Clif Dimon and Susan Mol dominate against tough competition, as packed field of competitive big mountain snowboarders pit their skills against Snowbird’s cliff-scattered North Baldy venue

February 10, 2008. Snowbird, Utah—The waiting game paid off big, as competitors and event organizers alike woke up Sunday morning to perfect blue skies and an ideal kick-off to The North Face Masters inaugural event at Snowbird.

After a weather day due to low visibility on Saturday, everyone was primed to see Snowbird’s North Baldy venue come to life. Competitors took turns blazing unthinkable lines down an open canvas of cliff bands and variable wind-blown terrain.

Having a Crested Butte, Colorado, mailing address worked in both the men and women winners’ favors, as both Susan Mol and Clif Dimon of Crested Butte managed to hold off the hungry pack of world-class riders through the Semi Final and Super Final rounds, riding away with $5,000 and $4,000 respectively and an all-expenses paid trip to compete at the Alyeska, Alaska, finals of The North Face Masters, April 2-6, 2008 courtesy of The North Face.

“Today was just a dream,” said women’s champion Susan Mol, shortly after blasting through her second of two top-scoring runs, “It was so cool to finally see a big mountain comp exclusively for freeriders, not to mention how many women jumped at the opportunity. It was daunting to see the level of girls in the running, so I just told myself to get out there and charge it, and it worked out better than I could have hoped for.”

Experience paid off for seasoned rider Clif Dimon in the men’s field, as he gripped the lead against rookie, 22 year-old Ryland Bell of Tahoe City, California, who grabbed second place in his first-ever competition. Dimon pushed the boundaries in both runs against a formidably strong field of male riders, blowing judges and crowds away with a seemingly impossible series of massive double-hit cliff launches.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better day,” shined Jimmy Hopper, Event Manager for The North Face, “I love seeing this all come together the way it has. The energy is so high across the whole event, from the athletes that are pushing each other to the limit, to the crowds that are cheering them on…this is exactly what we had envisioned when The North Face Masters concept first came to life.”

Across the roster, it was clear that every single rider that stepped onto the starting line meant business. Whether is was 43-year old women’s legend and local favorite Lori Gibbs-Carlson, who came out of a long retirement to show she still has it, to Canada’s Martin Gallant, that sent everybody’s heads spinning with a technical and committed line that included a jaw dropping ride down a cliff face. The spectators packed in along Baldy Flats knew it; these riders all brought their A-Game.

For more information, and to see videos, athlete bios, and photos from the Snowbird event, please log on to thenorthface.com/masters