Smash Life Banked Slalom
Words and video by Steven Goodell
The best night of riding pow I ever had was chasing Aaron Robinson down Alpental’s Armstrong Express. He pointed it everywhere and launched himself from pillow to pillow without ever pausing. The tracked out landings only made him gain speed and by the end of the night he was sending triple sets of moguls and just as stoked. Even before he disappeared into his snowboard gear like Obi-Wan Kenobi in a snowboard accident three years ago, he inspired me to trust myself. To point it toe-side and ollie hard and know that a tranny would be there if only I believed. I saw people last weekend trusting themselves like that at the Alpental stop of the Smash Life Banked Slalom, riding berms high and wholly committing to being fast or last.
The race set up in his memory to benefit the A-Rob Plant a Seed Project had the same infectious vibe. No one complained that coverage was so low, sticks were a factor. The fence netting was like a blue web of friendship binding us together and keeping us from plummeting over the eight foot switchback cliffs. Kyle Miller of Bozeman, MT even rode the fence netting above the icefall berm to a first place series finish.
I’m not proud that Summit Park Manager Joe Pope made the women and children’s divisions ride the rock solid course first, but I was impressed by their positive attitudes and communal spirit. After Guinea pigging for the boys,one female competitor posted up on turn three and flashed anyone who got claimed by the second bank — which inevitably led to more crashing, but bigger smiles.
Really, though. Huge thanks to Joe and the rotating team of twelve diggers that toiled for three days to make it happen. Seriously, guys, nice work. Non-sketchy courses are for skiers.
Todd Kirby won the day at Alpental with a time of 51.13, followed by Andy Bergin-Sperry and Kyle Miller. Mallory Sullivan and Robyn Borneman took home 2nd and 3rd after Sarris McComb clocked two blazing hot sub-minute runs to win it for the women. Snowboarding’s favorite realtor Marcel Dolak staked a claim on 1st for Grumpy Old Men. This was the second event in the Smash Life race series that started at Big Sky, MT the week before. Kyle Miller and Sarris McComb posted the best combined time for both events and won spots in the Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom in February. In brotherly form, Kyle gave his spot to Todd because he’d already found a way into LBS. He must have won a Facebook poll.
After getting netted on my first run, I managed to finish middle of the pack on my second. I wasn’t fast and I wasn’t last, but I was surrounded by my friends. And being surrounded by your friends is the real point behind Smash Life.