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After the excitement of the USASA Nationals at Copper ended today, athletes and spectators were awarded the inaugural Monster Mash Invitational Pipe Jam.  The Monster Mash showcased USASA alumni with some familiar names like JJ Thomas, Danny Kass, Zack Black among others.  The range of riders were amateur to pro, varying in ages but all with a passion for competitive halfpipe riding.

I headed up with Maggie Rose to watch the invitational at the Copper superpipe this afternoon which was kept to a jam format with practice sessions and then riders dropping in on their own.  The speakers were filled with good beats and we had announcing from the Dingo who kept us informed of who was dropping in and what tricks they were doing.

Around the pipe, each fence had plenty of spectators taking in the contest and as riders made their way out of the pipe at the bottom, they had a high 5 row of kids stoked on them.

Danny Kass is always impressive to watch ride halfpipe in person

JJ Thomas

Chad Otterstrom

Zach Black

Brett Esser

Matt Ladley

I can’t place who this rider is but I’m glad I caught the base, Unity is killing it in the pipe circuit this year.  I have never seen more Unity bases in my life than this year at each pipe contest.

On the walk down the pipe, I ran into Chris Hargrave who is an old friend from my Washington days.  He’s now with Burton Academy at Northstar and is at the Nationals to coach Toby who competes tomorrow.  It was great to catch up with him and stoked for his students making it to Nationals.

I left the pipe competition so I could make the drive home to Steamboat but definitely a fun day on the mountain and stoked it all worked out.