Ski Roundtop Hosts RGames

Photos by Mike Fedyk and Erik Carlson
Words and video by Jason Wagner


Friday Night Rail Jam

While the large majority of the ski world was focused in on the Gravity Games, many of Pennsylvania's finest freeskiers were gearing up for their biggest competition of the season. Ski Roundtop kicked off their third annual "RGames" Friday night with a jam on the Vegas box sponsored by Fishbone. This box is one of the craziest things I've ever seen! This 60 foot long feature was broken up into three 20 foot sections which stepped down onto each other. The box was wired up with sensors every 6 feet down the length of the box. When a skier rode over the sensors, a section of the box would light up. The box proved challenging for many competitors initially, but before long they were greasing it consistently. Kyle Wagner and Steve Stepp were the first skiers to clean the box with stylie 270s out. After a while, skiers started spinning on to the box and switching up the drops. Kyle ended up taking home the cash with his smooth runs and consistent spins out.

Will Stepp.


Results:
Men: Kyle Wagner
Women: Michelle Wagner


Saturday Night Big Air

The biggest and most anticipated event of the weekend was the Big Air competition put on by Funtastik Skate & Board shop. Ski Roundtop decided to move this event to Saturday night this year in order to give the riders a chance to rest up from the Friday night jam. (Last year the event took place right after the Slopestyle event.) Everything about this event was bigger and better than before. The jump had three different takeoffs; 25 feet, 45 feet, and 55 feet with a really soft, steep landing. Many of the top riders stomped beautiful cork 7s and cork 9s on their first of three runs. Fourteen year old Evan Resetar busted a huge cork 9 over the 55 footer on his first run and followed it up by a smooth switch 3 on his second run. Roundtop local Steve Stepp started off with a stylie cork 7 before throwing the perfect cork 9 which earned him a second place finish. The first place spot went to Tom Wallisch of Wisp Mountain, MD. Tom stole the show with his effortless cork 7s and 9s over the 55 foot table. My favorite trick of the night was Tomâ??s huge zero which he stomped perfectly nearly three quarters of the way down the landing. The competition between the top three riders was close but it was Tom's consistency that earned him the first place finish.

Results:
1. Tom Wallisch
2. Steve Stepp
3. Evan Resetar


Steve Stepp.


Slopestyle

The slopestyle event began early Sunday morning in Roundtop's expert park. The skiers showed up around 9:00am to take a few practice runs and assist the park and pipe crew who were adding some final touches to the course. The course started out with a 50' Battleship rail followed by a 30' flat down box. The riders then had the choice of a 50' Flat Down rail or a small 20' table. Further down the course was the large table featured in Saturday night's big air. Ending out the course was a 20' Flat Rail (with a 12' gap), a small hip and a wall ride. Each skier was given two runs to qualify for a spot in the finals. Tom Wallisch put together a really sick run with a disaster onto the flat down box and a smooth shifty 360 over the 55 footer earning him a spot in the finals. Steve Stepp also advanced to the finals with a blindside switch up over the flat down box, smooth 360 over the 20' table and a clean 540 over the bottom hit. These two battled it out in the finals where both riders threw blindside switch ups on the box and smooth cork 7s over the 55 footer. Tom Wallisch took home the win and a brand new pair of Salomon Teneightys. A special thanks goes out to Ski Roundtop and all the sponsors who helped to make this event a success!



Evan Resetar.


Results:
1. Tom Wallisch
2. Steve Stepp
3. Evan Resetar

**Watch the video**

Kyle Wagner.


Tom Wallisch.