Style is Everything: Second Stop Recap—2017 Vans Hi-Standard Series Avila, Canada
When you have a snowboard contest based on the words "style is everything" and the only rule is no spins over a 720, everyone from beginner to advanced riders are guaranteed to have fun. But when you get spring-like conditions and temps just around the freezing mark in the Montreal, Canada area in January it takes fun to another level completely.
That’s what happened on Saturday, January 21st, when the second stop of the 2017 Vans Hi-Standard Series rolled into Mont Avila.
Like every other stop, the day started off with a series of Big Air-style jam sessions broken down by age categories, where the event MCs would call out some suggested tricks and the kids who landed them with style and control scored $5-bills. It created a stress-free vibe never really seen at regular contests.
Vans pro Phil Jacques was on-hill to help judge and give out some of the $2,000 in $5-bills to everyone who deserved it.
"It was awesome shredding with the kids today," says Jacques. "We could feel that there was no pressure and I'd say it was one of the better stops I've seen in a while. Style is everything!"
For impressing the judges and pretty much everyone else with all his style, Jeremy Langevin took the MVP title and earned himself a free trip to the Vans Hi-Standard Series Grand Finale at Sierra-at-Tahoe, California in March.
The big air jam sessions were followed by the Van Doren Best Trick Contest, where riders stepped up with their bags of tricks to a rail section made up of a down-flat-down rail, a down rail and a rainbow rail.
In the 15-and –unders, ruler David Tourigny grabbed $200 for his Cab Nosepress Backside 180-Out on the down-flat-down rail. And in the super competitive 16 and Up category, Gabriel Gosselin's Switch FS 270 Gap on the down-flat-down rail earned him the day's biggest single payout: $300.
For showing incredible tenacity and heart, the Vans Hi-Standard Most Improved Rider Award went to Alice Prudhomme and the Worst Bail of the day went to Marc Antonie Legendre. Honourable mentions go out to all in incredible young girls in the 15- category for really stepping things up throughout the whole day.
But today wasn't just about the snowboarding. For all the would-be artists, the best part was the House of Vans Art Workshop with Montreal artist, LeBicar, who was on hand leading a group of creatives on customizing their own pair of Vans. While everyone walked away with their own free custom shoes, it was Luna Napess who took home up the extra prize of the day—the Giant Vans SK8-Hi.
Over the course of its 2017 world tour, the Vans Hi-Standard series hits South Korea, China, France, Switzerland, Argentina, the United States and Canada—and at every stop, registration is free and Vans provides lift tickets and a lunch for all participants, as well as freshly made waffles hot off the irons for spectators and riders alike.
For more info on the Vans Hi-Standard Series, including rules and regulations go to vans.com/histandardseries . The next stop of the Vans Hi-Standard Series is at Carinthia Park, Vermont on Saturday, February 4th, 2016. Online registration is available for 45 of the 90 spots.
