ACTIVE SPONSOR ME JIB FEST

With blue skies, 9 feet of new snow, and a line of competitors out the door, riders and spectators alike were pumped for Active's 4th annual Sponsor Me Jib Fest on Sunday, February 27. Last year's overall winner, Jason Hindman, took first for the second consecutive year and received a one-year sponsorship from Rome snowboards, Planet Earth outerwear, ThirtyTwo boots, Von Zipper eyewear, and Active Ride Shop. Second place was awarded to Corey Whetstone followed by Spencer Link in third. In the Women's division, it was a battle between Laurie Currier, who took the top spot this year, and last year's winner, Erin Podue, who followed up with second. Lynn Tran rounded out the Women's division winners in third place. In the 12 and under division, Chris Sovich came in first, followed by Nick Sibayan, and Justin Stevens.

According to Active's on-site organizer Todd Wakeling, the event provides the opportunity for up-and-coming competitors to take their riding to the next level. It gives them an introduction to the professional side of the sport and companies the opportunity to view talented young riders.

Said Todd Wakeling, "We basically have organized chaos going on. In a jib contest, you get a large number of competitors in a small area. This allows our five judges, who are stationed in different parts of the event, to focus on the progression of the individual riders as they hit the rails and jibs. Because the judges view the contest from different angles in different areas, we can come together and reach an objective opinion about the riders that really shine in the event. Since Mountain High has some of the most innovative rails, boxes, and jibs in Southern California, it helps challenge the riders to throw down their best tricks."

The format was a 15-minute jam session per group, per rail, with five rails available for the riders to show their best. After each 15-minute session, the groups would shift to alternative rails. In the preliminaries, the contest highlighted signature Mountain High features including the Dragon Rail, 40 Foot Hand Rail, Toolbox, Kink Box, and Roller Box. The finals were held on the Dragon Rail, 40 foot Long Rail, and the "Contraption," a combination of the mini wall ride which acted as a ramp to a 20-foot flat rail to a downhill fun box.

Laurie Currier, winner of the Women's division, came in from Salt Lake City, Utah for the contest. She is formerly a local Wrightwood rider and still views Mountain High as her home mountain. Commenting on the trick that won it for her Laurie said, "It's kind of hard to tell, but I think it was my 270 On, 270 Out on the Toolbox. I think that was the cleanest."

Jason Hindman from San Bernardino took first place and a year's sponsorship from the supporting companies for the second year in a row. He sees the Sponsor Me contest as one of the best events around because of the format and the way that it's set up. Jason pulled some of his best tricks on the Dragon Rail that included a Frontside Boardslide all the way through, a Switch Nose Slide to Frontside Boardslide, and a Frontside Boardslide to Pretzel. Describing the Pretzel Jason said, "You hop on the rail with a Frontside Boardslide, then you spin 270 Out the opposite way."

Jason thought that the hardest part of the course was the Death Gap and offered, "Props to everyone who was gapping that. It was crazy." One of those who gapped the set up was second place winner Corey Whetstone, who did a clean 270 over the flat to a 50/50 on the box. Third place winner, 14 year old Spencer Link received mad props for being the first rider to attempt to clear the flat bar. His first attempt was cover page perfect. Unfortunately, he later slammed hard attempting a 180 over the rail, but rode on through the contest, earning well-deserved respect all around.

Summing it all up, Active's Todd Wakeling said, "Because the riders are getting so good on the rails, we decided to set up a little more difficult course this year and the result was this Tony Hawk contraption which the kids just destroyed."

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