Friday, March 19th, 1999- Super G, Big air qualifiers, Big Air Finals

Despite our best efforts, and those of the parties involved, the bad publicity created by last year's open, seems to have taken the stoke out of this year's festivities.  Although it was Friday, and the party doesn't swing into full effect until Saturday, it seems like an event like Big Air should have enough specator draw to fill all of Stratton's parking lots. 

Now, my time spent at Stratton was during the day, so maybe this could explain the lack of bathroom lines, however, it was not only the insignificance of the masses, but the dark cloud which seemed to surround everyone's heads.  The drunken good time which is usually had seemed few and far between (not to say that no acohol consumption took place), and everyone just seemed tired.  Not only due to a lack of sleep, but also sick and tired of poor judging and crumy prize money. Not to be negative, as I am trying to put the thrill back in the event, but a competition with the prestige of the US Open Snowboard Championships should have none of these complaints.  

As for today, Super G started out the morning, with Mark Fawcett and Steffi Von Siebentha taking home $5,000 each.  Then big air practice led into Big air qualifiers, and semi finals. The jump took a few victims, including Pat Bridges and Jason Borgstede, as well as scaring off such competitors as Todd Richards and Jim Rippey, so the total amount of riders was much smaller than it should be.  Once again, the women all automatically qualified, since fewer than would have qualified showed up.   Don't you wish (or aren't you glad) you're a girl. Although big air is my personal favorite, halfpipe practice had the biggest crowd draw, that is until the grand finally, Nighttime Big Air Finals. (more to come; complete coverage of Big air finals)    

Super G Results

Super G victor Mark Fawcett celebrates by eating my fries.

Big Air Results