The Telus Triple Challenge at Blue Mountain is, like, totally a big deal. A big deal that will require me to ride slush, tip back Coors Lights, and watch great snowboarding for three days. I love my job.

At the crack of 11:30am this morning, I hopped into my trusty Volkswagen TDI to burn up to Blue Mountain. The Telus flyer promised spring conditions and sure enough the sun was blazing, requiring the use of my Electric Hoodlum sunglasses. I glanced in the rearview and Bam Margera starred back.

Driving alone up Airport Road can get real boring now that texting and driving is illegal. Good thing I had the newest issue of SBC to read on my lap. The Smiths provided the soundtrack as I looked up every few minutes to swerve around 10-ton trucks. By the time I hit Creemore the monotony of hills and farm fields became too much to handle. Reaching behind my drivers seat I grabbed a Coors Light, cold certified of course, and iced my aching shoulder.

Today (Thursday) was the first of the three challenges - Slopestyle: Open, Am, and Women. My arrival was timed perfectly to coincide with the finals in which the top 10 qualifiers from each of these divisions would be competing. On my way to the judges tower I high-fived Olympic halfpipe celebrity coach/MC for the weekend Jesse Fulton. Wasn't he banned from Blue Mountain Village for life? If not yet, surely he will be by Sunday morning. Joining Fulton on the mic was Harrison Gray and Miss Ironside, both on the DL. If the rumors of a television show called Wasaga Shore are true, then look for Cassandra "Hoodrich" Ironside to be the star. Looking good girl.

Women's winner, Diane Rudge, sending it.

Before throwing out high-fives to the judges I heard a loud noise from the woods, looking over just in time to see a hatless, hockey jersey wearing skier pile drive himself straight into a muddy berm. He was shook and possibly injured. Photographer to the stars, Richard Roth, seized the opportunity by taking a portrait of the muddy man and yelled out "Drink it off buddy!"

His reply..."That's the problem." Fact: anyone enjoying the mountain in a hockey jersey will be drunk before noon. This is going to be entertaining weekend.

Men's winner Jon Versteeg impresses the judges and sun-soaked onlookers alike.

Let's get to some riding. This year a central on-hill events site was built where all the events will take place. Rails at the bottom, big air jump in the middle, and another set of jumps/rails at the top. All three combined made up the slopestyle course. This provides prime viewing from the village and the Coors Light beer garden.

Open Women dropped first and they were going for it in the slushy conditions. Diane Rudge ended up having the run of the day and taking the slope title. Having some trouble with the landing was Jenna Blasman, but this girl has some serious style. She will be a threat over the next couple days. Also riding strong was Sam Denena who took third. Some girl threw a massive 720 but I turned away before getting a name because I thought she was going to land in the village.

Michael Rotsaert.

You would think there was cash on the line by the way the amateur men were ripping. Taylor "Minishred" Watling narrowly took out Travis Mooney for first place, riding well beyond his size. Not sure if Fulton's screaming helps or hurts Minishred's when he's riding. Travis has great hair and rides in denim with style. Third went to Michael Baker; the future of slopestyle is looking good.

Andrew Skelhorn.

The Men's Open field was stacked. Cole Cummings, at 15 years old, decided to enter the Open and had the talent to back his decision. He pleased the crowd with a massive double back, but the lacked the landing gear to him in the top 3. His name alone will ensure him future success. Jon Versteeg came all the way from BC to take 1^st place with a run that consisted of a cab 9, bs 9, switch bs 9, and a locked front board through the kinked rail. His run was bananas, but declined to comment when asked if Kevin Sansalone would be receiving 15% of his winnings. Zak Stone and Elliot Catton both rode solid, like professionally solid, following in 2^nd and 3^rd. The style on Stoner is effortless.

Zak Stone.

What's on tap for the next couple days? Friday is the Rail Jam followed at night by the SBC party at Kaytoo, where I assume there will not be an open bar but you can probably weasel a free magazine or just grab someone else's drink while they aren't looking.

Saturday is the Big Air Invitational where the best riders will be tossing big tricks for money. Saturday night is the Coors Light Cold Party in the Grand Central Lodge. It will be Cold Certified but will it be Party Certified? If you touch your t-shirt at midnight and it is soaked in beer, your night is officially Party Certified and you are "making party." You will sleep alone - possibly in a muddy ditch, but you will have made party like a champ. Fritz Helder and The Phantoms are the stars of the night. Look closely at the drummer Trash Helder and you will recognize him as ex-snowboarder Taylor Hill. T-Hill no longer snowboards now that he is a big rockstar because he is afraid he might fall and hurt his wrists. He is pretty much like James Hetfield from Metallica. Seriously though, Fritz is on Nelly Furtado's new label and they will be show stopping.

Should you come up to Blue Mountain tomorrow? With the Triple Challenge stacked with the first weekend of March Break and St. Patrick's Day - things are going to get crazy, like Myrtle Beach spring break crazy.

Words: Andrew Sayer

Brandon Morris.

This guy boosted a backside rodeo about five feet higher than anyone else off that jump.

Amateur Men: Travis Mooney, 2nd, Taylor Watling, 1st, and Michael Baker, 3rd.

Women: Jenna Blasman, 2nd, Diane Rudge, 1st, and Samm Denena 3rd.

Open Men: Elliot Catton, 3rd, Jon Versteeg, 1st, and Zak Stone, 2nd.

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