WORLD-CLASS RIDERS LAURA DEWEY AND ROSS BAKER DOMINATE FIRST DAY OF THE NORTH FACE MASTERS Over eight feet of new snow earlier in the week at Kirkwood provides an incredible final stop of The North Face Masters of Snowboarding
Kirkwood, California, March 6, 2009- More than eight feet of new snow greeted 77 snowboarders for the first day on the final stop of The North Face Masters of Snowboarding (TNF Masters) at Kirkwood Mountain Resort, California, today. An intense first day, qualifying runs were hosted in the storied terrain of Lookout Vista – a newly lift accessed area at Kirkwood – complete with challenging cliff chutes and steep pitches. The top riders on the day were Laura Dewey of Snowbird, Utah, and Ross Baker of Squaw Valley, California.
Recent storms delivering massive amounts of snow this week meant that Lookout Vista remained closed until the day leading into the competition. Tomorrow’s venue, the permanently closed area of The Cirque was perhaps the most talked about item of the day as riders prepared for the event finals to take place on Saturday. Fresh snow accumulations in Lookout Vista served as a fantastic training ground for the undeniable challenge awaiting riders tomorrow morning.
“The ultimate challenge at Kirkwood is the terrain of the Cirque,” said Lake Tahoe rider Jeremy Jacobson. “I’ve been at all three stops on the tour, and there couldn’t be a better suited venue for the final day of the event - it shows a true progression among the riders from start to finish.”
Competitors pushed the envelope as they negotiated the rock-lined chutes of Lookout Vista before boosting airs anywhere from 15 to 45 feet in an effort to advance to day two. TNF Masters 2008 co-champion Laura Dewey of Snowbird, Utah, flashed her line with three airs, which she cleanly stomped. Her fast, hesitation-free style impressed the judges and she advances to day two in top position ahead of Tiffany Noel of Mammoth, California, and Michelle Locke of Lake Louise, Alberta.
The stacked men’s field includes TNF Masters Snowbird winner Matt Annetts and TNF Masters Crested Butte winner Clif Dimon. It was Ross Baker however, who came out on top today. Baker charged his line, easily landing a huge air, rode extremely fast, strong and fluid. He sits in first ahead of Ryan Egan of Squaw Valley, California, Ryland Bell of Cleary Summit, Alaska, and sitting in fourth is Rob Kingwill, winner of the 2008 TNF Masters final stop in Alyeska, Alaska. Current overall point’s leader, Matt Annetts of Stowe, Vermont, crashed and did not make the cut to tomorrow’s finals. Clif Dimon, who sits in second overall, was also knocked out of contention, in an unfortunate fall. The door is wide open for a new TNF Masters Champion.
Athletes start fresh tomorrow, as today’s points will not carry over. Day two of TNF Masters at Kirkwood heads to The Cirque and the better of two runs will ultimately decide the winner. The area offers a variety of tight lines and huge airs with serious implications including several no-fall zones. After the first run, a cut will be made and only the top competitors will compete in the super finals, at the end of the day
