Australian Snowboarding Turns 30 at Thredbo – Weekend Recap

Jye Kearney might only be 23, but he’s been around long enough to know the origins of Snowboarding within Australia. He also boosted bigger than anyone in the handug halfpipe :: Robbie Warden

Transfer | Louis Macindoe

‘Build it and They will come’. It’s the age-old mantra that’s rooted deep within the snowboarder’s psyche. And ‘come’ they did; in droves; from all over the place and in all ages and forms. Grommets, Granddads, Pro’s and Pioneers all converged on the grounds of Thredbo over the weekend to celebrate the 30-year milestone of snowboarding in Australia.

Adrian Gibbs or ‘Gibbo’ – a forefather of Australian Snowboarding planted the seed within the community that it’d be worthwhile pulling together a reunion of sorts to get those guys and girls who shaped snowboarding in Australia back together again after decades away from their snow decks. Firstly ‘Gibbo’ is nothing short of a legend within snowboarding and secondly, he’s an exceptionally interesting guy and ‘till this day he’s never worn softboots on a snowboard. He’s eccentric to say the least, but ‘Gibbo’ wasn’t alone with more than a few colourful characters like Timmy Vlandis showing up to partake in the festivities. Friday night would mark the gathering or meet and greet for those crew that were predominantly involved in the early years – 1985 through to 1986. The Schuss Bar is an unlikely venue for a cultured exhibit, but in this case, it was the perfect setting for some story telling and beer swilling. The space which is often occupied with Rugby Types was transformed into a more intimate portal that took you back to those raw and radical times.

Thanks to the carpentry wizardy of Jindabyne local Matt Brown the unlikely exhibition space that was the Schuss Bar worked perfectly. :: Aedan O’Donnell

The photographic works of Trent Roden, Scott Needham, Steve Baccon and Cary Pogson sat right alongside a 1984 Burton Backhill and other artifacts brought forward by Geoff Sawyer, Mike Smith, Paul Colby and Tim Dyason, while guys like Peter Coppleston and Neil Hardwick filled the room with beers and bourbons in hand. The early works of Shotgun productions were compiled by Mic Simpson especially for the show, which saw Australian Snowboarding and skate/snow hybrid classics like Burnt Toast and Pot Of Gold being broadcast for the first time in many years. The lo-fi set-up was perfectly partnered with the following day’s activity; the handdug halfpipe session which was built especially for the reunion by the crafty hands of Thredbo’s park crew.

Australian Snowboarding owes a lot to this crew, see if you can spot the legends. :: Aedan O’Donnell

Come Saturday morning, the snowboarding population began to swell around Valley Terminal. Some wore neon boiler suits, some sported Sessions and patched up Wave Rave kits. Others we’re more modernised and content on riding the perfect park that had been built alongside the halfpipe as part of the Rad Gloves SausageFest park party. It was clear that the Antons area was the designated zone for the boarding fraternity. Features filled the entire slope and broke free from usual patrol roping of Antons terrain park. There was literally hit-able features everywhere, whether it was a hidden corrugated pipe amongst the trees or the dual slalom course up-top. Thredbo really went all out with the setup but nothing quite topped the laborious effort of hand shaping and building up the transitions of the pipe.

New age fun with a vintage feel, the handdug transition delivered the goods and some riders were more period correct than others, Chris from Balmoral Boards was dressed to impress. :: Robbie Warden

The six-foot crescent shaped ditch featured period correct tombstone extensions and somewhat flat landings that enabled riders to really channel their inner Sean Gall’s and Dave Kelly’s. Jye Kearney would set the standard by boosting way above the lip, which soon sent Onlookers from the t-bar immediately began flocking. Soon ‘They’ all began to come. Ben Ferguson, who’s one of the most intriguing riders to watch in the world right now turned up and tweaked out throwing all kinds of mind-boggling inversions paired with unlikely grabs. Teammate Scotty James came in hot on Ben’s tail proceeding to go equally as big while tweaking his 6-foot beanstalk build into shapes well beyond people’s expectations and Gibbo came swerving through, hardboots and all.

Pioneer of Australian Snowboarding – Adrian Gibbs darts through the pipe at a pace that makes grown men pucker. :: Aedan O’Donnell

But it wasn’t all about the big names. In fact it was anyone’s game and everyone that was present gave that pipe a decent crack. Some planted, some sprayed and some sent it off the transitions. But nothing rivaled the train of Old Schoolers who snaked through the pipe and smashed the increasingly rowdy crowd with slush. The train was spearheaded by the likely culprit Timmy Vlandis who sported a golden silk jacket and a red shirt that said ‘snowboarding is addictive’ all weekend provided non-stop entertainment and has been awarded the unofficial ‘Hype-Man’ title of the weekend. Timmy ‘The Godfather’ Vlandis really knew how to get the crowd going and when the crew all gathered back at the Bistro for the Tight Lines Presentation, The Godfather’s heartfelt words about the Australian snowboarding community and its roots at Thredbo we’re really felt by all.

Tim Vlandis and his jacket received the biggest hoots of the day. :: Aedan O’Donnell

With what was already being coined as one of the best days of boarding to take place in Australia there was nothing left to do but to bask under the full moon. Minds were lost that night, but the soul of snowboarding is alive and well in each and every person who came along and participated in the 30 Years Celebrations.
A special mention goes out to all those that helped out with the weekend; The relentless work of Thredbo’s park crew, Matt Brown Carpentry all those that contributed to the exhibition and each and every snowboarder who showed up to participate and keep this culture alive and thriving. Australian Snowboarding is alive and well.

Ben Ferguson’s body position says it all, go big or go to the bar. And off we went:: Aedan O’Donnell

WATCH NOW: 30 YEARS RECAP VIDEO

30 YEARS GALLERY

You can’t have an exhibit without pointing. :: Aedan O’Donnell

Adrian Gibbs on the opening speech, introducing Geoff Sawyer to the stage. :: Aedan O’Donnell

Two of Austrlaia’s most influential riders; Selina Webber and Laura Stamp. :: Aedan O’Donnell

Up top of the pipe, sausages were getting tossed left, right and centre. :: Aedan O’Donnell

All ages and sizes. :: Aedan O’Donnell

A rare sighting of Tom Pelley in his element. :: Aedan O’Donnell

Serious tweakage with maximum attitude. :: Aedan O’Donnell

You can take the boy out of the streets but you can’t take the streets out of the boy. Jordan Crockford with the improvised urban. :: Aedan O’Donnell

Sam ‘Reddog’ Neumann opting for the most ‘cooked’ outfit of the day:: Aedan O’Donnell

Thredbo marketing stud Richie Carroll put down the ipad and picked up his snowboard :: Aedan O’Donnell

My other ski is a snowboard with Lucas Wilkinson. :: Aedan O’Donnell

The human beanstalk Scotty James unleashing off the tombstone. :: Aedan O’Donnell

Nate Johnstone is one of the world’s best pipe riders, he also happens to be Aussie and he also ripped the backside out of this pipe. :: Robbie Warden

Jake McCarthy was caught having flashbacks to his former pipe days. :: Robbie Warden

This image could of beenr ipped straight from the pages of Snowboarder’s Edge in 1989. :: Robbie Warden

Hardbooting rules, so does Adrian Gibbs. :: Robbie Warden

This just about sums up the handdug halfpipe session. Raw and Radical. :: Aedan O’Donnell