The Atlantic Cup Mega Post

The Atlantic Cup just went down on the Basque Coast of France, more precisely in Anglet where a bunch of pros and other industry types gathered to take a break from snowboarding and kick/chase some balls. It was truly an international showing with people from every corner of the globe coming down. Everyone charged hard and there were probably more sprained ankles, twisted knees and sore calves after last week than an entire season could do to these riders. Despite the pain it was fuckin' awesome, to put it plainly. Here's a bunch of photos!

The Spanish team and their goalie Soren Manzoni aka The Spanish Fly were getting ready for the tournament by surfing swells off Ilbarritz and eating puppy food!

It all got started at the Beach House bar down at Chambre D'Amour in Anglet

The weather was wet and wild, Chris Weber getting hyrdrated from inside and out.

Gary Greenshields aka "Roberto Gaggio" came prepared with his beach poncho for the rainy weather

Ethan Morgan was ready despite getting pelted by wind and rain on the first two days, seriously wearing goggles might have been a good idea...

Local legend Dani "Kiwi" Meier warming up the engine

The Spanish Fly was born to play under the 3 posts. He even has footballs for testicles! Look for yourself (no Photoshop!)

Spain's Fidel Alonso, voted the Tournament's Best Player, hanging with Finland's Jari Tuoriniemi, who was unfortunately quickly sidelined with an ankle injury but gave his team pleny of support and hi-fives throughout the Cup

The ball

Nike TM Jon Weaver warming up with some shake-face headers as Friday's Greg Martin looks on

Coin flip before the start of Austria vs France with the Papa Weaver refereeing

Gigi has been hitting the gym lately

The Spanish team looking Spanish, Kike Carcelen, Fidel Alonso, Soren Manzoni & Juan Polanco

Austria's Lars Oesterle takes a corner kick versus France

Nico Müller soaking in a quick pocket of sunshine

Markku Koski and Piraten Ludschi feeling the burn

Team Austria trying to stay dry

Rainbow on a rainy day, Sani Alibabic, Sally Braid and Jason Horton

Ed Leigh feeding words of wisdom to fellow Englishman Adam Gendle

James Neiderburger staying cool and color-coordinated

Dead Dutchies

David Van Gessel has been growing out his hair for this one

Austria ready for finals day, Jon Weaver's German skills have become so sharp that they consider him a fellow schnitzel now

Marco Feichtner totally had the Eye of the Tiger going on

Chris Weber and his little wide-eyed cutie pie

Apparently the cool thing in snowboarding now is to have kids. Here are some of the young Spanish supporters.

If this gets any cuter I'm going to be sick, Mini Master Copsey caught out on the hand ball call!

Finland's keeper Henri Kunnas aka The Wall & Finland's courageous captain and agent extraordinaire Ilmo Niittymaki

Sideline chat getting heated with Nike's Brain Craighill, who flew in from the US to dominate, and event organizer/musician/genius Florent de Maria aka "Flonaldo"

Iker Fernandez has mucho board and ball control

England stretching and 'gramming

Craighill has stamina and was ready to fill some big boots

Manzoni getting international coverage during his between-match siesta

Ramon showing off his jambon. As they say about the Spanish, football is their blood, and in their balls!

Kapelli hurdling over a determined English tackler to get into the Final

Austria keeping each other loose-y goose-y

The rematch between France x Spain in one of the semis didn't bode well for the Spaniards as the Frenchies advanced by a score of 2-1

Juanderful playing from Polan for Spain

Bourbousson charging Iker with action figure He-Man legs

French keeper Thomas Sarrameda looking out over the field at his team tries to put one past the Spanish

Jan Scherrer aka Mr Fuck Yeah

Flonaldo De Maria pounding down the plastic grass with Muller throwing up the defensive tentacles. Photo by Jason Horton

Team Finland (+Rest of the World) drinking beer and picking their pasty white noses on the sidelines, enjoying the Finals and getting some well-needed sun. We didn't win but it was a glorious 5th place Finnish. See what I did there? Photo by Jason Horton