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11 DEC 2000
Lucas Kane, MountainZone.com Correspondent
The ho-down that happened in today's pipe glued the show and brought the first stop of the Vans Triple Crown of Snow to a close, where old school topped new, but not by much...
Todd Richards, who's been killing it for just about ever, wasn't content with 2nd in yesterday's big air, so he snaked the first pipe of the season and afterwards he fessed up. "I learned a frontside 9 on the first run of the finals and happened to stick it my last two runs." Timing.
Years younger yet equal in amplitude was Shaun White the 14-year-old �bergrom. Today they tagged him "Future Boy."
Future my ass! What about now? How 'bout those 15-foot methods?
On top of it all, he's doing it with less momentum than all and TR recognized, "Wait 'til he gets 30 more pounds on him...it's going to get interesting." Uh-huh, uh-huh, and Shaun's got something up his sleeves. In the past, he's been towed in by a snowmobile for better boost, but today it was a mere push through the start which put him way above the lip and landing him in the 2nd podium spot. Plain and simple he was pumped today. The best part is, he doesn't waver while he's soaring. This kid's trouble...really.
Xavier Hoffman pulled a 1260 and that's all I've got to say about that....
Third went to J.J. Thomas. Fourth to Danny Kass who helped rule the show.
Xavier Hoffman pulled a 1260 and that's all I've got to say about that.
Then there was Rio Tahara who was upside down all day, even after he followed his edge down and twisted his knee a bit. I thought he was done when he unstrapped right where he ate and slid to the bottom of the pipe with one foot in, favoring his leg, looking like he tore his right knee. I was boggled when he came out for a final run of equal strength and strutted for 5th place quick!
Post-podium he mentioned his ACL, but he's on his way to Mammoth for a photo shoot!? Who knows time will tell. Mend quick dood...
As for the girlies...Trycia Byrnes pulled big huge methods off the first hit and smoothed the rest of her runs for first. She was followed by Barrett Christy and Gretchen Bleiler.
Not to forget the pipe, which was a piece of work all in itself. TR dug it, too. "All I gotta say is Frank Wells (pipe builder extraordinaire) is a genius...Vans is cool cuz they know who to hire and they leave it up to them."
I knew we were done in BreckenFridge when the start gate deflated with two riders left. After last night's show, I wasn't the only one who felt Loc'd After Dark. A few others had red eyes this morning, but that didn't hurt the air, I mean amplitude, I mean today was big...enough said. Next stop hits SoCal's Snow Summit in February. See you
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