe Competition in the SoBe Superpipe. This second event in the series is partnering with the Lindsey Baron Memorial, and all proceeds will go to the Lindsey Baron “Bubba” Foundation. Registration will take place that morning, and the skiers and snowboarders with aptitude for altitude will take home their prizes and be in a top spot for the final event in March. This year it's important to come to all three of the Okemo Series competitions as Okemo has put $2,000 on the line for overall winners.
For more information about events at Okemo Mountain Resort, please call (802) 228-1600 or visit www.okemo.com.
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