Sunday, February 11, 2001 -- Snowshoe, WV
Edge of the World Freestyle and Boardercross
Story and photos by Don Parks

[Details] [Coverage]
[Overall Results]
Pictures: [Set 1] [Set 2] [Set 3] [Set 4] [Set 5] [1999 Coverage] [2000 Coverage]

No doubt, the hits were HUGE!

A spectacular day on the slopes of Snowshoe Mountain set a perfect stage for Edge of the World's annual visit. The occasion for this year was the last event before the Edge of the World series finals at North Carolina's Hawksnest Resort on February 25th.

What a series event brings is an awesome display of sick snowboarding in slopestyle and boardercross disciplines. With everyone getting monster air, and many throwing in acrobatic tricks, the terrain park at Snowshoe's Silver Creek area was the place to be on Sunday afternoon. "On the east coast, this is the biggest terrain park I've seen," stated Ben Millsaps, the Men's Expert slopestyle winner.

Millsaps (M3 - Farmers Backside), a 20 year-old from Boone NC currently living in Bend OR, scored a 70.5 out of a possible 80 points. The total is the combined score of two runs, each being scored on a 10-point scale for How Big, Style, Difficulty, and Landing. Millsaps impressed the judges with moves like a Backside 720 and an Emanuel Flip. Coming in a close second was his good friend Ross Dillon (Burton - Clive - Oakley - Edge of the World). The 21 year-old from Boone NC scored a 68.5.

INCOMING!!!!

The day's slopestyle course began with three quick table tops that led into an assortment of obstacles. You could stay left and hit one huge lip on a massive table, or steer right and have at an assortment of rails including one rainbow. From there is was on to a big hip jump, a quarter pipe and another sick table with your choice of two lips. To finish things off you still had another chance at one more big hit at the bottom of the course.

With many of the less advanced riders opting out on some of the biggest hits, this was not the case for John Holder (Burton). The 42 year-old Sugar Mountain NC native was out showing the youngsters a thing or two. His score of 55.0 in the Intermediate Men's division was enough to give him first place by two points over 18 year-old David Massie (Rosignol - Version) from Kingsport TN.

However, in the Men's Beginner division, youth certainly prevailed. Stealing the show was 7 year-old Tyler Flanagan (Burton). Racing out of the Cataloochee Ski Area in NC, this guy is only in his second year on the slopes and is showing that he's a fast learner. Just slightly older, at 9 years-old, Nick Capron (Nitro - Flow - Version - Red Baron Room) scored 29 points to Flanagan's 31 to grab second.

"Tower to Snowshoe, you are clear for landing"

The women of snowboarding [Ed. note: We're still waiting for the calendar!] were also out in full force. They, too, were impressed by the Snowshoe venue, "I've never been on hits like this," commented an almost giddy Jadi Seiz (Sims - Edge of the World). The 16 year-old from Banner Elk NC, and member of the Sugar Mountain Snowboard Team, knows something that many folks are just finding out about competitive snowboarding, "All the girls are so nice and we're having super-fun."

In the Expert class it was the always impressive Whitney McVey (Burton - US Snowboard Training Center - Edge of the World - Clive) beating out Seiz for the title. The 18 year-old Greensborro NC native used a combination of big air and technical tricks, including a Backside 360, to impress the judges. For someone who joked "I'm just here for the pizza...", her 62.0 score tied for the third highest given out the entire competition. "It was just a fun day," she added with a smile, "a LOT of fun!"

Yep! As much fun as it looks

"I Just came out for the fun of it," said Alice Owens, a 13 year-old from Blowing Rock NC who is enjoying her first year of riding. With a score of 40.0 it was enough fun to win the Women's Intermediate. Squeezing 23.0 points out of the judges, 30 year-old Amy Waters from Ashville NC, took home the Beginner class honors.

As the afternoon sun started to dip down below the mountain top, the gates were set up and ready to go for the Boardercross. In heats of four, it was every person for themselves in a first to the bottom race.

Maybe using a home field advantage, Ry Mitchem (Quick Silver), who was born and raised in Snowshoe WV, was the Men's Open winner. Being a man a few words, Mitchem simply said "I am the man!" [Ed. note: Okay, that is a lie, Ry never said that. It was his friend Adam Cumashot that spoke those words on his behalf.]

Now that's a hole shot!

In the Women's Open it was Jadi Seiz, possibly getting a little redemption for her second in the Slopestyle, who scored the victory. She won all three of her heats and credited her win, "because I was having fun." But she added, "Getting the hole-shot was important."

In the Men's Beginner class it was Chris Culler (Vertical Urge), an 18 year-old from Raleigh NC, coming out on top. His thoughts on success in his first boardercross race, "It was a lotta fun and I'm gonna move up a class in my next competition."

For all the fun [Ed. note: Anyone getting the hint that everyone had a good time... Anyone getting sick of these "Ed. notes"?] a huge thanks goes out to Edge of the World and all their great reps that provided a wealth of prizes. Snowshoe also deserves a big hand for their tremendous work on the terrain park. Especially Snowboard Program Manager Bryan Marshall, Park Supervisor Theo Bliagous and Groomer Mike Thompson.