Rhythm N’ Bruise pictures and words by George Crosland
For the Third year the Rhythm and Bruise at White Pass Resort has pitted riders against a unique course. The concept is based on BMX, If you imagine some trails in the woods, except constructed of snow, thats pretty much the idea. The course is set up to allow pretty much anyone to negotiate their way down and have a good time. Every obstacle had multiple options, from challenging to a “Timmy” line for the timid. The Rhythm and Bruise was not spared from the famous Northwest weather. Variable would be an understatement as it would go from snowing, to sunny then rainy and windy, often in a matter of minutes. The weather did not deter anyone as 140 or so contestants showed up to compete in the unique event. Eight year olds were having as much fun as the pros and went home happy, if not a little wet.
The first, short, straightaway lead into a left hand berm with a drop out of it. The second straight had two small to medium table tops and lead into a right-left-right-u-turn combo. The third straight had 2 gap jumps that were not too big but the jumps were poppy, launching people up, rather than over the knuckle. Many of the non-pros had troubles clearing the 2 gap jumps. From there, the course led into another left handed u-turn and into a flat bar-stepdown. Those that were not into the rail could hit a little step down. Immediately following was the the hardest rail feature, a big ol rainbow rail. A big right hander turn led into a step down jump and then into a up flat-rail and right into a left handed corner that you had to jump into. Two more step downs led into the big right handed hip, then into a table top. All this led into the final obstacle, a jump onto a little manual style pad with a jump out. The final jump had options up to 50 feet and a hip bust most people stuck to the smaller combos.
The biggest challenge seemed to be how quickly the obstacles came up. There was little to no set up time from one obstacle to the next. Staying on top of your run was key. It was not about big spins and corks. The whole course, essentially was a combination of connected tricks as opposed to our typical park set up where the jumps are far enough apart to be completely separate. Figuring out the unique set up was part of the fun and most people seemed to go home stoked.
“There are medium to big to large features… it’s super fun and there’s good vibes here. Everyone’s toughing it out through not the nicest weather, it’s definitely one of my favorite events to come to” – Forrest Burki
“It’s kind of a BMX track for snowboards with some gaps, one jump right into another and some rails, it was cool” – Harry Kearney PRO WINNER
“I knew I wanted to backflip a couple of things and do whatever spins I could fit in there” – Harry Kearney PRO WINNER
“It was a great day to crap your pants!” – Master Mike Cummins-2nd place Cruisers class
Results
Mini Shred, under 9
1 Owen Cline
2 Cannon Cummins
3 Garren Gooler
Groms
1 Mac Malkoski
2 Frank Besello
3 Chad Carlson
Young Amateur Men
1 Austin Buza
2 Milo Malkoski
3 DJ Elliott
Young Amateur Women
1 Isabella Gomez
2 Brittany Williamson
Older Amateur Men
1 Jack Scanlon
2 Joey Carnera
3 Phil Thomas
Older Amateur Women
1 Brianna Stoutenburgh
2 Priscilla Stutz
3 Mia Abbett
Expert Men
1 Curtis Stevens
2 Tom Smith
3 Kris Melton
Cruisers
1 Johan Malkoski
2 Mike Cummins
3 Jason Cline
Pro Women
1 Sara Howe
2 Kirsten Lee
Pro Men
1 Harry Kearney
2 Dustin Anderson
3 Jerry Mark
Mike Cummins here got 2nd Place in the Cruiser Class. Mike is part of the Cummins family, who’ve done more for Northwest snowboarding than about anyone. They run Northwest Snowboards (among other things) and sponsored the Rhythm and Bruise
Matt Robinson Sending
Matt Edgers came out to have some fun in the Rhythm and Bruise despite only being 4 days out from having 10 stitches removed from his face – that’s just over the rainbow dedication
Matt Cummins helped get the R n B going and also runs One Ball Jay, Northwest Snowboards and has the longest running pro snowboard model in history. The town of Packwood, WA welcomed the R n B with open arms
The groms rode the same course as the pros, as Grom Winner, Mac Malkoski demonstrates
Kyle Phillips frontside air to corner pocket
Captains of industry; Johan Malkoski of Capita and Union and John Logic of Snowboard Connection. Just to prove that the owners of snowboard companies can snowboard, Johan went ahead and won the Cruiser Class
Jesse Burtner may run Think Thank and manage the Mervin Snow team but he still had time to take lots of laps – Nosegrab to Tail Smack
Jerry Mark rode his way into 3rd place in the Pros
Harry Kearney and the spoils of victory
Forrest Burki came out to take some laps and helped judge the event along with Russell Winfield and Temple Cummins
DJ Elliott launching himself to 3rd in the Young Amateur Men’s Class
Sarah Howe and Kirsten Lee were stoked to be on the Women’s Podium
Russell Winfield’s contributions to snowboarding are too numerous to mention. He contributed today by judging
Ben Hammer is a local ripper that made a good showing in the Pro Division
Ben Hammer is a local ripper that made a good showing in the Pro Division
Austen Sweetin getting a stylin Method over the hip
