Snowboard team manager Eric Asistin and I made the drive to San Francisco this weekend. For those that don’t know, San Francisco is a mecca for hippies, hyphy kids, and hipsters three hours down the road from Tahoe. For one weekend a year during Icer Air, it is also ground zero for skiers.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a landing that was mostly pavement and a crazy looking catapult contraption. Miles Honens, Porters ski team rider, was invited to this incarnation of Icer Air. Though some competitors were pissed, Miles kept his cool during the delays and expressed confidence and calm beyond his young 15 years. Eventually, an extra truck of snow drove in, the crew finished the landing, and Icer was on.

The basic concept of the catapult was to grab hold of a rope that flung the skier along a narrow bumpy runway from zero to sixty in two seconds. Watching the acceleration was incredible. Tahoe local Sean Hartel guineaed the jump as the pros looked on in amazement. The catapult worked and the competition began.

Though conditions were tough with a bombed out landing, all competitors, including Miles, made a valiant effort. Corked 1080s, rodeo 5s and 7s, double flips, stylish slow spins, and a host of other tricks were thrown. Very few competitors found their feet consistently, and the best trick ultimately went to Swede Jacob Wester with the cork 10. Miles was rewarded for his efforts with a $2000 prize, not a bad days work.

Through all the difficulties, Miles and the other competitors proved to be true professionals: signing autographs, shaking hands with the spectators, and entertaining the crowd. Local Tahoe ski celebs Johnny Moseley, CR Johnson, and Sean Field didn’t compete but were on hand to help with the jump, stoke up the athletes, and spread the good vibe amongst the crowd. Though Icer Air was certainly challenging, my hat goes off to everyone who truly made the best of a difficult situation.

Labels: Icer Air 2008, Jacob Wester, Miles Honens, San Francisco, Sean Field

Comments: Post a Comment

Links to this post:

<$BlogBacklinkTitle$>  
<$BlogBacklinkSnippet$>

<$I18NPostedByBacklinkAuthor$> @ <$BlogBacklinkDateTime$>

---

Create a Link

<< Home