Snowkite Masters Recap & Results

[Windzup]

The US Open Snowkite Masters celebrated six years of mountain riding this past weekend, sending February 2010 out with a bang. Over 100 kiters ascended Skylines ridge top terrain over the four day event, enjoying adventurous freeride sessions and kite races. Storm fronts brought in fresh powder before the weekend, and followed through with solid winds. Starting Thursday with a North & Westerly flow, riders were able to cover miles of terrain in every direction. Friday and Saturday kicked in South-Easterly winds that allowed riders to ascend and launch off of the freshly formed cornice ridges. With the unusual wind direction the participants were able to ride powered up on terrain that is usually more difficult to access.

The organizers adopted a new race format this winter, and exchanged the Kiter-Cross with Course Racing. The primary difference is a longer course and the entire fleet of riders hits the course together. There is no elimination like in Kiter-Cross and racers gain points with each race they complete. 11 races were held over the weekend, helping to find a true average for the winners circle. Norwegian Kiters Sigve Botnen and Bjorn Kaupang dominated the course along with fellow Americans Brad Gordon and Billy Bordy.

Once again, this event continues to grow from its grass routes origins and could only happen with the generous support of its sponsors. Companies like Windzup, Slingshot, Ozone, Flysurfer, Airush, Best, HQ, Liquid Force, Dakine, The North Face, Zeal Optics, Decosse Customs and Ska Brewing all came out and put in budget to make this event as big as it is. A personal note, these sponsors all believe in Snowkiting and were on hand to kite with everyone, sharing their stoke and helping to demo great gear. The Triangle Bar, which proudly boasts itself as the Skyline Yacht club, dedicated to serving mountain sailors, hosted the weekend’s après’ kite festivities. Live Music from the Utah County Swillers carried the debauchery long into the morning hours after Saturday Night’s award ceremony. A cash purse and many prizes went home with several of the attendees and race winners.

Good Races, Good Riding, Good Times… See you on the snow next winter at the 2011 US Open SKM. Congrats to all the Snowkiters that represented with their mountain kiting skills.

Snowkite Course Racing Results
Men’s Ski Fleet
1.tie – Brad Gordon (Airush)
1.tie - Bjorn Kaupang (Ozone Zephyr)
2.Tom Reynolds (Ozone)
3.Patrick Nedele (Ozone)
4.Chris Nester (Best)
5Ken Lucas (Ozone)

Men’s Snowboard Fleet
1.Sigve Botnen (Ozone)
2.Billy Bordy (Ozone)
3.James Brown (Ozone)
4.Andre Nathland
5.Jake Buzianis (Best)

Women’s Ski Fleet
1. Trisha Smith (Naish)
2. Monica Basset (Ozone)
3. Renee Decosse (Liquid Force)
4. Amanda Weldy (Ozone)

Women’s Snowboard Fleet
1.Heather Schenck (Ozone)
2.Katie Egle (Airush)
3.Monika Masuda (Ozone)
4.Janet Erjavec

Winduro Race
Men’s Skier
1.Brad Gordon
2.Ken Lucas
3. Noah Poritz
4. Tom Reynolds
5. Patrick Nedele

Men’s Snowboarders
1Billy Bordy
2.Jake Buzianis
3.Chris Schey
4.Jason Jerman
5.Ryan Allen

Women’s Ski
1.Renee Decosse
2.Monica Bassett
3.Amanda Weldy

Windzup ,
Brian Schenck

[shymac]

Sweet' thanks for the recap and update!

[criznach]

Yeah, thanks for the update!