Paul Mitchell Halfpipe Progression Session at the Breck Grand Prix

Not since the epic jams of the late 90’s US Open halfpipe finals has the u-tube competition scene been privy to such dense, next level, pipe trickery as what went down at the Paul Mitchell Progression Session at Breckenridge on Saturday the 15th of December, 2007. The staff at Breckenridge created a unique halfpipe venue complete with stadium lights, deckside jibs and a perfect cut transition. Thirty five riders were chosen for the hour long jam. Like fine coffee the Paul Mitchell Halfpipe Progression Session was good to the last drop. It was vertical snowboarding insanity with three riders in the pipe at a time going hit for hit, each one besting the other bringing style, airtime and showmanship to the often predictable halfpipe arena. Instead of stock runs the competitors were encouraged to go for the gusto and focus on getting their best single tricks thrown down. To add more incentive to the mix, Rip It energy drink put up an extra $2500 to the rider who performed the best jib tricks on either the flatbar or wallride situated just above the last hit of the pipe.

The results don’t tell the full tale, as many of the pros appearing this evening could have made the podium, but that is a debate that is subject to each viewer's individual taste. For the men Shayne Pospisil got first followed by Michael Goldschmidt and Danny Davis respectively. For the female portion of the field, Elena Hight ended up on top with Dominique Vallee and Mercedes Nichols earning second and third. Winning the Rip It best trick was young Tim Humphreys who settled a Crail grab Miller Flip on the wallride. Though these are the names of those riders who ended up in the money there were many other tricks that deserve their props. Bellow I have listed most of what I can recall of the action that went down. It is a long list because even after an hour and a half straight of riding the officials couldn’t pull the pro’s from the pipe. They just kept dropping and dropping. The event will air on TV some time soon and I hope other halfpipe event organizers take a gander at the show because this is the type of event that needs to happen again and again.

Charles Reid – Alley-oop Andrecht on the wallride.
Crispin Lipscomb – Fs 540 crippler tail tap revert on the wallride.
Chad Otterstrom – Switch bs 900
Greg Bretz – Alley-oop 720 Japan mctwist
Zak Stone – Bs 1080
Jeremy Thompson – Alley-oop crail.
Thomas Hardsted – Andrecht on the flatbar.
Shayne Pospisil – Japan to fakie followed by a Japan Haakanflip.
Trevor Jacob – Fs Invert on the wallride.
Danny Davis – Cab 1080.
Gary Zebrowski – Fs 1080.
Brad Martin – Cork fs 1260.
Shayne Pospisil – Alley-oop 720.
Michael Goldschmidt – FS Mute Stiffy to fakie.
Greg Bretz – Bs 540 Crail.
Matt Lindemuth – Double Crippler.
Zak Stone – Back to back 900’s.
Elena Hight – Cork cab 720.
Chad Otterstrom – Retardedly huge straight airs.
Luke Mitrani – Switch bs 720.
Jeremy Thompson – Alley-oop 900.
Shayne Pospisil – Crail Haakanflip.
Danny Davis – Truck driver Haakanflip.
Dominique Vallee – Alley-oop bs rodeo.
Greg Bretz – Fs 1080.
Mason Aguirre – Switch bs Alley-oop rodeo.
Danny Davis – Miller flip on the wallride.
Mason Aguirre – Cab 360 to backside disaster on the flatbar.
Harry Gray – Bs 50-50 alley-oop revert.
Andreas Wiig – Half-cab layback revert on the wallride. Chad Otterstrom – Switch Crippler.

Men's Results:
1. Shayne Pospisil
2. Michael Goldschmidt
3. Danny Davis

Women's Results:
1. Elena Hight
2. Dominique Vallee
3. Mercedes Nichols

Rip It Best Trick:
Tim Humphreys - Crail grab Miller Flip