Hot Dawgz & Hand Rails 2008

Scotty Stevens front seven over the jump. Photo: Tom Monterosso

Words: Iris Lazzareschi

Snowboarders, snow sport enthusiasts, supporters and promoters are all in the same boat at this time of the year. We are all going through heavy withdrawals, anxiously waiting for the pleasant arrival of winter. Bear Mountain's own Hot Dawgz and Hand Rails is the quick fix. As dusty, hot and dirty as it may be, the sun is shining and the snow is flying... out of fire hoses being fed from trucks of ice that is.

The unique set up from the mind of Clayton Shoemaker, consisted of a one of a kind wood gap jump that conveniently doubled as multiple wallrides, a classic double barrel down bar and a inch wide flat down flat down. In between the two rails was an acid drop to the spectator friendly gap jump, host of a deep bag of tricks.

Only 50 riders were invited, those spots were hard to come by and written in stone once assigned. The top 10 from last year were pre-qualified taking the first half of the 20 spots for finals leaving10 other spots up for grabs.

The ice was melting, rails were sticky, and speed wasn't plentiful but the line-up adjusted and got down to business. 270's were there but the trend now is more technical then the old spin to win. Louif Paradis was seen doing back 180 to same way 360 out and clean back 180 switch 50-50 to switch back one out on the down bar. A 50-50 to 180 switch 50-50 was delivered from Marie Hucal on the down flat down. This mid-western Rome rider was also laying down some clean hand plants on the wall ride. Desiree Melancon represented Technine like the champ she is with a straight up tight panted gangster front blunt sameway. Johnny Lazzareschi got his 50-50 through the kink 270 to boardslide on the down, and Harrison Gordon did a tailpress through the kink like he was born to. Eric Fernadez pulled half cab to tailpress on the down bar and a front blunt to regs. Jed Anderson slayed the whole course and was going through the kink backwards like a mad man all day coming from both sides, front board and backlip.

Jumping started out conservative with safe styled stalefish, indy and nose grabs. All turned into the rodeo seven battle with warriors Ben Bogart, Chas Guldemond, and Pat Milberry. Bode Miller joined the battle earning the yells and respect from fellow riders with his switch back rodeo, quite impressive for a wooden jump and fake snow but why should we expect less? Then just to really blow us out of the water, he was trying a backflip to wallride combo. Saw some one-footers from Scott Stevens, and a creative gap idea from Ben Rice going from the jump to the landing of the side wallride. What earned best trick was an action sports fan's favorite, but times two, a double backflip, pulled off like a cat, landing on his feet, Scott Vine does the unexpected again.

The $15,000 was taken home in pieces by the following:
Men:
1. Jed Anderson
2. Chas Guldemond
3.Scott Vine

Women:
1. Desiree Melancon
2. Marie Hucal
3. Raewyn Reid

Some left with cash, bruises and ice burns, and the rest of us with smiles, memories and sunburns.

Related Links:
Hot Dawgz & Hand Rails 2008 Photos
2007 Hot Dawgz & Hand Rails

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