All Images: Matt Roebke, Courtesy of Wy’East Academy
For years, big air and slopestyle riders have been at a disadvantage in North America. Training on airbags has become a vital part of the sport, and the only ones in the world comparable to Olympic and X Games caliber jumps have been located in Europe, a costly and time-consuming adventure. All of that has changed, as Oregon’s Wy’East Mountain Academy has debuted a new record-setting airbag that will finally give these skiers and boarders a more accessible way to train.
Airbags allow for riders to learn new tricks and dial in old ones without risking tremendous injury on traditional jumps. These inflatable landing zones vary in size, but they all serve the same purpose: to limit injury while maximizing progression.
The new installation at Wy’East Academy will do just that, but at levels unforeseen by most skiers, even those who have been training for years. This is thanks to a few state-of-the-art factors incorporated in the design. The first is an adjustable ramp that can change the distance and pitch, making the system practical for different levels of riders. The second feature is the safety airbags found on either side of the ramp, and the third is a 30-foot-wide takeoff offering unparalleled levels of trick selection.
It’s truly far from ordinary, as the 80-foot-wide, 200-foot-long beast is only the second of its size in the world.
While it might seem like a trivial detail, the dry slope in-run is crucial as it allows riders to edge as if they’re on snow, delivering grip and simulating real take-offs. That final contact point with the jump can impact the entire trick, and being able to train on a material that feels like the real thing is a game-changer.
These small, eight CM tall bristles are described as “needle-mushrooms” by the system’s manufacturer, Banger Bags. Made from plastic and aluminum, the technology has been improved upon year after year. And the same goes for the company’s bags, which are continuously tested and improved upon at the world-famous Banger Park Scharnitz in Austria.
But despite an outstanding reputation, Banger Bags could only be found in Poland, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic. That’s largely due to the cost and time of production, which is part of why the new installation at Wy’East Academy was an eight-year endeavor costing nearly four million dollars.
A large portion of this funding was provided by Ed Jaramillo, who has seen his own kids graduate from Wy’East Academy and swears by the benefits of the school and its facilities to improve the lives of both Olympic hopefuls and more casual riders alike.
Of course, the most notable name at the event was none other than Shaun White. The three-time Olympic gold medalist helped lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony and even took a spin on the new jump. “I have so many memories of being here, learning new tricks, taking those tricks to competitions, winning events and looking forward to coming back every single year,” White told Forbes after the event. “In retirement, I still had such a longing to come here and be a part of the camp and help the next generation of athletes and give back.”
The event was coupled with another installation of Project Gold at Wy’East Academy. The special initiative was created by Windells Freeski and High Cascade Snowboard camps in tandem with U.S. Ski and Snowboard teams to grow youth engagement and community.
This edition brought together over 60 of the top young riders in America for a week of Olympic-caliber coaching, progression-based training and evaluation by U.S. Ski & Snowboard coaches. The idea is to build camaraderie amongst the young guns, as well as provide an opportunity for coaches to help advise and simultaneously scout the next generation.
It will be remarkable to see how this new bag enriches the routines and progress of riders over the coming years. Projects like these (not that there are many) can not only help experienced big air veterans excel, but it just might inspire a plethora of ambitious skiers to push themselves on snow and find a wealth of community.
“Wy’East Mountain Academy’s goal is to foster the next generation of global ski and snowboard talent,” said Wy’East Academy President Kevin English. “We already have a world-class training facility, but the addition of this new airbag will allow us to become a destination for aspiring riders worldwide.”
