January 30, 2012

OMS Riders Free Flowing it'



OMS snowboarders competed in this weekend's Gatorade Free Flow Tour events at Okemo and Killington.  The slopestyle went off on Saturday on the Blackout trail under some sunny skies and unusually warm temps.  The slope event was full so needless to say, the riding caliber was on point and the crop of riders was big.  Austin Hawkes, Jack Valentine, and Emmitt Ellmaker all rode well throughout practice and had their runs dialed in.  However, in Austin's last practice run, he landed tail heavy on a backside 5 off the bottom booter and unfortunately ended up taking a sled ride to First Aid.  Austin was later diagnosed with a broked ulna and radius.  We wish the best to Austin in a speedy recovery and to pick up where he left off- with a barrage of podium finishes and uncanny progression.  

Emmett Ellmaker landed just of out reach of the slopestyle finals with an 11th place finish and had he stomped his run, he would have for sure been in the finals. Unfortunately, Emmitt washed out on his frontside 7 and lost his speed for the second jump putting him just outside the bubble.  Jack Valentine (the youngest rider in the event) made the final 10 and placed 7th with a super clean run consisting of a boardside on the stair set rail, to a 5050 to tailgrab on and off the A-frame, a 5050 to front board on the flat-up-flat, followed by a backside 5, and into a switch 3. 

Moving onto to the pipe: Jack and Emmett also competed in the GFFT pipe event that took place at Bear Mountain in Killington on Sunday.  Jack placed 5th with a solid run and Emmett Ellmaker just missed a podium spot with a 4th place finish.  Their pipe runs coming soon... 

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