The jury consists of former ISPO BRANDNEW winners and journalists from popular bike magazines and blogs.

Check out all of the winners on the ISPO website here.

So pumped and so excited to see how the next 2 events go!

Check out my 2 best runs!

Colton Satterfield here.  Recently got back from the first stop of this years global X Games in Foz Do Iguazu Brazil.

I competed in MegaRamp known as Big Air in the XGames. Essentially it’s a 9 story roll in to a 70 foot gap to a 27 foot tall 1/4 pipe. Basically it’s huge!

Had an awesome time there and became the first person to pull a backflip bar spin to late double tail whip. A pretty heavy trick which should have had me on the podium if it hadn’t of been for my silly wreck on the 1/4 pipe right after it.

The good news is is that the next XGames is in Barcelona Spain in a week and a half! So I will be able to get a full pull and try to grab some gold!

Be sure to watch me on ESPN live May 19th in BMX Big Air!

And check out my run from the contest.

Get your friends to vote for your photo. BMX pro Colton Satterfield will be the final judge and choose the lucky winner.  This contest is for U.S. residents only.  For a full list of rules, visit http://g-form.com/photo-contest-rules/.

Ross Druckrey, Switch Check.
Photo: Amanda Thomas

On the morning of the event, recently sunny Richmond Beach, Washington was blanketed by some very threatening grey clouds.  Though it was not yet raining, the weatherman wasn’t giving us much hope for dry pavement.  Despite the forecast, a cheery group of skateboarders began to assemble at a park near the top of the slide hill.  Many were antsy to start skating before the road was soaked, but all the rain-hardened NW locals were committed to a full session no matter what fell out of the ominous clouds above.

Even fellow G-Form Ambassador Ethan Cochard managed to make it out to the jam after months of world traveling.
Photo: Joshua Bloomfield

After registration and a quick riders meeting, 70+ competitors and a solid group of lurkers, parents, and volunteers descended on the hill known only as “Kiss n’ Tell”.  The top section of the course was a mellow straightaway which slowly increased in grade before dropping into a right hand corner and emptying into a cul-de-sac.  The pavement was buttery and all were amped to smear it with thane lines, so the jam quickly jumped into full swing.  Shredders of all shapes, sizes, ages, and board length charged the hill and displayed a wide variety of styles and skillsets.

Some milked the road for as many slides as possible

Conan Meyers skates with as much aggression as you would expect after hearing his first name.
Photo: Joshua Bloomfield

James Wetherell, Gromsteez
Photo: Joshua Bloomfield

Others tucked the entire road and threw only a single slide into the corner

Spencer Smith leads Harrison DePass and Ross Druckrey on a speedy run while Nate Blackburn has a blast with his wide angle.
Photo: Amanda Thomas

Spencer Smith and Harrison DePass check their speed before the corner.
Photo: Amanda Thomas

Ross Druckrey floats a standup toeside pre-drift into the righty.
Photo: Joshua Bloomfield

Landon Jackson, blasting a stylish standup drift around the corner.
Photo: Amanda Thomas

Some put a foot on the ground

Brandon Dejarlais holds out a long standup and taps his foot before hooking up, just because he can.
Photo: Joshua Bloomfield

And others put their whole bodies on the ground

Conan Meyers’ aggressive style goes awry.
Photo: Amanda Thomas

Eugene Nam leaves his board behind for an impressive superman slide.
Photo: Amanda Thomas

I even managed to toss myself into the bushes on one particularly tight run with Harrison DePass

Ross Druckrey, Going…
photo: Amanda Thomas

Going…
Photo: Amanda Thomas

Gone…
Photo: Amanda Thomas

Despite the rider’s differences in approach, all were stoked that the seemingly certain precipitation had been postponed, and the once threatening clouds provided nothing more than a cool atmosphere for a fast paced session.

With good friends, comfortable temperatures, and a constant flow of riders, hiking up for another run was never a chore.
Photo: Amanda Thomas

Defending champion Jackson Wells was throwing monstrous switch toeside slides before sustaining the most serious injury of the day, a sprained wrist.
Photo: Amanda Thomas

Harrison DePass gets steezy through a tunnel of cameras and spectators during the finals jam.
Photo: Amanda Thomas

After the finals jam, it was time for a Boomtown original game called “kick the can”.  In this modification of longest slide contests, participants must initiate a stand up slide before the designated line, hit the can (or in this case, the plastic bottle), and roll away cleanly without touching their hands to the ground.  Every time the can is successfully hit, it is moved farther from the starting line.

Steven Suhama, goin for it.
Photo: Joshua Bloomfield

Ethan Cochard, showing how it’s done.
Photo: Amanda Thomas

The can was quickly pushed to over 70ft, but there were still a good number of contenders

Landon Jackson with a clean hit.
Photo: Amanda Thomas

Alicia Fillback was right there with all the guys to the end.
Photo: Joshua Bloomfield

The 30 minute time limit soon expired, and the remaining competitors pushed in for their final attempts.

Ross Druckrey pushes the can back on his last run.
Photo: Joshua Bloomfield

After taking the lead, my excitement was soon deflated as fellow G-form rider, Brandon Desjarlais slid over 80ft to kick the can and take the win.

Brandon Dejarlais with the winning slide.
Photo: Joshua Bloomfield

With that, the slide jam had come to an end, and everyone retired to the park for the raffle and awards ceremony.  Boomtown Freeride 8 tested a new judging format where the open finalists judged the grom finalists, and the grom finalists judged the open finalists.  The process was quick, and everyone who gained a spot on the podium fully deserved it.

Grom Podium: 1st- Landon Jackson, 2nd- Canden Benesh, 3rd- Jean-Nils Sjöbløm.
Photo: Joshua Bloomfield

Open Podium: 1st- Sam Galus, 2nd- Harrison DePass, 3rd- Steven Suhama
Photo: Joshua Bloomfield

Despite the sketchy weather forecast, Boomtown Freeride 8 could not have gone better.  The good friends, dry roads, stoked neighbors, tight pack runs, and free gear sent everyone home with a smile on their face.  Thanks to everyone who helped make this event possible: Amanda Thomas, Ethan Cochard, G-Form, PDX Downhill, Motion Boardshop, Rip City Skate, Omen Longboards, Gullwing Truck Co, Loaded Boards, Orangatang Wheels, Rayne Longboards, Caliber Truck Co, and OHEF Productions.

As I packed up my car to leave, everyone was asking the same question: “When is the next one?”  Well here is your answer: Boomtown Freeride 9: “The Big Boom”, June 8-9 Snowberry Dr. Eugene, OR.  DH Skatepark Slopestyle and Boardercross Race, Combined $3000 podium.  More details coming soon.  This is the big one, don’t miss it!

BOOMTOWN!
Photo: Joshua Bloomfield

Get there!