Robbie SellThe Dual Slalom Jib Jam ended with a pond skim splash down. Some riders made it across the icy water finish line and some didn't.In a change from the usual April 20 date that it usually takes place on, snowboarding's un-contest contest, otherwise known as the Grenade Games, went down this past weekend at Bear Mountain, Calif. The seventh Grenade Games featured the usual antics of Danny Kass and The Dingo and their line up of creative events and wild entertainment.
The two-day festival of fun kicked off in the typical "Grenade Time" on Saturday, starting just over four hours late. The Great Divide event -- basically a massive channel gap jump -- started things off, which immediately separated the men from the boys. Then came the Monster Mini Pipe Jam on two side-by-side halfpipes littered with jibbable features, followed by a Chinese Downhill that closed out the day. With the entire group of competitors sending it down the mountain and through a nasty mogul field in the Downhill, the carnage was ridiculous as riders piled up all over the slope.
As the sun began to set, high anticipation of a huge live hip hop performance settled in. In keeping with the theme of the weekend, The Game, who was scheduled to go on stage at 6 p.m., finally rolled up to perform for a restless crowd at about 9 p.m. Despite the rapidly dropping temperature and freezing fog, hundreds of snowboarders stuck around for one hell of a good show.
A warm and sunny day two kicked off bright and early (at about noon) on Sunday with Del The Funky Homosapien on stage a Monster Boned event held on an impressive gap jump with a rather unique landing that was shaped and decorated like a very red eyeball.
Ivy League and DJ Unite from Slightly Stoopid stepped up next on stage with some midday reggae to set the musical backdrop for perhaps the most exciting event of the Games: The Dual Slalom Jib Jam. One part slalom, one part slopestyle, and one part jib jam that ended with a dirty water pond skim, the race matched up pairs of riders who battled through the course. Some skipped harmlessly across the water while others splashed down in the icy bog. Some memorable moments included a race between Danny Kass and Eddie Wall, as well as Lucas Magoon's attempt to snowskate through the pond.
Other standouts from the weekend included Evan Heckman, who won both the Great Divide and the Dual Slalom Jib Jam, Dustin Craven's poked out one-footer on the eyeball, and the overall smooth style of Eero Niemela, Zak Hale, Ryan Paul, Ian Sams, Bobby Meeks, Mike Brokoff, Shane Fortier, Johhny Lazz and Eddie Wall.
Grenade Games 7 closed out with 90s punk band Agent Orange on stage during an awards ceremony where Danny Kass and The Dingo handed out trophies from everything from most "Rock and Roll to "Most Radical Dude."
"It was another great event. Thanks to everyone for coming out," said The Dingo. "We'll see you all next year!"
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