Conditions Report
Last Saturday morning, crowds of people made their way up to Beartooth Basin in Wyoming to ski and participate in the party that was the 2014 Beartooth Summer Session. The sky was blue and a few inches of snow had fallen overnight, making the snowpack a little softer. Once the sun warmed the face of the basin the snow became heavy and slushy, with patches of ice and chunder. The inconsistent conditions presented a challenge for competitors in the Booster Strap Big Mountain Slopestyle, which started just after noon.
Skiers from all over North America registered to compete and showcase their versatile skiing abilities. Competitors were judged based on the style, amplitude and technicality of their runs. Many skiers elected to air off of the giant cornice overhanging the basin, while others skied high-consequence lines in the rock garden below. Afterwards, competitors could choose between a large jump and a 4-feature rail garden. Some of the highlights from the jump included an underflip, rodeo 5, and a switch rodeo 9!
Beartooth Basin is an awesome competition venue because spectators have an excellent view from almost anywhere on the hill. The upper mountain provides plenty of steep, difficult skiing that allows competitors to ski unique, challenging lines.
After the competition ended, a strong skier sustained serious injuries dropping a cornice out of bounds. He was helicoptered to a nearby hospital shortly after. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
