Copper Mountain, CO – The hillside was illuminated and the music kept the crowd moving as Cheryl Maas and Zak Hale clinched the win by pumping out some stylish tricks during the Paul Mitchell Progression Session on the nighttime slopes of Colorado’s Copper Mountain ski resort Saturday.nThe setup included an in-run to a wall feature, followed by either a gap jump, or a rail transition. The night started out in a jam session format, and after 50 minutes the field was whittled to five men and three women. Each then got three runs and were placed in order.
Maas, who hails from the Netherlands, threw a stylish flip off the wall, but the run that won her the event was a backside wallride to backside 3 over the railing.
As far as she was concerned, the night was a success that included a nice outcome in the form of Paul Mitchell hair care products as one of her prizes.
“It was really fun. I came here with no expectations and the setup was really nice. I just had fun riding with everyone and it was a lot of fun,” Maas said. “I’m going to go and wash my hair tonight!”
On the men’s side, Hale of Big Bear City, Calif., was clearly putting out progressive moves as he cleared the gap and styled down the rails.
“Front one sameway on the closeout rail, a couple tricks off the wall and I guess that’s what got me this check, so I’m pretty stoked,” Hale said.
But check or none, it was about having a good time, too.
“I just wanted to have as much fun as I possibly could. That’s what snowboarding is all about. I just wanted to do good, land a run and have fun doing it,” Hale said.
The event marked the close of the Copper Mountain stop of the Visa U.S. Halfpipe Grand Prix.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Visa U.S. Halfpipe Grand Prix
Copper Mountain, CO – Dec. 11, 2010
Paul Mitchell Progression Session
Men
1. Zak Hale, Big Bear City, CA
2. Austen Sweetin, Seattle, WA
3. Forest Bailey, Lake Tahoe, CA
4. Yale Cousino, Sugarbush, VT
5. Tyler Flanagen, Mammoth, CA
Women
1. Cheryl Maas, Netherlands
2. Colleen Quigley, Waterville Valley, NH
3. Darrah Reid, Canada