ICER Air 2008 Preview
ICER Air 2008 Preview: Newcomer Mike Clarke Weighs In
Words: Pip Hunt
Photos: John Stifter
After the success of last year’s ICER Air, with jump sculptor and sender extraordinaire Jon Olsson shaping and winning the contest, ICER returns revamped for 2008. The ‘08 version is going even bigger with an additional eight feet added to the jump, making it over eleven stories high.
Newcomer Mike Clarke, invited after a whirlwind season last year, is stoked to bring skiing to a larger audience and put on a good show. “I’m just excited to have the best time possible,” he says. “Up in the start gate we're all friends goofing around, doing what we do on skis.” Clarke has been on the rise in the ski industry ever since he won Level 1’s “Superunknown” comp in 2006, which set him up with sponsors and a segment in Josh Berman’s film Long Story Short. After training at High North Ski Camp the following summer, Peter Olenick hooked him up with Salomon. During the 2008 season, he took third place at the U.S. Open Big Air, his best result in a major competition, and second place at the Nippon Open Slopestyle in Japan.
Unfortunately, his season ended early with a broken back while competing for Team Salomon at the Orage Masters in May. He didn’t let his summer off affect him though at last week’s Freestyle.ch, where he managed to pull of his double cork 1260 and feel comfortable right away. “I think it's going to be an excellent event with some top level talent and tricks being done,” says Clarke in regards to ICER 2008. “I'm trying to push new and difficult tricks while still holding onto the same style and grabs as when you see me doing a simpler trick.”
In addition to the Ski Big Air, the fourth annual ICER Air competition in San Francisco features snowboarding, skateboarding, freestyle moto x, bmx and live music. This year’s ski line up includes Olsson, as well as veterans Simon Dumont, Sammy Carlson, Peter Olenick, Colby James West, and Sean Field. The first round consists of a jam format, where riders hit the jump as many times as they like in no particular order for an hour. Then, the top seven will go through to the second and final rounds.
ICER Air will kick off at noon on October 18th and is anticipated to last until 8 o’clock that evening. Head to Lot A at McCovey’s Cove next to the AT&T Park in San Francisco. Tickets are $28 for general admission and $48 for VIP.
To find out more about ICER Air go to www.icerair.com
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