The Best Superpark Ever

It is always a difficult thing, declaring an end to a four-year relationship. It's especially hard when that relationship is all you have ever known. Who knew that a Goddess was waiting to fulfill Superpark's every fantasy.

Within days of Superpark's debut at Timberline Ski Area on Mt. Hood, Oregon, it became obvious that this was the perfect match: A field of 30 elite athletes, scaled down from 100. A park constructed by the Timberline crew -- one of the most respected and esteemed in the snow world -- overseen by cinematographer Kris Ostness and professional skier Eric Pollard. A summer camp atmosphere at Camp Windells, complete with skate ramps, a communal breakfast every morning, and even the occasional kegger. Event director Keith Carlsen perhaps summed it up best on day two: "This is the first time in Superpark history where we've been able to create a sense of community. With everyone staying at Windells, riders are able to hang out together on and off of the hill and enjoy themselves rather than hiding in condos playing video games."

The atmosphere at the Shamrock Motel, ground zero for Windells Ski and Snowboard Camps, transitioned to Timberline Ski Area, where the top athletes in skiing fed off each other's advice and energy to produce some of the best park footage to date. Vets like Jon Olsson and Candide Thovex shined, while new-comers such as Mike Wilson, Liam Downey, and Shoya Okazaki served notice to the 20-somethings that the future is here. Sage Cattabriga-Alosa and Matt Sterbenz, meanwhile, showed that while their skiing is not limited to the park, their skills in that department are on par with the best of them. Injuries were limited to the unfortunate broken and cut thumbs belonging to Peter Olenick and Pep Fujas, respectively.