Bronzed Aussies At The Baker Banked Slalom

February 16th, 2017


Photo credit goes to Mike Yoshida.

Mountainwatch | Richie Carroll

The 31st Legendary Mt. Baker Banked Slalom went down last weekend and it definitely lived up to its legendary status. In the days prior to the event, Mt. Baker turned it on as well as off, with a metre of snow gracing itself across the mountain, forcing the resort to close for the 3 days before the event.

The lucky competitors were greeted with snowboarding’s mecca mountain covered in a metre of fresh snow on the Friday and it was game on…after ripping apart what was on offer of course. Pow first, race later.

Young gun Nils Mindich took out the Pro Men’s division, beating 2 time winner Harry Kearney who was eagerly looking for another golden duct tape to add to the cabinet. The Pro Women’s division was stacked deep with snowboarding legends and it was Stephanie Haines who came out on top and earned claiming rights as the fastest chick in the North.

There was a heavy contingent of riders from the Southern Hemisphere who, believe it or not, all rode in a league of their own and dominated amongst the legendary field of competitors, with 4 riders making it on the podium!

Torah Bright flew out of the starting gate, using her sharp rail game to slice through the field of Pro Women competitors to take out third place! This was Torah’s first ever Baker Banked Slalom and told us she’s very eager to get back and give it another nudge next year.


Photo credit goes to Mike Yoshida.

Australian snowboarding icon and Mt.Hotham ripper, Ashley Muller, competed in the Grand Masters category and rode like a bat out of hell, earning himself third place in the event. The kiwi, Devin Bevin, managed to score himself a spot on the podium as well with a third place in the Pro Men Masters. Then Marguerite Cossettini, Australian boardercross legend, raced with no regrets and managed to get on the podium with a third place in the Pro Women Masters division.

Hopefully all of them can make it out for the Transfer Banked Slalom this year at Thredbo to show everyone how it’s really done.