Words Matt Renn, photos Gill Montgomery
Hammers dropped over Breckenridge on Friday as the Bull of the Woods snowboarding contest brought together the heaviest hitters in the region to display their talents on the home-built log features erected in the woods above Carter Park. Ronnie Barr, Josh Moses, Joe Suta, and the Nightmare Crew spent the weeks preceding the event building the woods above the sledding hill into three zones of jibs, walls, and rails to challenge riders and amuse spectators. The action surpassed the insanity of the massive log features as the first heat started through the course, and soon all over the hill riders threw down. Oohs and Ahhs reverberated through the trees as the crowds reacted to the hammers and slams. Sean Murphy destroyed, rebuilt, and destroyed. Brendan Sullivan back lipped the whole way down. And some kid in sweat pants ate shit tacos on a down rail. The hill vibrated with stoke.
The final brought out the two craziest features: a down-up log and a double battleship log. The down-up log posed a real challenge to the riders. Many ate shit, but most spectacularly was Austin Julik-Heine’s eyebrow splitting face slam into the upward section of the log. His squad ran in to release his bindings and he came up covered in blood, but after a quick butterfly closure from the onsite medics, he climbed the hill again to throw down on the double battleship. This is the spirit of Bull of the Woods.
Brendan Sullivan won the honor of having his name on the trophy, but we all win, all snowboarders, because events like this exists. Put on not for money, but for the love of snowboarding with friends and strangers. Special thanks to Ronnie Barr, Josh Moses and Joe Suta for putting the thing together.
Ben Elliot amuses spectators.
Brenan Sullivan to the left.
Brenan Sullivan having a time.
Craig Gouweloos and his powder puff.
Kyle Kennedy, Gopro’d.
Mike Skiba grabs some rail.
Sean Murphy’s jeans are so flattering.
Sean Murphy disaster, and not the good kind.
Through the trees
If you’re gonna plant, better do it fast.
A Roast Beefy Tail Press