Canal Walk Snowboard Jam - World Snowboarding Day 2010

On a balmy and very hot day in Cape Town, spectators at Canal Walk Shopping center were surprised to find a Snowboarding competition in full swing, this Sunday the 19th December.

Chris Cab straight out of Austria and onto our tiny slope!

To celebrate World Snowboarding Day, Canal Walk, along with Liqui Fruit and DC, hosted the first ever, Canal Walk Snowboarding Jam. The event was attended by some of South Africa’s top Snowboarders, including current Euro Cup holder, Marta “Mawa” Jekot. There was also an international flavor, thanks to Austrian Pro, Chris Cab.

Cab takes the low road, while Mens winner, Marcin Jekot takes the high road.

All the riders threw themselves onto the 3m Rail setup on the small slope inside Canal Walk for over R20’000 in prizes. There were big spills and huge thrills for the hundreds of people who came to watch the event, while getting in a last minute Christmas shop. The contest was run on a “Jam Format”, meaning the riders had 3 open sessions to impress the judges and the crowd. The first two sessions went down on the rail, before organizers took it out and the last session was an Air Jam.

Sally looking pretty pleased with her 2nd place and Best Newcomer prizes!

In the ladies division it was no surprise when Marta Jekot took first place, but Sally Berold, in her first competition came in a deserving second place, as well as winning the best Newcomer Award. Marta completed some high risk tricks with a couple of 180 on, 180 off slides on the rail, as well as a clean 360 off of the small kicker in the air section.

All smiles for the Queen of African snowboarding, Marta "Mawa" Jekot.

The men, with a much bigger field, were a very close affair. Katlego “Kat” Maponyane, a rail specialist, was throwing down seriously technical tricks, but due to their difficulty had a lower completion rate than some of the other riders. He took out third place, along with the best trick award, for a huge 270 on, 90 off board slide on the rail. In second place was the Austrian, Chris Cab. He was showing his experience with a wide range of tricks and approaches to the rails. Unfortunately he injured himself landing a one-footed air in the last session and had his Granny and family in the audience extremely worried. He turned out to be ok, but he will definitely be out of action for a while.

Katlego Maponyane doing what he does best - kills jibs and rails!

In first place was seven time SA Champion, Marcin Jekot. He quietly went about his business and stuck multiple board-slides and airs, including a 540 Method Air (Amazing on that small kicker). The judges were suitably impressed and he walked away the first ever Canal Walk Snowboard Jam Champion.

theGoodLife riders, commentators and judge!

There were numerous wipeouts during the day, a couple of very close calls, but it was Darren Swanepoel, who body slammed the rail face first in the practice session, who took the best Wipeout award. The Guts and Glory award went to BMX rider, Rupert von Tutschek, who impressed everyone with his commitment to pushing his limits and trying new tricks.

Canal Walk Snowboard Jam - World Snowboard Day from Kai Linder on Vimeo.


The event was a huge success and we can but hope that we will see it on the Snowboarding Calendar again in 2011.

Podium:
Mens:
1st Marcin Jekot (SA)
2nd Chris Cab (Austrian)
3rd Katlego Maponyane (SA)
Ladies:
1st Marta Jekot (SA)
2nd Sally Berold (SA)

Best Trick: Katlego Maponyane (SA)
Best Wipe Out: Darren Swanepoel (SA)
Guts & Glory Award: Rupert von Tutschek (SA)
(For the rider who pushed their limits even though they had major falls.)
Best Newcomer: Sally Berold (SA)