The 4th annual Jibassic Pro Invitational went off this past weekend, bringing in some of the top rail talent in the country as well as some local Tahoe-area ams. Tom Wallisch, Steve Stepp, Mike Hornbeck and LJ Strenio are some of the well-known skiers who were able to make the trek out and compete in the annual rail jam. Boreal had constructed a brand new staircase feature that included a down-flat-down single barrel, a flat-down box and a down rail. The staircase was followed by a cannon-tube, giving competitors ample airtime. This years format was a winner-takes-all $2,000 + 2 tickets from Southwest Airlines.
The JPI setup.
In addition to blowing enough snow to hold the competition without the need scaffolding, Boreal’s park crew had also worked tirelessly to provide the public with a Jib Area complete with a flat box, c-box, up box, down box, staircase and a mini-table. Over 450 skiers and snowboarders came out to hike the features.
LJ Strenio, switching it up.
Having spent a few hours in the jib area the athletes needed little warm-up on the JPI feature and immediately began throwing every trick imaginable. Virtually everyone was throwing 270-on to one of the staircase features, and from there tricks graduated to 360 switch ups, 450 on, and even a few rodeo 450’s out of the cannon tube. It is safe to say the level of competition was steep, Wallisch even managed to pull a crowd-pleasing rodeo 630 off the cannon before the end of the 45 minute jam session.
Sean Hartel, trucking up to the top of the drop.
With the competition over it was time for the judges to tally the scores and find the winner, Tom ended up walking away with the prize money, and local skier Dylan Curry skiing his way into 3rd place.
1st Place – Tom Wallisch
2nd Place – LJ Strenio
3rd Place – Dylan Curry
The podium.
JPI Sponsor Moment Skis put up a pair of skis to be awarded to the best unsponsored skier in the event. Coming off a season ending knee injury last year, local Scotty Nikkel threw down harder than the other unsponsored skiers in the event to win a pair of 08/09 Moment Reno Jibs.
Big thanks goes out to Jon Slaughter and Eric Rosenwald from Boreal for putting together another great event, and to all the athletes that made it out.
Story and pictures by Jason Badgley
Andy MacDowell, 270 on.
T.Wallisch makes it look so damn easy.
Billy ‘the’ Mann.
