Lucas Patrick boosts a method while a dedicated hiker looks on.
2016 was the third year of Cannonsburg putting on their post-season snowboard event, Jibs & Salsa. It’s honestly amazing to see how far its come in just three short years (i.e. https://vimeo.com/95437272 and https://vimeo.com/126426785). Especially when you take into account the fact that Michigan had one of the worst winters in ages, providing Cannonsburg with only a twelve-week long season. It’s impressive that they were able to farm and save any snow at all, let alone enough to run a full chair and put in over 30 features, multiple hips/jumps, and a full pump-track/tranny run. The park staff worked tirelessly, along with the help of some volunteers from (RIP) Hawk Island Snowpark, to put in a perfect set-up for the post-season event. The way-too-cute female employees of Cannonsburg were serving up walkin’ tacos, while the DJ played my favorite Hispanic fiesta music; such as “St. Louis” By Nelly, and “California Love” by Tupac.
Puppy! If anyone know this girl, please give her my number.
Much fiesta! Very Party!
Vibes were high and the swell was poppin’ off all day long, kids boosting the hips and sliding every possible inch of metal in sight. Surprisingly, no one jumped off the chairlift this year, (shoutout Mac Eckstrand.) Grass gaps were sent and dirt carves were laid, although I saw a few come up short and fall victim to the sticky friction of wet grass on a snowboard base.
Lucas Patrick follows Connor Hicks over the grass gap in the pump track.
The transition park spanned all along the right side of the faux-glacier. However, if you count dodging a few hundred hiking groms and park rats, I’d say the transition park was everywhere. But to complain about the large turnout is essentially to complain about to deep, genuine love for snowboarding that was engrained in all of the event-goers, who trekked from all over the Midwest for just a little bit of spring time slushiness.
Jake Tolan grabbin’ while sliding the rainbow box on a picnic table. Sorry I called your girlfriend cute.
Logan SnowBoobs! Wait no, Logan Sabo!
As the clock hit 5 p.m. and the ski patrol started to slowly careen down the hill like a SWAT team closing in on an unruly crowd, everyone eventually made their way off the hill and to the parking lot; where celebratory beers were shotgunned and games of S.K.A.T.E. quickly ensued. Thank you to everyone at Cannonsburg Ski Area for doing everything you do to keep the heart and soul of Michigan snowboarding alive and for putting on these incredible events year after year. Don’t go changin’.
It’s not about what or where you’re riding, it’s who you’re riding it with. (heart emoji)
For your general entertainment, I have included some of my favorite quotes from Flanel Lifestyle’s lead man, Mike Harrington:
· “They finally played ‘Work’ by Rihanna out of the loud speakers and I’ve waited all year to hear that at an event.
· “I just watched a ski patroller run head first into a rail.”
· “Tyler May REALLY needs to do more push-ups.”
· “That kid did a 50-50 frontflip 50-50 and I missed (filming) it three times in a row.”
Alright, I’m out. Vote Bernie Sanders, Free Bobby Schmurda, and follow me on instagram: @JoeyLeppien