So here
is all the info you need to know about the 3rd annual Bearclaw
Invitational at Mount Washington. First of all, I want to say thanks to
all of my sponsors. They helped me bring this idea in my head to life,
and without them none of this would have been possible. Adidas Eyewear,
Specialized, Fox Suspension, Red Bull, Kokanee, Hayes Brakes, Dakine,
Shimano, and last but not least, Mount Washington, for providing a
location, staff, and all the rest of the pieces of the puzzle to make
it awesome.
For
riders that are invited: there is a mandatory rider meeting at Fat
Teddy's on Mount Washington. The meeting is on August 20th at 8:00pm,
be there. Remember that full faces are mandatory and there will be a
score reduction for wearing tight pants. What is too tight one might
ask? Well, if your girlfriend looks good in them, then they're too
tight.
So here's the deal: on August 22nd there will be a free slalom event
which is invitation only. If you think you can win it and are not
invited, email me. The format of the free slalom is simple; it's a dual
slalom course with 3 or 4 dirt jumps in it. It's basically racing with
the jumps also being judged, in a similar format to mogul skiing. We're
bringing in a mogul skiing judge for continuity and yes, this is the
first time a competition of this sort is being held. And just so you
know, Kirt Vories is the guy who came up with the idea. Werd Kurt!
On
August 23rd the real fun starts with the Bearclaw Invitational
slopestyle. The format is two runs for each rider, that's it. The show
starts at 12:30 pm sharp, so don't be late. Get up to Mount Washington
to watch the best riders in the entire world compete for respect and
some serious cash. The purse is currently at $18,000, but I'm sure it
will be bigger than that...shhhh don't tell anybody though.
Promptly after the final slopestyle run, riders will be warming up on
the high air jump to compete for a rad watch from Oakley. If you don't
know what the high air jump is, well, I'll tell ya. It's a dirt jump
where you put an elevated pole across the jump, similar to a regular
high jump. The pole keeps being raised until nobody can clear it - the
end. The rider with the highest jump wins. Last year the record was
16.5 feet, and it was very exciting to watch I must say.
Straight
after the high air event, the results will be given for the slopestyle.
FYI- watch out for Cam McCaul; he's on the chase to triple this event.
Cam won the comp in year one and last year he stomped every trick he
attempted for another first place finish last summer. This is his first
chance at hat-tricking a slopestyle event.
Meanwhile, a Red Bull dj will be taking care of the music to keep the
crowd pumpin'. Oops, I almost forgot to mention all the other important
stuff, like the fact that the beer gardens will be serving fresh
Kokanee during the entire event. There will also be food vendors at the
slopestyle site along with Fat Teddy's Bar and Grill servin' up cold
drinks and hot meals in the Alpine Lodge.
See you at the event.
Darren Berrecloth
Update as of July 29th
The rider lineup for the 2008 Bearclaw Invitational:
Berrecloths CAN
Jordie Lunn CAN
Ryder Kasprick CAN
Thomas Vanderham CAN
Dave Smutok USA
Brandon Semenuk CAN
Alex Pro CAN
Kyle Strait USA
Ben Boyko CAN
Eric Porter USA
Geoff Gullevich CAN
Ross Mcmaster CAN
Kurt Sorge CAN
Andreu Lacondeguy ESP
Wayne Goss CAN
Benny Korthaus GER
Trond Hansen NOR
Grant Fielder UK
Lance McDermott UK
Adam Hauck USA
Alex Reveles USA
Andrew Taylor USA
Cameron McCaul USA
Cameron Zink USA
Greg Watts USA
Jamie Goldman USA
Phil Sundbaum USA
Paul Basagoitia USA
Tyler McCaul USA