Buller X – Big Mountain Riding in Our Own Backyard – How To Vote

June 29th, 2017


The Buller X battlegrounds. Big Mountain freeriding and skiing terrain sitting just over the backside of unsuspecting groomers. Image:: Harro

Mountainwatch | Louis Macindoe

Crank up those DIN settings and buckle down those ratchets as voting is ready to kick off for Buller X, Australia’s only big mountain event. Put your scepticism to rest, and take a peak off the backside of Mt Buller and it’s sure to be humbling. This terrain won’t just make the spectators pucker, but also having the competing field of 10 snowboarders and skiers doing the same thing.

As incomparable as it is challenging, Buller X only goes ahead if, and when, the conditions line-up to enable the athletes to ski and ride the steep, technical course. The Mt Buller Chutes are daunting, steep, narrow and unforgiving.  It is only when good quality cover, sufficient snowpack and bluebird weather conditions all align that the event gets the “green light” to be called on, similar to a big wave competition.


Daunting, steep, narrow and unforgiving. Doesn’t sound too pleasant, does it? Well, that’s the idea behind Buller X. Image:: Harro

With the location set, and the very last riders being registered tonight, now they and we await the ‘call-up’. It’s up to you to determine who you’d like to see play Russian roulette with the terrain. Keep in mind that the registered field isn’t just comprised of the mentally deranged local and the big-mountain-terrain-insane but also international professionals who’ve cut their teeth in this sort of terrain. Who will you put forward?

The seven-day voting period begins tomorrow, with the final squad being decided on July 7 in conjunction with the input of the Buller X committee. The winning skier and snowboarder who completes the two best runs in Buller X 2017 will win a ‘money-can’t-buy’ prize from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming, USA.  They will get the extraordinary opportunity to film with the Teton Gravity Research film company. That’s big bickies.

In a nutshell, weather permitting, it’ll be 1 day of competition, with each competitor taking two runs while being filmed and then judged by not just yourself, but a panel of international big mountain judges. Which means there isn’t much room on the podium for the gung-ho skier and boarder.


Voting opens tomorrow, get your league of fantasy freeskiers and boarders together and get clicking. Image:: Harro

For those of us that don’t have the gonads to ride this terrain, we can still be victorious. Anyone who votes in the “call up” will also have the chance to WIN the major prize of a week for two at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY USA and great prizes from Rip Curl, Teton Gravity Research, Volkl skis, Giro eyewear and helmets.

As of tomorrow, you’ll be able to cast 1 vote per day, each vote, you’ll be able to shortlist your 5 ski and 5 snowboard contenders. Let the games begin and now we pray for snow.

Vote opens tomorrow, click here

Keep up to date on the Buller X Instagram and Facebook.

 

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