BC's largest snowboard event outside of Whistler went down on Grouse this weekend. With TTR status, $20,000 on the line, and knowing the capabilities of the park crew up there, I was expecting a good show and a high level of talent. The competitors - most who were pro and Canadian - did not disappoint, despite facing slow snow and poor weather conditions.

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The format was simple enough: a Friday night jib jam followed by a Saturday afternoon slopestyle. In the night jam riders stepped to a dangerous gap on the lower part of the course, which was moved to the peak run this year. In a unique set up, competitors could either gap off of a black flat box, or launch over the gap onto a 40 foot "magnum" box. The flat box required less speed, and most chose that option during the night jam.

The real spectacle would be the slopestyle the next day, where bigger prizes, better media coverage, and the opening of a 70 foot stepdown above the box-gap/gap-box feature increased the level of riding significantly. Fog was a factor again, and became bad enough to cause a several hour delay. Skies finally cleared up and the course came into full view from most areas of the mountain. The gnarly set up attracted a good crowd, some of whom had been enjoying the late season west coast powder which covered Grouse.

As you can imagine the gap claimed several victims over the weekend, including the front half of a follow cam crew. Fortunately the camera dude just barely stretched to make the landing and avoided an expensive misjudgment of speed. Mike Osachuk on the other hand had the gap dialed, stomping smooth spins on and off the magnum box in both sessions. Logan Short was also a standout, spinning all 4 ways with his typical relaxed style.

At the end of the day judges chose Kevin Griffin as the winner of the slopestyle. He threw his tricks way down the landing of the jump, including a memorable bs 9 tail. Park crew member Terri Dreger floated some massive 3s and won for the girls, who shredded among the guys in both comps but were judged separately.

For details and full results check out www.showdownoverthecity.ca