Freezing Temps and Five-Dollar Bills: Fifth Stop Recap—2016 Vans Hi-Standard Series at Snow Park, VT

Five-dollar bills were flying at the Mount Snow, Vermont stop of the Vans Hi-Standard Series on Saturday, February 4.

The first American event of the 2017 series saw the coldest temperatures of so fat, but they weren't enough to stifle the crazy high level of riding from the local Mount Snow area shred scene. Like every stop of the Vans Hi-Standard Series, riders here are rewarded for landing their called tricks with style and control. Competing more against themselves than anyone else, it’s a "contest" for all ability levels, reinforced by the only real rules: style is everything and no spins over 720 count.

Riders have a chance to win some of the $2,000 handed out in $5-dollar increments in the first part of the day—the big air. And in the second, the Van Doren Best Trick, another $200 and $300 are given out for the 15-and-Unders and 16-and-up respectively on a rail section made up of a down bar, a three-step down rail and a down-flat-down rail. It was in the former category that Maggie Leon walked away with $200 in her pocket with her 50-50 to Frontside Board, Pretzel Out. In the 16 and overs, it was Nate Haust's Switch Backside 270 to Bring Back that won him the $300 big prize and bragging rights.

Earlier on, Sean Murphy's consistent, killer riding earned him the coveted title of MVP—and a free trip to ride in the Vans Hi-Standard Series Grand Finale at Sierra-at-Tahoe, California in March. Since slams are an important part of any good learning experience, the Worst Bail of the Day went to Scotty Anderson, and the Vans Hi-Standard Most Improved Rider Award went to Max Lyon for consistently stepping up throughout the day.

While all of this was going down, some of the more creative spectators and family got into the free House of Vans Art Workshop where they were invited to create their own custom works of Vans art—on a free pair of white Vans Classic Slip-Ons. Alongside featured local artist Ramiro (@ramirostudios) they used the blank canvases to create whatever designs they wanted to. While everyone walked away with their wearable art, Noa Heikka took home the giant Sk8-Hi.

For more info on the Vans Hi-Standard Series—which pushes riders to show as much creativity and style as possible, while keeping all spins under a 720—go to vans.com/histandardseries . The Vans Hi-Standard Series returns to Canada for its next stop at Mt. Norquay, Alberta on Saturday, February 18th, 2016. Online registration is available for 45 of the 90 spots.

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.