Photography by Brett Willhelm/Red Bull Content Pool
On Saturday, April 20, 2019, weekend crowds gathered under sunny blue skies at the base of Copper Mountain for an annual event that never ceases to turn heads: Red Bull SlopeSoakers. Returning to the Colorado resort for the eighth time, the competition pitted more than 60 skiers and snowboarders against each other on a pond skim-slopestyle course that incorporated jumps and elevated rail features for competitors to use as they aimed to impress a panel of judges.
FREESKIER was on-site to witness the madness first-hand, but mainly to confirm that the event is as rowdy as it sounds. We’ll be honest: It’s just as hot, wet and messy as you’d imagine. From full-on belly flops to backflip exits out of the pond skim, Saturday’s competitors brought every ounce of their creativity and skill into play.
Graded on tricks, style, crowd reaction, risk and reward, skimming ability and splash factor, skiers and riders contended for cash prizes, a Copper Mountain season pass and cameras from GoPro—pretty, pretty, pretty nice winnings for skiing across a pool of water. This year’s winners on the ski side were 17-year-old Deven Fagan and Keystone-based freestyler, 28-year-old Nadia Gonzalez, whose overall performances wowed the judges into complete submission.
Watch the FINALS on Red Bull TV:
