NZsnowboard.com

28th July 2008

Last saw a return to Treble Cones Gun Barrel, for the annual NZ Snowboarder Banked Slalom. Not since the events inception in 2004 has there been enough snow to run a course through this natural gully, which seems purpose-built for such a unique event. 

Ju Bray on the way down the course

Almost 80 snowboarders turned out for the day, which focuses on being a social event as much as anything although the turnout of past and present legends inevitably leads to some fierce and cut-throat competition!

NZ Snowboarder Assoc Editor Dylan Butt teamed up with the Events Crew to set a technical and challenging course, including small bluffs, tight transitions, and constant g-forces. Every turn forced competitors into the bowels of the Gun Barrel, and spat them out the other side towards the next gate.

Marcus Wherle getting it done

Thanks to recent dumps, snow conditions were superb although the weather didnt fully cooperate, with patchy visibility and flat light making the course virtually invisible at times. But this didnt seem to hinder the major players, and blistering runs were thrown down regardless.

Of course the Saddle was on, and smart competitors managed to sneak in a fair share of turns outside the course throughout the afternoon. As always, the icing on the cake!

Riders gathered at the end of the day for the Prize Giving and complementary Corona on outside the base area, where tons of booty and even cash was handed away. In the womens, defending champ Juliane Bray wasnt able to hold off Australian Steph Hickey, who came through for the win. In the mens it was Niels Ypelaar with a clear margin of over 1 second ahead of Jake Koia, to take his first Banked Slalom victory and the massive Lib Tech 190cm board.

Mens Podium : Jake Koia, Neils Zeplaar and Will Harris

Steph Hickey, Juliane Bray and Amber Schuecker on the Womens Podium

Thanks to all the sponsors that made this possible Treble Cone, Lib Tech, Corona, Nixon, Anon, Red, and of course, NZ Snowboarder. Look out next year; organisers are forever hopeful of extending the course to include the lower section of the Gun Barrel fingers crossed!


RESULTS

Women            Nation    Best Time
1    Steph Hickey    AUS        52.28
2    Juliane Bray        NZ        52.41
3    Amber Schuecker    AUS        56.81
4    Rebecca Sinclair    NZ        1:01.30
5    Katie Logan        NZ        1:02.80
6    Elli Richards    NZ        1:12.01
7    Amy Ballagh    NZ        1:08.17
8    Melissa Albom    NZ        1:16.03
9    Paula Mitchell    NZ        1:18.24
10    Nicky Williams    NZ        1:59.85

Men                Nation    Best Time
1    Niels Ypelaar    NZ        46.41
2    Jake Koia        NZ        47.60
3    Will Harris        NZ        48.24
4    Nick Walker        NZ        48.26
5    Dave Postles    NZ        48.46
6    Marcus Wehrle    AUS        48.76
7    Nick Bourke        NZ        48.98
8    Jan Kellner        GER        49.09
9    Jon Malcolm-Smith    NZ    50.35
10    Josh Charles    USA        50.93