Observations: Xander
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It’s the fastest day in Southern Hemi snowboarding, and another tournament of turns is in the history books as the who’s who of Australian snowboarding gathered in Thredbo for the 10th instalment of the country’s Premier Banked Slalom.
This year saw unprecedented back-to-back victories and from groms to gold medallists, 300+ competitors returned to the familiar Cruiser course, the largest field of competitors the contest has ever seen. Classically moist Australian conditions didn’t hamper the efforts of the Thredbo Parks team as they rolled up their sleeves and hand shaped a beautifully fast, technical, leg burning series of turns back that had even Scotty James’ back leg quivering at the finish line.
The efforts of the parks team cannot be underplayed – pushing and hand shaping a 19-turn racetrack when you’re working with mashed potato is certainly no walk in the (terrain) park – a truly a remarkable effort, one for which all competitors were grateful!
Almost more tense than the racing itself was Yeti’s Spin to Win Wheel which, with just a flick of the wrist, offered punters a chance at winning Yeti bottles, skateboard decks, coffee cups and hats as well as the ultimate glory prize of a year’s supply of Pirate Life Beer – presented via lottery to industry icon Chris ‘Chunk’ Jepsen who couldn’t be a more suitable person to accept such an accolade.
After run one, all eyes were glued to G-Shock’s live timing system, which allowed competitors to track their first run times – and then figure out how to go faster for run two.
The 10th anniversary of what has become an iconic event in Australian snowboarding brings together such a diverse field of competitors, and this year we were graced with the presence of Geoff Sawyer and Adrian Gibbs, two of the founding fathers of Australian snowboarding – both of whom were instrumental in the existence of snowboarding competitions in the first place.
From icons to weekend warriors, the spirit of the TBS was truly alive as competitors as young as 7 compete alongside X-Games medallists, ex-pros, Paralympians and the Thredbo Media Team – a testament to just how much of a community event this has become.
The Grom field was stacked, and with the youngest competitor not even born when the first TBS took place, the fact that these kids had the confidence to drop into the same course as their Olympic heroes is proof as to just how progressive snowboarding is becoming amongst the youth. For an unprecedented second year running, it was Indiana Hickman who took out the Grom Women’s division, and in the Grom Men category, the always stylish Nate Goodwin took home the W – each scoring a selection of merch from The North Face, YETI and G-Shock and a custom Transfer Banked Slalom Zippo Lighter – perhaps to be used later in life.
The Junior category was another hotly contested field with some of the country’s most talented slopestyle riders shifting disciplines and clicking into race mode. In the Junior Women it was Chelsee Kelly who narrowly edged out last year’s winner Clementine Wall by one 10th of a second to claim top spot, and in the Junior Men, Zephyr Whitelaw Holmes absolutely blitzed his run to claim him first podium in a time that would have also had him win the Masters category.
Speaking of the Masters division – it’s easily the most competitive and heckle worthy fields – and with ex-pros and Olympians lining up side by side, there was a lot riding on the results. The fastest Masters Male on the day was TAB boardercross coach and two-time Olympian Benny Mates who now also has back to back victories and with so many podiums we’ve lost count, Thredbo local Wiki Jones added another feather in her cap taking out the Masters Women division – claiming her Yeti, North Face and G-Shock swag as she stood on the podium’s tallest Tundra.
The fastest division in the field, the Open Mens, features Olympic levels of progression year on year and the mind boggles as to how anyone can possibly go any faster down this course. But somehow, our country’s best riders continue to shave seconds off their times and with run one recorded it was a very interesting situation as riders lined up for their second attempt at glory. But with all times clocked, it was none other than Thredbo Ambassador, multiple Olympic and X-Games medallist and dad-to-be Scotty James who took home top spot for the second time – narrowly edging out super coach Ryan Tiene who was in the lead after lap one! Two-time TBS winner – surely the highlight of Scotty’s incredibly decorated career!
Proof in the Open Womens that pace runs in the family, as Georgia Baff from Australia’s fastest family only needed one run to secure victory, edging out second place Mela Stalker by two seconds after a first run DNF. As the heavens opened at presentation, Georgia claimed her custom TBS Zippo and G-Shock winner’s watch and added a Transfer Banked Slalom title to her many successes on the boardercross track.
A special shoutout must also go out to adaptive athlete Rebecca Johnson who was awarded Arbor’s Spirit Award, scoring herself a new snowboard and truly embodying what the Banked Slalom is all about – showing up and giving it your best crack with a smile on your face and an elevated heart rate at the bottom of the course.
So ten years of champions now etched into Australian snowboarding folklore. From your favourite pro’s favourite pro to local families and international visitors – The Banked Slalom unites our little niche community and celebrates the best part of snowboarding, truly an event run by snowboarders for snowboarders. No judges or mega cheques, just pure community recognition – and maybe a few side bets and bragging rights after being called out. It’s hard to think of another event in any sport where Olympians race alongside 7-year-olds, slapping palms and sharing a sausage sanga in the sunshine with one another.
It’s pure, unadulterated Australian snowboarding.
Thank you to all the competitors who came out to participate and a special thanks to the Thredbo Parks Team who crafted the incredibly enjoyable course.
The Transfer Banked Slalom is proudly supported by The North Face, Arbor Snowboards, YETI, Pirate Life Brewing, Go Pro, G-Shock and Thredbo Resort.
FINAL PODIUMS
Grom Women
1. Indiana HICKMAN
2. Airish GEORGE
3. Madeline LLOYD
Grom Men
1. Nate GOODWIN
2. Oliver IRWIG
3. Alioth CAI
Junior Women
1. Chelsee KELLEY
2. Clementine WALL
3. Halle MCRAE
Junior Men
1. Zephyr WHITELAW-HOLMES
2. James GARTH
3. Juan GEORGE
Masters Women
1. Wiki JONES
2. Abish BRIGHT
3. Merrin JOKIC
Masters Men
1. Ben MATES
2. Damon HAYLER
3. Adrian BORCHERDS
Open Women
1. Georgia BAFF
2. Mela STALKER
3. Amber ARAZNY
Open Men
1. Scotty JAMES
2. Ryan TIENE
3. Pantxo WALL
