Sun, snow and no boys allowed; the CoverGirl Snow Angels Invitational, presented by Oakley, wrapped up in Aspen / Snowmass earlier this month and, allegedly, was one of the most fun women's snowboarding events.
Dreamt up by snowboard superstar Gretchen Bleiler, the comp had been two years in the making, so the pressure was on as the finest female riders from across the globe congregated on her home mountain for a weekend of super progressive pipe riding, girly pampering plus partying. A unique, women-only event, sponsors Oakley also showcased the upcoming 2008 / 2009 Gretchen Bleiler Signature Collection, her Signature A Frame Stockholm and Ravishing goggles plus next year's new women's eyewear collection...
Under blue skies the inaugural Snow Angels started without a hitch on Friday April 4, as the ladies had a practice and photo shoot on Snowmass's freshly cut pipe. This was followed by massages at the Snowmass Club, and an enviornmental workshop led by green hearted Gretchen, giving each rider a list of actions the girls could do to make even more impact - from choosing environmentally friendly sponsors, to talking to home resorts and researching political candidates. After all this seriousness the ladies then headed for dinner at The Little Neil in Aspen for a cooking class with sustainable chef Ryan Hardy. Yum.
The Superpipe Jam kicked off on Saturday straight into a warm up; unusual for a pipe comp, the jam format meant 13 competitors were allowed to take as many runs in the pipe as they wanted in an hour and 30 minutes. Japanese rippers Soko Yamaoka and Shiho Nakashima killed it, while Kelly Clark boosted higher than any other lady - but then crashed and broke her helmet. Tricia Byrnes lapped the pipe more than anyone, while Oakley rider Elena Height threw two nines - the only girl to do so. Kaitly Farrington threw some stylee McTwists, while Clair Bidez stomped a perfect backside 900. Most progressive women's pipe comp ever? Witnesses say so.
But, after her event went without a hitch, Gretchen was even more stoked - when she won her own event with a smooth run of frontside 720, cab 720, backside 540 and frontside 900, she was then (controversially?) also awarded the Most Progressive Riding award. Ms Clark took the Best Trick gong for her frontside 900, plus Highest Air. Their prize included spa treatments valid for the Winter X Games, plus ever entrant took home a slice of the $20 000 prize purse - which was probably spent at that evening's girl's night at the Fly Lounge in downtown Aspen, where the ladies got tipsy on Snow Queen Vodka and danced all night.
A perfect pipe, free facials, yoga sessions and awesome parties? I'm so there next year...
Final results:
1st – Gretchen Bleiler (OAKLEY), Aspen, CO. – $10,000
2nd – Kelly Clark, Mount Snow, VT – $4,500
3rd – Elena Hight (OAKLEY), South Lake Tahoe, CA – $2,000
4th – Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT – $1,000
5th – Manuela Pesko, Lenzerheide, Switzerland – $500
Best Trick – Kelly Clark with a frontside nine hundred
Highest Air – Kelly Clark
Most Progressive Riding – Gretchen Bleiler
http://oakley.com/women/uniquely
Images: Oakley
Like this? Then try: AFM and Gretchen take Russia | Who's the best female snowboarder ever? | Nikita Chickita wraps up in Serfaus
