LV doing it real big. Fong photo.

Words: Tawnya Schultz / Pics: Matt Fong and Ham

This year’s Vans Cup was clearly reminiscent of last year’s with the exception of one minor detail that I’ll return to in a short minute. First of all there was the weather. Just like last year there was a huge dump a week before the event making conditions prime and the setup sweeter than ever. The entire weekend, besides a little wetness Saturday morning, was sunny and Tahoesque. Then we have the winners. Andres Wiig claimed a repeat victory in slope as did Danny Kass and Elena Hight in pipe. Ching, ching, dollars in the pocket. Also just like last year, after the slope event Saturday night, the snowboard industry’s finest headed to the Biltmore at Stateline to get smashed, lose money, and wake up with an insane hangover for the pipe showdown on Sunday.

It’s drinking hour. Who’s down? Casey Neefus, Yan Dofin, and myself of course.

Burton pro and now musical heartthrob, Trouble Andrew, appeared live on stage at the Bilty doing his thang without his band who for some reason couldn’t make it. Anyway he performed and had the crowd acting all crazy inviting everyone to join him on stage for their own five minutes of fame. Oh and just like last year the sound sucked ass but no one seemed to mind very much at all…especially those with the red bracelets. So getting back to hangover Sunday and the pipe comp. For those of us spectators let’s just say it was seriously taking too much effort to snowboard and I was more than satisfied sitting in my chair at the bottom, sun bathing and watching the homies, who clearly hadn’t drank the night before, throw down in the Northstar superpipe.

Trouble time.

Things seem to just keep getting blurrier.

E Tree.

Torstein Horgmo and Evan Lefebre are so gangsta.

Oh what casinos will do to people.

Jake Devine, Neefus, and Nando.

Z crème de la crème were launching massive airs and maneuvers difficult to fathom. The ladies were up first and it looked like Molly Aguirre was having a hard time getting in the zone her first two runs. Her third she came out with an insane method air but somehow wrecked herself towards the middle of her run sending her to the sidelines for the remainder of the event. Mols was definitely stoked on her rail jam win though Friday night so nothing could really ruin her weekend. Miss unstoppable, Elena Hight, claimed another victory and a cool 14 G’s spinning a frontside 9, killing it.

Dun dun dunnn.

Contemplation is key. Chas Guldemond.

So many people.

Love this baby!

Mols throwing it down to the underground. Fong photo.

Another angle…huge!

Elena Hight.

Ha, ha. Yes!

As for the men for his first run, one of my fav’s, Louie Vito, came in hot giving the rest of the boys something to step to with his utterly perfect run; winning him second place when all was said and done. Shaun White’s predecessor in the pipe, Steve Fisher, also came out of the gates flying but managed to slam the deck with the side of his body causing him to sit out the rest of the day…earning him best crash though. Andy Finch received a check for the highest air that his wife Amber said he even scared himself on and he never says that. The crowd gasped and cheered ecstatically after Finch pulled it off. Mason Aguirre slid out his first two runs and it seemed his last run was going to win him top three. Unfortunately Mason said he got a little cocky and over-rotated on his second to last hit landing him just below podium status.

Are you kidding me Fisher? Fong photo.

Fisher receiving medical attention.

Masnutz. Fong photo.

Tahoe loc, Andy Finch, holding it down at his home mountain. Fong photo.

Rail jam winner Chas Guldemond. Fong photo.

Ipod.

D Kass flying high. Fong photo.

Girly girl winners.

Claiming the cash. D Kass.

Photo op boys. Say cheese.

Friends.

Iouri Podlatchikov, a.k.a. I-Pod, claimed third place honors with two insane immaculate runs while D. Kass, “owner of Grenade Gloves, GNU, Oakley team rider,” as Dingo yelled out over and over, and oddly enough looking more and more like Dingo at every event, pulled through his last run stomping every hit winning him 20 thousand Washington’s. That’s like twice as much as I made last year in one hour. So ridiculous. All in all the weekend ran smooth with tons of excitement, lots of high fives, and many new friends. As I had mentioned the weekend was similar to last year but what made it a million times better was the fat condo Vans PR extraordinaire, Chris Overholser, lined up at the Tahoe Mounatin Club in The Village. Pretty much the sickest accommodations ever so thanks Chris. You’re the best!! Thanks to everyone at Vans, Rockstar, Boost Mobile, Gibson, for supplying the winners with sweet guitars, and last but never least Northstar at Tahoe and Snow Park Tech for creating an epic setup and enjoyable environment. Enjoy the pics! T.

Related stories:
Vans Cup Rail Jam
Vans Cup Slopestyle