words by Dave Pires

photos by Josh Anderson

The third day of the Poor Boyz Jib Jam held the first competition of the hybrid event. Today’s all day session and video shoot on the Dakine rail line will be edited and submitted to you, and after 30 hours of voting our first winner will be chosen.

Andrew Hathaway

The rail line consists of three hits. The first feature, nicknamed “Graffiti,” is the step-up gap to flat box to down box that Mike Wilson crash tested on day one. Immediately after Graffiti is “44 Magnum,” the gap-flat-down that was sessioned yesterday. 44 Magnum leads into “Danny Way,” a step-up to rainbow rail that screams Pete Alport. If Kris Ostness pioneered backcountry gaps, and Candide Thovex birthed huge spins onto flat-down rails, Alport surely has a monopoly on skyscrapers with consequences.

The competition was segmented into three sessions of an hour and a half, and conditions were prime. Unfortunately, as soon as everything was set to get under way clouds rolled through, flattening the light and forcing a delay. Eventually the sun came out, but as soon as the athletes dialed their speed the rapidly shifting clouds moved back in and it began to snow lightly. The fresh accumulation slowed everyone down, throwing another wrench into the works and creating further delays.

Mike Henitiuk

When the sun returned, Andrew Hathaway, Matt Margetts, and Mike Henitiuk began to consistently destroy Graffiti, but with a half an hour left in the session the weather worsened yet again, and the hot dogs cooked up by ski patrol were too much to resist.

The break between features was extensive, as an intense storm blew in and the fresh snow scrambled everyone’s speed again, with Margetts likening the conditions to “Bambi on ice.” When the weather finally cleared everyone was eager to ski, and four sleds ripped up and down the hill, giving all the riders plenty of opportunities to work on 44 Magnum.

Ben Moxham

At the top of the park silence prevailed, disturbed only by returning sleds and tinny headphones blocking out the world. Like clockwork the good light disappeared, and eventually Margetts and Hathaway were the only riders keeping the session alive, determined to lock down their banger tricks.

Ben Moxham

After overshooting his previous hit, Margetts slipped 10 feet downhill and started to dig out a fresh start point with the tail of his skis.

“Aww look at my fucking heel piece.”

Digging his tail in again, his binding creaks and separates from his ski.

“Do you have another pair of skis?”

“No. But it doesn’t matter.”

Smiling, he checks the light and drops in.

Ben Moxham

During the second break between sessions the sun returned. Margetts, Hathaway, and talented Idaho wild card Ben Moxham went at 44 Magnum again; Hathaway working hard to lock down a stylish fakie to fakie, Margetts intensely focused on cleaning an elusive 450 on pretzel 270 out.

After countless attempts Margetts formulates a mantra,“Poke, stomp, swivel, kick.” He says it out loud once for emphasis, and you can see him focus it internally. He drops in one more time, and finally sticks the hammer clean, ending the exhausting session.

Mike Henitiuk

The spotty weather and late start take their toll during the second official break, and with some reluctance, Mike Henitiuk, Dane Tudor, Colby Albino, Hathaway, Moxham, and Margetts eventually grind to the top and set to work on Danny Way.

The lengthy day seems to have jaded the remaining riders, and they get comfortable on Danny Way faster than any other feature, quickly cracking off a variety of buttery smooth hits.

Matt Margetts

The sun slowly dropped out of the sky, shade crept steadily towards Danny Way, and Alport was antsy to bank a few shots before the day (and possibly the feature) was done. With warmer weather on the way he was concerned about the step-up deteriorating, having mentioned earlier that, “If that lip melts three inches it will be impossible to replicate.”

Desperately yelling, “Drop,” from his ladder after each rider, Alport practically begged the sun to reverse its descent.

Matt Margetts

“Drop!”

“Drop!”

“Does anybody have an extra card?

Matt Margetts

“Drop!”

“Drop!”

“Alright, no more presses and hand drags, huck your best shit.”

“Drop!”

Dane Tudor