photo: Bissell Hazen/MSI

After a weather day the clouds cleared enough for the top North Face Masters of Snowboarding qualifiers to rip down Crystal Mountain’s Silver King. Choosing from a plethora of 60-degree chutes, large cliffs and steep faces Crystal local Forrest Burki put together a fluid, technical run to take the first place prize – a samurai sword and $3500.

Blair Habenicht continued Crystal’s strong showing by placing second with a solid run down the fall line. Wolfcreek local Charlie Hoch took third.

Shannon Yates, based in Salt Lake City, charged a strong line with three clean airs to take first place for the women. She knew her run was good, but didn’t get her hopes too high.

“If you have high expectations and get knocked down it hurts a lot more,” said Yates. “But now, I’m on cloud nine.”

Yates was followed by Maria DeBarri, from Squaw Valley, who took a more technical line. Mary Boddington, from Crested Butte, took third.

Snow fell throughout the whole day and visibility was tough for the athletes. “It was a mistakes limiting day,” said Judge Julie Zell. “It was tough conditions for everybody. Visibility was killing everybody, especially the women.”

Burki and Habenicht are no strangers to the heavy snowfall that took place- they both grew up at Crystal Mountain. Habenicht is considering going to the Kirkwood stop but he thinks he might stay at Crystal andHe’s saving the $2000 prize money for his dreams.

“Late February and March go off in Washington,” said Habenicht. “I’m stoked to go film again.”

Alex Yoder from Jackson Hole won the Young Gun award- given to the best up and coming rider under 21.

The North Face Masters of Snowboarding will head to Kirkwood February 25-27 for the finals. 

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