Shaun White Wins the First Ever Intelligent Design at Park City Mountain Resort!
— Posted by Eric on March 8, 2009
With spectacular blue skies overhead, Shaun White rode a dominating 2nd run to clinch the first ever Intelligent Design at Park City Mountain Resort. Shaun started off with a Frontside 10 off the first 60 foot hit, followed by a Backside 7 on the hip, a Frontside 270 onto the rail leading into the Eagle Superpipe, in the pipe he spun a Backside 9, a Frontside 3 and Cab 10 in the pipe and ended, to raucous applause, with a slow Alleyoop backside rodeo on the huge quarter pipe at the bottom of the pipe.
Shaun wound up the top overall rider, but there were lots of great runs down the Intelligent Design course yesterday, here are the top results:
Top 5:
Shaun White 95.75 $20,000
Charles Reid 90.00 $10,000
Luke Mitrani 82.25 $6,000
Gjermund Braaten 74.00 $5,000
Wyatt Caldwell 71.25 $3,000
I was busy helping out with the event, so I didn't get to watch a lot of, it but I was able to snap the pix in the gallery below, it you want to add some pix to our IDPC group on Flickr, visit http://www.flickr.com/groups/idpc/:
Since this was our first year ever for this event, we'd love to hear any suggestions you might have for next year as well as what you liked or didn't like about this year. Please leave your feedback and ideas as a comment!
I think different and more high caliber athletes need to be added to the lineup. I realize many athletes backed out at the last minute but White needs stronger competition. I felt as if it was pre-determined that he was to win, with him skipping the pre-lims and then taking the whole event with ease.
Eric replies:
Bryce, you make some very good points, although I do want to clarify that Shaun wasn't intended to be the sole pre-qualifier, it just wound up that the other two riders that were pre-qualified with him weren't able to compete. Thanks for the feedback!
— Posted by Bryce Cline on April 14, 2009 4:58 PM MDT
seemed like a really new and creative contest! course looked real sick! only complaint I have with events Park City throws is that there are no events for Amateur men skiers. Theres an event for every other groub but us so I'd just thought I would throw that idea out for next season!
Eric replies:
Trevor, thanks for the suggestion, I'll be sure to pass it along to our events person!
— Posted by Trevor Jackson on March 10, 2009 7:08 PM MDT
I had a hard time seeing the whole run. I watched from the tent where the announcer was and I could see the first two jumps and the jibs, but could not see the half pipe. Then I could see the 3/4 pipe. Next time, it would be nice to have a big screen to see the whole event.
Eric replies:
Walter, you bring up some valid points that highlight some of the changes to the new format. The IDPC incorporated several slopestyle elements and slopestyle events typically don't offer full course viewing like a halfpipe event does. We're quite aware of this challenge and are looking for ways to improve sight lines and PA sound along the course.
— Posted by Walter on March 10, 2009 5:37 AM MDT
I thought it was a good idea and obviously the first year will be a bit rough, but I would have liked to of seen more jibs after the 2nd jump and along the halfpipe. There was too much "dead" space. Also a 65' foot jump is big, but for pros and the X-games pushing the envelope I think that could have been bigger. but over all I thought it was a cool set up.
Eric replies:
Jared, thanks for the ideas!
— Posted by Jared on March 9, 2009 4:37 PM MDT
Please keep this event Snowboarding Only!!! Itd actually be cool to have boarders comp on saturday and a skiers comp on sunday. But please do not have snowboarders w/ skiers.
Overall the competition was awesome!! The redbull VIP section was a nice touch too.
Eric replies:
Michael, we wouldn't combine the event, but maybe skiers in the mornings and snowboard in the afternoon...just maybe!
— Posted by Michael Bonder on March 9, 2009 3:14 PM MDT
Where were the skiers?!!! Why just snowboarders?
Eric replies:
Rhonda, as the IDPC was a completely new event for us, we decided to try it out with only men snowboarders for the first year. Another reason for this was that we hosted a men's and women's World Cup ski halfpipe just about a month ago and we also have the women only snowboard and ski Queen's Cup competition coming up in just another few weeks as well!
— Posted by Rhonda on March 9, 2009 1:49 PM MDT