The Ride Shakedown US begins today at Summit-At-Snoqualmie in Washington State. The live webcast on Fuel TV begins tomorrow (Saturday, March 13, 2010) at 2 PM.
For all the details follow the jump.
SEATTLE – Snowboarding is riding a global high this season with the introduction of awe-inducing tricks in the park and half pipe and extensive media coverage. The action continues with the RIDE Shakedown, annually Canada’s largest and most popular snowboard event, that will debut in the U.S. at Washington State’s Summit-at-Snoqualmie (Summit West), March 12-13. FUEL.TV will air a live webcast of the event on March 13 beginning at 2 p.m.
Now in its ninth season in Canada, the jam-style event which has drawn upwards of 20,000 spectators, is recognized for its spectacular urban rail features and 50-foot jump that is only unveiled to the athletes the day of the competition. The Ride Shakedown is the only major snowboarding event that features a big air jump followed by a rail set up, in addition to the popular “Jam Format” competition.
Top pros, including Seattle’s-own Austin Hironaka, Darrell Mathes, teen phenom and two-time Shakedown champion Seb Toutant, Hana Beaman, who won Shakedown’s first women’s edition last year, and Leanne Pelosi, will showcase their abilities in the event’s signature thrill-a-minute format. With $35,000 in cash prizes for the top performers, the U.S. stop looks to continue the trend while putting a unique Northwest spin to it.
Spectator events begin at 10 a.m., March 12, with amateur qualifications, followed by Rail Jam qualifications at 4 p.m. and the Rail Jam main event at 6:30 p.m. Festivities begin at noon on March 13 with the Snowboarder Magazine pro athlete autograph session, semi finals in the afternoon, and a pro skate half-time show, then end with the Big Air finals from 8-9:30 p.m. The RIDE Shakedown after party, presented by SKDW MFG, will be held at Hard Rock Cafe in Seattle both nights with doors opening at 9 p.m. (21 and over).
RIDE Shakedown Schedule:
(free admission)
March 12, 2010
10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Amateur qualification
4 p.m.-6 p.m. Rail Jam qualifications
6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Rail Jam
9 p.m. SKDW MFG presents the RIDE Shakedown after party
Hard Rock, Seattle, $10 in advance, $15 at the door (21-and-over)
March 13, 2010
Noon-1 p.m. Snowboarder Magazine autograph session with the pros
2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. RIDE Shakedown semi-finals
6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Halftime show (pro skateboard session on the snowboard rail set up)
7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Warm up for RIDE Shakedown finals
8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. RIDE Shakedown finals and awards
9 p.m. SKDW MFG presents the RIDE Shakedown afterparty
Hard Rock, Seattle, $10 in advance, $15 at the door (21-and-over)
RIDE Shakedown is the creation of Canadian’s Brendan O’Dowd and Patryck Bernier who nine years ago set out to create a snowboarding event that would be more fun for both athletes and spectators. Annually, the festival’s unique format and terrain park features take the world’s top snowboarders to the brink of their abilities, which makes it extra entertaining for the audience, according to O’Dowd.
“The event is a spectacle,” he said. “It’s fun for everyone whether or not you’re a core snowboarder or just want to experience the culture. We involve spectators throughout the event. Everything is close-in and the pros are accessible to anyone who comes up to the Summit at Snoqualmie.”
