West Coast Invitational Fiesta de la Pipa 2009

Where's the beef? Nate Farrell. Photo: T. Bird

Words: Jenna Klein

After a day of delay, riders finally brought the party to the pipe during the WCI Fiesta de la Pipa. Though this packed pipe jam usually signifies springtime slush and sippin’ on coldies, the event was tainted by some cold one’s straight from nature, which wasn’t exactly the gift riders were hoping for. Trading in their springtime attire for a more appropriate winter kit, soaked shreds braved the wet and windy weather to put on a show for those willing to brave the elements with them.

The pipe was loaded with sunken edge marks and scuffed up tranny, but that took no attention away from riders like Kevin Pearce, Luke and Jack Mitrani, Pat Moore, Greg Bokencamp, Chas Guldemond, Greg Bretz, Nate Farrell and Wyatt Caldwell. Riders made use of the slow conditions by unleashing lip tricks and playing the creativity card, but began to bang out some real moves by the time they settled in.

PHOTOS: 2009 WCI FIESTA DE LA PIPA

While winds gusted at speeds sailboat captains dream about, Greg Bretz undauntedly tossed out cab 10’s while Chas Guldemond set down some alley-oop backside rodeos with ease. Also ruling, Tim “Humpy” Humphreys was fresh off a night of watching Wolverine and unleashed his inner strength on the photogs with a sweet tropical surf trip-esque barrel, blasting soggy slush straight in their direction. With Bretz taking a break from prototype grand prix runs, he let his inner child rage straight towards the piñata, taking it down and taking home bragging rights by giving it an ultra appropriate birthday bashing.

As everyone’s drenched day came to a close, riders gathered in the bottom of the pipe to secretly cast their votes. The rider judged system utilized by WCI is both unique and appropriate to snowboarding, after all, if your peers aren’t impressed by you, then who really cares who is? As riders wracked their brains to choose the right one, the battle was tight between Greg Bretz and Luke Mitrani, but it was not so little Luke that pulled through. I’m pretty sure Luke was riding in a pipe of his own, one without wind or rain because he managed to bag more air than Jordan with a variety of moves including huge front nines.

Big ups to the Mammoth Unbound crew, Oren Tanzer, Vans, Redbull and all the others who battled the bitch known as mother nature to make this happen.

2009 WCI Fiest de la Pipa Results
1st Luke Mitrani
2nd Greg Bretz

PHOTOS: 2009 WCI FIESTA DE LA PIPA

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