Magic lamp rubbed, speed genie summoned and the 11th installment of Australia’s premier tournament of turns is in the history books as hundreds of cult snowboard racers from around the country braved Arabian Desert level winds to hurl themselves down and around the famed berms of Thredbo’s cruiser area.
Familiar faces, new recruits and a completely sold-out field, this year’s event was nothing short of iconic as classically breezy Australian conditions rendered a ‘one and done’ race format. No second chances this year – one run, one opportunity for max glory, winner takes all.
It seems that weather is never an issue for the Thredbo Parks team as they rolled up their sleeves and hand shaped a beautifully fast, technical, leg burning series of turns that had competitors requesting one of their genie’s three wishes to be a stronger back leg as it quivered at the finish line.
The Thredbo staff and parks team are the real heroes of the TBS – low tide, high tide or howling wind swell – each year they rip right in and hand shape the speediest of racetracks for us to toss ourselves down – not to mention Grassy’s Sapporo Ice Festival worthy snow sculptures. A remarkable effort, one for which all competitors are grateful!
The 11th 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 snowboarding icon and Volcom team rider Brian Iguchi, who’s last contest appearance in Thredbo was at the Coke Classic in the Thredbo halfpipe in 1994.
A snowboarding legend, present day X-Games medalists, Olympians, weekend warriors, 6-year-olds, 66-year-olds, and a guy who wins in his footy shorts – this isn’t just a snowboard race – it’s truly a unique melting pot of community, inclusion and unadulterated stoke.
Despite the stiff tail wind, our friends at YETI kept competitors hydrated in the YETI Chill Zone, and Sunbum provided protection against whatever UV rays made it through the heavy covering of cloud. And if there was ever a year when the G-Shock live timing system was held in the highest regard, this was the one. No figuring out how to go faster for run two – one run, one shot at the title.
This event does not happen without the support of our sponsors and each year we can’t thank them enough for their efforts to hook racers up in new and unique ways.
Right, now the results – and two new awards this year!
There is no rider more synonymous with the Transfer Banked Slalom than Adrian Borcherds – a true legend of the berms, previous winner, gear nerd and wax masseuse. A walking, talking bundle of snowboard froth. As a tribute, Adrian was crowned by none other than one of his snowboard heroes Brian Iguchi with a new award, the Volcom Stoned Out Award, earning himself a custom Volcom jacket and the coolest custom made trophy in Jindabyne.
In a similar display of snowboarding passion, Craig Purnell scored himself a brand new Arbor snowboard from Link Jarvis in Arbor’s Spirit Award, and stood upon the podium with his hands to the sky as if he’d won the race. According to this award, he did.
Once again 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. In the Grom Women’s division Airish George not only secured top spot, her time also beat the Grom Men’s winner Oliver Irwig – with both groms scoring a selection of merch from YETI and G-Shock as well as a custom Sunbum Winner’s Gold Monkey Chain. Straight to the pool room.
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 last year’s runner up Clementine Wall who claimed top spot, and in the Junior Men, James Garth edged out Juan George by 0.7 of a secondto claim his 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’s always a lot riding on the results. The fastest Masters Male on the day was two-time Olympian Benny Mates who now joins only a small, elite list of riders to have three-peated in his field. In the Masters Women’s category, with a surname synonymous with Australian snowboarding, Abish Bright stood on the tallest YETI Tundra, joining her husband Max Windshuttle who claimed third place in the mens.
For the past few years in the Open Women’s field, it seems as though you need to be an Olympian to claim top spot as the speeds from these athletes reach world class standards. This year we’ll settle for X-Games Gold Medallist as an appropriate accolade as Mia Brookes donned her Sunbum gold chain and stood atop the podium.
The fastest division in the field, the Open Mens, features incredible levels of progression year on year and the mind warps as to how anyone can possibly go any faster down the Cruiser course. But somehow, our country’s best riders seem to go harder and harder – this year even more so with the one-and-done format. But this year it was not an Australian who took top spot, in fact, for the first time a kiwi etches their name into Transfer folklore where Zephyr Lovelock, wearing only New Zealand Warriors footy shorts and a t-shirt demanding to kill hippies, claiming top spot. Up the ‘wahs.
And so 11 years down, and 8 new champions written into Australian snowboarding history. From your favourite pro’s favourite pro to local families and international visitors – The Banked Slalom unites our community in bigger and better ways every year, celebrating the best part of snowboarding. An event run by snowboarders for snowboarders. No FIS points or mega cheques, just pure community recognition and a tin or two to celebrate at the bottom of the course.
This is Australian snowboarding.
Thank you to all the competitors who came out to participate and a special thanks to all our sponsors for their support: Volcom, Arbor Snowboards, YETI, Sunbum, Pirate Life Brewing, G-Shock and Thredbo Resort.
FINAL PODIUMS
Grom Women
1. Airish GEORGE
2. Jemima COURT
3. Sienna VIVASH
Grom Men
1. Oliver IRWIG
2. Louis TARASENKO
3. Hugh HORVATH
Junior Women
1. Clementine WALL
2. Phoenix CLUCAS
3. Abbie MATTERSON
Junior Men
1. James GARTH
2. Juan GEORGE
3. Logan CUSS
Masters Women
1. Abish BRIGHT
2. Anna H FISCHER
3. Marguerite COSSETTINI
Masters Men
1. Ben MATES
2. Damon HAYLER
3. Max WINDSHUTTLE
Open Women
1. Mia BROOKES
2. Freya HAMMERLAIN
3. Georgia BAFF
Open Men
1. Zephyr LOVELOCK
2. Robbie WALKER
3. Pantxo WALL
