Braeden Adams Takes MVP Title at Norquay
Heavy snow, frigid temperatures and high gusts of wind couldn't dampen the spirits at the Mt. Norquay stop of the Vans Hi-Standard Series.
With a stunning backdrop of the stunning Rockies and a focus on one simple philosophy—style is everything and the only rule is no spins over a 720 are allowed—the Vans Hi-Standard Series is a fun-first approach where everyone wins no matter who walks away with the most money.
The morning kicked off with the Big Air Cash Sessions right in front of the main lodge on a setup that featured two take-off options for riders of all abilities: a 25- and 45-footer. Here, like at all the other Vans Hi-Standard Series events, it's a super fun jam format where participants have a chance to earn some of the whopping $2,000 given out in $5-bills for stomping called tricks in a controlled manner with style.
For impressing the judges and his peers all morning, Braeden Adams walked away with the coveted MVP title—and a free trip to the series finals at Sierra-at-Tahoe, California on March 17th to battle it out with all the other stops' MVPs.
A super elated Adams only had this to say of his win: "What an awesome day! I can't wait to go to California."
The event's MC, Dane Milligan said despite the weather, the day's turnout was still amazing.
"The Vans Hi-Standard Series at Mt. Norquay is always good times," he said. "We had a great turnout in terms of participation, with riders coming from far and wide to have some fun while displaying some serious style."
After all the morning's method-filled madness was finished the attention turned to the Van Doren Best Trick Jam, which was a winner-take-all contest in two different divisions: 15 and Unders and 16-and-Ups. Here, they battled it out on a three-rail setup: a battleship box, a mellow down rail and down-flat-down rail.
In the 16-and-Ups, Eric Corbin won a well-deserved $300 paycheque for his Gap to Backside Bluntslide, Gap Blunt 270 Out on the down-flat-down rail. In the 15 and Under division, Liam Gill's Swich Frontside Boardslide Hardway 270 Out on the down earned him a $200.
Other notables included the Vans Hi-Standard Most Improved Rider award, which went to Mackenzie Foster, and the Worst Bail of the day, which went to Zach Creighton.
Hosting the House of Vans Art Workshop was Calgary tattoo artist, Dustin Flemming, who helped all the participants design their very own custom-made Vans Classic Slip-Ons to take home. He also created a stunning design on a giant Sk8-Hi, which was raffled off to one lucky winner, Alice, Dragomir.
"All in all, it was a great day with a positive vibe and people smiling and just enjoying snowboarding!" added Milligan.
The 2018 Vans Hi-Standard series touches down in South Korea, China, Finland, the United States and Canada—and at every stop, registration is free. Vans also covers lift tickets and a lunch for all participants and a bunch of freshly made waffles hot off the irons.
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 Copper, Colorado on Sunday, March 4th, 2018. Online registration is available for 45 of the 90 spots.
