Rookies School Old Guard at Hot Dawgs and Hand Rails
Stepchild Rider Scotty Vine handled big business amongst a heavy group of veterans and newbies in this past Saturday’s event at Bear Mountain in Big Bear California. It seems nowadays that “parking lot” rail jams are more and more common but Hot Dawgs and Hand Rails is much more than that. The course was almost like a slopestyle course with so many obstacles. Kyle Lopicolo said it was “fucking rad” and Marc Franc said “he wishes he was out there” if those guys said that, who am I to say anything different? This event is kind of the season opener if you will. Not only do a lot pros show up to ride, many more show up to hang out, watch the action and hook up with old friends after a summer of traveling to South America/New Zealand or just working on their skateboarding or surfing. Some pros seen hanging out were; JP Walker, Seth Huot, Hana Beaman, Robbie Sell, MFM and more.
The first thing you would notice different this year than last year was how many freakin people showed up and why not? Top pros, fashion shows, chicks, video premiers, parties and such. It was definitely worth braving the drive up there. Braving the drive because a fire was raging across the lake and one of the roads up the mountain was closed. I digress, back to the event. The only real drawback was that the Security was pretty into keeping the fans in line. Drinks were available though, you just had to keep it on the deck, so no big.
If you had the right pass, like the Revolution crew, then you could get up slope side and it was pretty much anything goes on course. Snowboarder’s Pat Bridges was kind of in charge and he said he was having a very hectic day. Dave Duncan was co-mc along with Dingo and he made sure everyone within sight got free beers. I am convinced that the best possible combination of announcers would be Dave Duncan, Dingo and Todd Richards, Todd was not there but Dave and Dingo did a fine job keeping it loose but under control. Dave said he opted to get paid less so he could have an un-limited tab. Dave always does his best to make sure an event is fun.
The action started around 2:30pm with a qualifying jam. Top qualifiers joined those that were pre qualified. All in all the finals included (but not limited to) Mike Burton, Chris Bradshaw, Cory Cronk, Tyler Flanagan, Lucas Magoon, Scotty Vine, Melissa Evans, Desiree Melancolin, Harrison Gordon, Nick Dirks, Chad Tarbell, Tim Eddy, Lance, Kyle Lopiccolo, Iris Lazz, Keegan Valaika, Jonas Michilot and more. A one hour jam ensued and winners were announced.
It was all hard to follow because the action was fast and furious but standout maneuvers included: Chad Tarbell’s insane tricks off the big drop, including a backside 270 – tail-out, Tim Eddy and Kyle’s work on the bottom transitions, Scotty Vine working the whole course (I asked Scott what he did to win he said “I don’t remember”), Scott Stevens was a name that came up a lot with one footers, front 7’s, front flip and more. Lucas Magoon looked like he was cruising, Mike Burton looked solid. Chris Bradshaw looked good till he bruised his femur. The women jammed with the men but were scored separately. When the rapidly melting snow settled it came down to the following. Joey Sexton winning best trick, Melissa Evans getting 2nd and Iris Lazz getting 1st in the girls. Scott Stevens (3rd), Nick Dirks (2nd) and Scotty Vine (1st) took all the men’s prize money.
Hot Dawgs and Hand Rails probably is one of the finest non-natural snow events out there and you know the real snow is coming soon!
Results
Men:
1st - Scott Vine
2nd - Nick Dircks
3rd - Scott Stevens
Best Trick: Joe Sexton with a 270 on to 270 off the down rail
Women:
1st - Iriz Lazzrechi
2nd - Mellissa Evans 
- Overview of the course
- 3rd Place Scott Stevens
- 2nd Place Nick Dirks
- Best Trick winner Joe Sexton
- The only girl there with out girl style...Desiree Melancon missing from the podium
- Some of the finest high desert shredders shown here. Cory Cronk and Kyle Lopiccolo. Kyle said he spent the summer in Mammoth skating the Brothers Park and taking care of business
- Here is the course. The fist set of stunts included a down rail, box thing and down-flat-down. The second set had a flat-down box with little rails on the side, a grass gap jump and a big ol’ flat box to big drop. The last set included two quarter pipes, one with a skate style spine the other with a barrel type thing on top
- Jonas Michilot is a real rail jammer
- Here Jonas mid combo front board to tail press on the down bar
- Tyler Flanagan pleasing the ladies
- This Lance guy was all over the course he was one of the few who actually made it through whole kink rail.
- Mr Tim Eddy with a good ole front side popper on the qp.
- Robbie Sell and a dormant chairlift. Robbie was stoked to have his picture taken for Snowboard Revolution
- Harrison Gordon with I believe switch 180 on bs 360 off.
- Scott Stevens spinning over the grass gap.
- Mike Burton what up!
- Burton shred and previous HD&HR winner Keegan Valaika
- Kyle Lopiccolo taking it to the bank to tank
- Knee buster nollie to flat
- Dave Duncan only let me take his picture if it had his beer, clipboard and the vert spine in it
- The Omatic cotton candy machine was helping to raise $ for Boarding for Breast Cancer
- The only man who has enough clout to close a Mack Dawg movie with a 2 trick part. JP was a judge, so was Set Huot. You think they know anything about metal rail maneuvering?
- Bode Merrill side bar action
- You may think you can do trick like MFM but you can not and you never will!
- Scott Stevens definitely earned third (or better) Scotty said “The park crew did a really good job for early season snowboarding, it was super fun. I usually get really nervous at these events but when you can take a few turns between obstacles it is better”
- No other girls (even some guys) got as metal as this press by Desiree Melancon.
- Nick Dirks riding solid
- Snowboard Revolution represent. Dingo kept saying “check Snowboard-Revolution for the story” what an honor indeed for the shout outs by Dingo
- 2nd place Melissa Evans
- Kyle Lopiccolo with a solid back lip
- Hamburgers and Handrails??
- Chris Bradshaw bruised his femur. He said he just “Got back from New Zealand with Lonnie Kauk and Peter Line and that it was the best trip”, I bet
- Chris with a back tail down the flat down box.
- Lance getting some grass
- Tim Eddy with a proper front side rock
- Tim wanted to keep riding when it was over and why not when are they gonna see snow again?
- Joe Sexton ollies up and over the vert spine
- This dude Lance definitely got the best dressed award. This Method off the box and landing back on the box was pretty sick too
- Mike Burton front board the kink
- Magoon getting tricky on the side of the bank to tank.
- Jamieson holding down holding up the Revolution propaganda
- The scene with the blazing fire in the background
- Jonas Michilot back lips it
- Harrison Gordon looking for the 360 off.
- Desiree smokin the grass with a back one.
- Joe Sexton wrapping the action shots with this solid gap 270.
- everybody gathering for the awards
- 2nd Place Melissa Evans
- Iris Lazz was nice, she is hot, and can snowboard well; that pretty much puts her in the category of being worthy of marriage. Girls winner.
- Best Trick Joe Sexton 270 on and off the down bar
- Joe Sexton receiving best trick honors
- Men Podium. (L to R) 2nd place Nick Dirk's fill in, 1st Scott Vine, 3rd Scott Stevens
- Local boy Scott Vine taking 1st place.
- More Revolution Signage See you on the hill – The Revolution Crew will be out there
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