We’ve reached that point of the spring when 99% of the humans in the northern hemisphere have directed their eyes away from the still snow covered peaks and take focus on whatever it is that ruffles their feathers over the summer months. But for some, including most of our beloved El Ninos its the time of the year when for 5 days straight they can either put up or shut up at Snowboarder Magazines 21st annual SuperPark at Mammoth Mountain CA.
And luckily for us El Ninos never shut up so it was go time baby!!!!
With the record amounts of snow the Sierra’s have seen this year the monstrosities that were created off of chair 10 and 4 at Mammoth mountain were without question some of the biggest piles of snow ever pushed up for kids to play on.
As with many SuperPark events of the past, at some point in the middle of those chaotic 5 days the early morning sessions combined with sunset sessions combined with full days of hot laps and beers start to blur and simply surviving in once piece becomes the objective. Fortunately as the madness came to an end our boys were sent home with all of their heads and limbs in tact.
That’s not to say that there weren’t some close calls, but fortunately the VZ El Ninos are so skilled on snow that most of their “close calls” only come late at night. And this year was no exception. The end of this chaos we should mention ended in the weeee hours of the morning drinking beers in the hotel room with Halldor and the rest of the crew laughing hysterically as we listened to a war cry of Halldor, Halldor, Halldor echoing across the Mammoth village from the street level. By the time the shredding was over it would seem, Halldor displayed a level of dominance to such an extent that everyone else in attendance at the award ceremony was completely willing to follow him and his SuperPark Standout Award into a party battle with anybody (including Mammoth PD) who attempted to stand in the way. We've seen some parties in our time but this was truly on another level.
So yes it would seem that after suffering a broken ankle at last years SuperPark, Halldor came back with something to prove. And of course that’s what he did. If you ask him however (as we did many times) he just says “It's chill man”.
This wasn’t just the Halldor show however as Red Gerard, Aspen Weaver, Justin Phipps, Dusty Henriksen and the new kids on the block Alex Aetno and Tyler Flannigan were in full force throughout the 5 days. Here are some highlights.
Day 2 was the day that the kids started to find their rhythm within the giant mounds of snow strewn around the Chair 10 and 4 and things began to to get heated. Here, Tyler Flanagan aka: @t.flan with a whole lot of space around him.
Red Gerard or @redgerard as you may know him taking it into over time on day 2
Day 3 was in our mind the day that actually solidified Halldor as the Standout of SuperPark. The highlight video link below doesn’t necessarily show all of the moments that affirm our belief in this but it will definitely help you understand the magnitude of what SuperPark is all about in 2017. not to be sold short, Alex Atno aka: @alex_atno knows that if you’ve got a problem jumping over snowcats you’re gonna get nowhere at SuperPark. The dude went places!
Red Gerard @redgerard transfers from some unseen takeoff to some unknown landing. The options were endless
Halldor knows if you wanna get weird sometimes you’ve got to put your shoulder into it.
Day 4 was a blowout and everyone was out for blood. With the forecast looking like the fifth and final day would be full of clouds and wind, all the ElNinos were on it from from first light to Sunset. Halldor again… 7am and already confusing the crap out of everyone...
Tyler Flanagen loves the flybys. Really early or really late… Who even knows anymore?
