The inspiration for this event came in 1986 when Flynn Seddon and Neil Edgeworth, two Big White locals, took a trip to the Legendary Mt. Baker Banked Slalom. In 1987 they hosted the first Ever Big White Banked Slalom. In 1997 Neil Edgeworth died in an avalanche while filming in Chamonix, France. This tragedy spurred Flynn Seddon to make the Banked Slalom a yearly event dedicated to Neil’s Memory. Since then they have seen it’s popularity grow from around 50 contestants to a new record this year of 220.
Our crew arrived at Big White late Friday night after a long day filled with smack talking and a pit stop in Revelstoke for some riding. Saturday morning we woke up to perfect blue skies and started the warm up runs at 9:30am. The course was amazing, and even with the big turn out, things ran more or less on schedule. The age spread was something else. They started the race with the youngest rider [snowboarders only] at 8 years old and finished with the oldest 59. It made for a very unique and exciting vibe at the start gates. By 2:30pm all 222 of us racers had had our shot at the course. So we took the rest of the afternoon to have fun riding Big White and smack talk. By the time the banquet rolled around we were all anxious to get “The Sheet” and find out how we placed after day one.
Sunday greeted us with more blue skies and an early start. Racers ready at 9:30am no warm up. The course was fast and everybody stepped up their game with the leaders breaking their times by up to 6 seconds. Hokey Dina!!!
The awards ceremony was unbelievable. The winner of each category received their scarf and prizes with a lot of cheering and congratulations. Aside from having their largest turn out ever they also had an adaptive category for the first time. Two inspiring guys with physical disabilities strapped on their boards and ripped up the course. Despite the vast amount of prizes from all the sponsors Flynn was sure to remind us that more importantly this weekend is meant to be about having fun and enjoying being a part of the snowboard community. If that was the goal of this contest, then they definitely succeeded.
They’ll be doing it all again next year so keep your ear to the ground and register early!
Standings:
Female 14 and under
Tess Critchlow
Alina Stevens
Claire Moulton
Female 15-18
Jade Critchlow
Shayna Goodwin
Ava Murovec
Female 19 plus
Rachel Darvill
Natasha Lockey
Tori Hanson
Female Pro:
Maria Debari
Robyn Honsberger
Candice Drouin
Female 35-44
Mona Toth
Jacinta Adam
Alexandra Brady
Female Masters (45 plus)
Nada Critchlow
Eileen Purssell
Willie Findlater
Male 14 and under
Liam Stevens
Isaac Cormack
Harrison Mendel
Male Adaptive
Ian Lockey
Tyler mosher
Male 15-18
Alex Thorp
Tommy Pitman
Mitch Pitman
Male 19 plus
Chris Barker
Ryan Johannesen
Lee Coulthard
Male pro
Matthew Tunnicliffe
Danny Saint
Tim Dopko
Male 35-45
Alex Warburton
Scott Smeltzer
Flynn Seddon
Male Masters (45 plus)
Don Lott
Ian galt
Brian Clark
Kelowna Conditions
