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Mammoth’s Gong top Amateur in Nikita Chickita USA |
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Friday, 22 February 2008 |
 _ Coming out on top and winning the grand prize for the Amateurs was Mammoth local Alice Gong.MAMMOTH TIMES PHOTOS/SUSAN MORNING
Riders in the third Annual Nikita Chickita Snowdown enjoyed bright blue skies and warn weather as Mammoth played host to this competition for the first time on Feb. 9.
Nikita Chickita is one of the only all-girls amateur events in the world, and between the competitor turnout and the super cooperative nature of the weather, it’s pretty clear that girls are ready for many more of their own events and Mother Nature agrees. Despite the busy contest weekend, girls from around the country came out to support the Nikita Chickita USA and the result was a very fun day of snowboarding in the California sun.
A group of promising young riders started off the day with the Amateur division. According to Julieann Chang, reporting for snowboardermag.com, “This clan proved promising for the future of women’s snowboarding. A pint-sized, 10-year-old girl by the name of Priscilla Lee led the pack with runs comprised of a mix of cab 180s and frontside 180s that advanced her to the finals, but wasn't enough to earn a spot on the podium. Tammy Varner was a clear standout with her smooth backside 180, which also won her best trick. Coming out on top and winning the grand prize for the Amateurs was Mammoth local Alice Gong.”
“I couldn’t even believe it,” Gong exclaimed. “I am not sponsored by anyone; I just ride all the time. This is rad—I am really excited!” Rounding out the amateur podium was another Mammoth local, Indigo Monk, and New Zealand-via-Tahoe rider Femke Henriques. Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team member Kelly Berger just missed making the top three and had to settle for fourth place, while teammates Lee and Tessa Millican finished in fifth place and eighth places, respectively.
To top the Amateur division, it took solid landings, held grabs and a few spins. Gong’s winning run included a half cab indy, back three, a method, an almost-frontside-540 and a solid front board.
“I was having so much fun riding in between qualifiers and finals,” Gong said. “I think that just got me really stoked, just having a great day on the hill and carrying that through into the contest.”
“It was a lot of fun, the sun was out, girls were killing it,” said Open winner Isabelle Lalive. “It was such a good time. In general the vibe was mellow; girls were stoked for each other. It was more like a bunch of friends riding on a sunny day than a contest.” Lalive threw a backside 540 into a cab three, then effortlessly rode the rest of the course to earn the highest score of the Open riders with her first run. Nikita riders Vera Janssen and Jordie Karlinski also stomped some spins and jibbed the boxes to take second and third, respectively.
Organizers said the Mammoth Park staff did an amazing job on the South Park Terrain Park, which consisted of two lines, one with small jibs and jumps and the other boasting four 30-foot kickers into a fun jib line. Most riders in the Open division opted for the bigger line, and a few of the Amateur girls braved the pro course as well. The judges rewarded riders for using all of the obstacles and, of course, sticking their landings. The contest is, however, really about the Amateurs, and Mammoth local Gong took home not only a snowboard, boots, and a $200 gift card from Active ride shop, but also the big kahuna of prizes: a one-year Nikita sponsorship.
Best trick went to Amateur class rider Tammy Varner for her super stylish and flaoy backside 180 melon.
The Nikita Chickita is an all-girls event, with stops in Europe, Canada and the U.S. Currently in its third year, the event has grown annually and is sure to keep girls riding and progressing for years to come. Next year Nikita will add two more U.S. stops to the tour.
RESULTS:
Open Division
1. Isabelle Lalive
2. Vera Janssen
3. Jordie Karlinski
4. Jes Ford
5. Maribeth Swetkoft
6. Erika Vikander
7. Colleen Sharpe
8. Dana Starr
9. Marie Hucal
10. Madison Blackley
Amateur Division
1. Alice Gong
2. Indigo Monk
3. Femka Henriques
4. Kelly Berger
5. Priscilla Lee
6. Carlynn Gerabizza
7. Erin McCabe
8. Tessa Millican
9. Tammy Varner
10. Jesse Sutton
11. Jenna Dramise
Best Trick
Tammy Varner- Backside 180 Melon
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 February 2008 )
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