Greetings from the beach, I mean Mont St-Saveur, where the annual Ride Shakedown is presently underway in the midst of downright balmy weather. While it pissed rain for two days straight last year, this year's event is clearly in the good books with Mother Nature: it's 20 degrees outside without a cloud in the sky. So if you're on your way here tomorrow, you can leave your puffy coat and goggles at home. A t-shirt and a pair of shades will do just fine.

We arrived in Saveur yesterday afternoon and posted up the first glimpse of the rail set-up last night. But today we saw it in action for the first time, as over 40 riders entered the pre-qualifiers in pursuit of four entry spots in the big show tomorrow. Like last year, there's a mammoth kicker (over a gap) cut into an angle on the run, leading into the rail set-up with three options: a down-flat-down rail over a staircase; two jumps into a concrete (yes: concrete!) wallride, and a flat rail that gaps into an angled concrete landing.

In spite of the ridiculously unseasonable weather, speed was not an issue for the riders. It was more common to over-shoot than under-shoot, and more than a few soliders paid the price, with the ski patrol clearing carnage from the landing on several occasions. But four riders got it dialed with the right combination of jumps-and-jibs, and will shred with the big dogs tomorrow. Zak Stone took fourth place, with Didier Godbout in third, Alex Leblanc in second, and Julien Beaulieu on top. 

I watched the second round of qualifiers in the bleachers with a good crew: Oakley's Derek Heidt, coaches Joe MacAdoo and Mike Stastook, and pro shred TJ Schneider. TJ's been cultivating this beard in Europe for the past two months; I have to think all that facial moss made him a little warm today. Perhaps that explains his expression.

You can expect these bleachers to be overflowing tomorrow. It wasn't too hard to find a seat today, but you'd better claim one early in the AM if you want to sit down.

This is Ride's Taylor Ricci, in another of my ongoing series of "Taylor is hungover" photos. And yes, that's what the Gatorade is for.

Here's the Push.ca tent, where mini-ramp demoes are going down each day. You can stop by to skate, hang out, or pick up a give-away.

Inside the Push.ca tent: Canadian skate legend Eric Mercier finishes up a run. With the warm temps, it was like a furnace in there for the skaters. (Maybe Taylor can share some of that Gatorade.)

The rail jam starts momentarily: semi-finals go down at 6:30, with finals at 7:50. We'll have full coverage, results and a photo gallery up from today shortly after that. For now I'm going to find some sunscreen and a cold Coors Light.