Shakedown Finals

The 6th annual shakedown concluded Saturday night with Quebec native, Charles Reid continued his momentum from Friday taking home the top honors and $15,000 by landing a switch backside 1080 on the big air jump followed by a back 270 lipslide on the kink rail. Reid was on fire all weekend dominating all the features: from the big air jump to the down rail, kink rail and a 8-foot diameter corrugated steel drainage pipe.

Reid wasn’t the only rider performing. Sebastian Toutant backside 1080 double cork on the jump before landing a gap to back lip on the double kink. Third place went to Antonin Chamberland with a front side 900 on the big air to a front side 270 on the down rail.

The day began with a long jam session on the big air jump under perfect sunny skies and warm temps. The field of riders was eventually narrowed to 15 for the finals held later in the evening. Between the afternoon semis and the evening finals was a “Vans halftime show” consisting of a impromptu skate setup via plywood decking above and below the down rail. About a dozen plus skaters sessioned the rail for an hour or so.

At first the skate session looked to be a flop with no one even coming close to locking in. Though it remained entertaining as a slew of brutal wrecks ensued both on the snow, on the plywood and even a crotch splitting landing on the down rail. Soon a few successful attempts were completed that drew miraculous applause from the crowd. The winner of the $2,000 first prize was Vans skater Thomas Parents who executed a perfect feeble grind which defied expectation.

The crowd that showed up on Saturday also defied expectation. After a less than bustling Friday night, the true nature of the Shakedown arrived in full force for the final day of competition. Easily 5000 people were on hand, making a walk through the sponsor village or a visit to the lodge bathroom a mission in itself.

But beyond the size of the crowd was their enthusiasm. Screaming fans, beating on the banners and ravenous reaching for the free swag showed the Quebecois to be some of the most aggressive and stoked I’ve seen at a contest.

If you’re a rider the Shakedown setup is super sick and well built and the session low key yet highly energetic. If you’re a fan, the vibe of the crowd and the party all day and night makes attending the Shakedown a no brainer.

A great way to close out the competitive season, the Shakedown gets top honors in my book for combining all the aspects of perfect contest: great competitors, great setup, great crowd, and enough beer gardens to keep the stoke level in the red.

Until next year.

The crowds were significant.

Chris Rotax clears the road gap big air jump as gapers look on.

Skaters had a long rail to success.

Failure was common.

Eventual skate winner, Thomas Parents - feeble grind.

Vans halftime show winner, Thomas Parents, walked with two grand and very wet Vans.

Night Crowd

Master MC Etienne Gilbert

Sebastien Toutant

Dustin Craven

Charles Reid

Podium - Charles Reid, Sebastien Toutant, Antonin Chamberland

The Future Snowboarding Magazine beachballs were a big hit.

The Shakedown is a party. Darrell Mathes knows that a 4am mini fridge mission = good times.

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