All eyes, and lenses, on 15 year-old Aussie up-and-coming ripper, Josh Vagne during the foggy Mile High 2015.
The Mile High presented by Carlton Dry has become a highlight of the Australian winter, and it draws the best snowboarders in the world to Perisher’s terrain park. It’s not just the World Snowboard Tour International points rating of the contest that brings the best shred boys and girls to Jindabyne, but Perisher’s epic and inventive park built by master shaper, and good mate, Charles Beckinsale.
So many of the international pros I spoke to said how much they enjoyed the freestyle set-up at Perisher – easy access to the mountain, fast laps of the park on the T-bar or 8-seater chair, a fun halfpipe also in front valley and a fun park around the corner on the Leichardt T-bar. They all said that they enjoy their summers in Oz much more than New Zealand, and that Perisher has become “the new Snowpark”. High praise, indeed!
This year I was fortunate to spend two and a half weeks in Jindabyne, to compete in the Transfers Banked Slalom at Thredbo, have a bunch of days riding the resorts, and then working for The Mile High writing the press releases, running the website and taking photos. Unfortunately the weather rolled in for the four days that the contest was scheduled, literally putting a real dampener on proceedings. The competition finally ran on the Wednesday, but due to the misty fog, the last two jumps were excluded. It was a shame, as in the clear days earlier on in my stay, the riders were displaying some seriously mind-blowing riding and uber-inventive lines. But, a result was obtained, photos were sent out and video edits posted … and the all-important WST points were awarded to help set up a bunch of riders for the forthcoming northern comp season. Congrats to Jess Rich, who I shot with back in Tahoe a few years ago, for winning the women’s.
Click the link to read the write up from The Mile High presented by Carlton Dry 2015.
Click the images to open a gallery of some of my photos from my time in Perisher.
And scroll down for a wrap-up video edit of the event.
Style master and snowboarding big boss, Torstein Horgmo, just lofting a tweaked frontside nose grab during fun laps through the Perisher pipe.
Scotty James just cruising through the Perisher pipe with a nice lil’ handplant.
Unknown rider with a solidly grabbed spin during the sunny couple of hours of the Sunday practice.
Olympic silver medallist, Stale Sandbech, is one of the most stylish snowboarders in the world.
Chas Guldemond always enjoys his time down under.
Stale Sandbech is just one of the many big dogs that has flocked to Perisher’s park.
Max Parrot crippler off the side-hit pipe wall.
Young US ripper, Kyle Mack is full of style.
Max Parrot dropping a casual triple cork during the sunny Sunday practice for The Mile High.
The big boss himself – Charles Beckinsale – just surveying his fine park-building work.
Darcy Sharpe double-corking through the mist on the way to his win of The Mile High 2015.
Jess Rich perfecting the backside 540 in practice that helped her win the 2015 Mile High.
ESPN put together a great little edit about the whole competition. Take a look here: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:13525680
And here is the official video:
I can’t wait for next year…
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