An incredible amount of 410 participants, 1001 meters vertical drop and more than just a handful of snowboard legends – those are the hard facts of the eleventh Longboard Classic in Stuben at the Arlberg (AUT), the biggest Chinese Downhill Event in the world.
Once again snowboard veteran Paul Gruber went out of his way to make the Woodstock of Snowboarding happen yet another time. At this unique event renowned snowboard pioneers cruise down to the valley edge to edge with snowboard enthusiasts from all over the whole, from 9-year old rookies to 74-year old retirees.
Neon warriors raise their battle blades Photo: R. Schopper
On Friday everybody met at Hotel Mondschein for the traditional Legends Dinner and some savory cheese noodles. The atmosphere was jolly and only the guest list proved that this wasn’t just students coming together for a class reunion but dignified snowboard legends meeting up. Next to international pioneers like Ishi Ishihara (JPN), Terry ‘The Godfather of Freestyle’ Kidwell (USA), Shawn Farmer (USA), Bob Klein (USA) and Mike Chantry (USA) you also came across European all-stars including the likes of Regis Rolland (FRA), Serge Dupraz (FRA), Ueli Kestenholz (SUI), Jose Fernandes (SUI), Micky Früh (SUI), Eveline Schnorf-Wirth (SUI), Andi Tanner (SUI), Markus Cotti (SUI), Martin and Sigi Freinandemetz (AUT), Harry Gunz (AUT), Stefan Fiedler (AUT), Thommy Klähn (AUT), Günther Gröbl (AUT), Werner Früh (GER), Christian Meeze Mießner (GER) and Dino Bonelli (ITA). Reminiscing old times, good talks until dawn and a couple of beers is the result of assembling three generations of snowboard idols in a rustic location like Stuben. A successful prelude to the 11th LBC.
Living legend Regis Rolland & Radical Dude Maphisto Photo: Kone Heigl
The next day, Saturday, it was time for the contest – as far as you can call this happening a contest at all. Far from over-hyped spin-to-win and injury-inducing rail contests, the LBC is mainly about having fun snowboarding, meeting old friends and encountering some of the first idols of this sport. The Longboard Classic is a classic top-to-bottom race, without no rules or instructions what so ever. So by noon a total of 410 longboard and old school enthusiastic snowboarders, split into three groups (old school, longboard women, longboard men), had gathered at 2,408m on the Albona Grat.
Sweet OG Burton speed suit, BK! Photo: Kone Heigl
150 meter dash through knee deep snow, hectic! Photo: R. Schopper
With the traditional Le-Mans running start the race set off pretty wild from the beginning. Resembling a herd of buffalos, the contenders trampled, slid and stumbled trough knee deep snow to get to the starting point and into their bindings. Big ups especially to those who dropped the 5m wind lip with gear that could easily belong in a museum, just to land in the steep top of the descent. The wide Albona face was then crossed at high speeds, until it got a lot tighter in the lower part of the 4 km course. Here the contestants encounter large areas with only small strips of white left, dotted with stones, that added some extra challenge for gear and humans.
Dropping... Photo: Kone Heigl
Tip grab sender off the cornice, gnarly! Photo: Kone Heigl
Riding a steep, bumpy face is no mean feat on 20-year old boards... Photo: R. Schopper
After the last starters had crossed the finish line, the whole area was literally transformed into the Woodstock of snowboarding. Under blazing sunshine and armed with beer and hot dogs the LBC attendees listened to the pure guitar sound of Darby & Joan as well as the LBC Allstars featuring Shawn Farmer (Vocals), Terry Kidwell (Guitar), Bob Klein (Drums), Paul Gruber (Guitar) and LBC friends. While some used the laid back atmosphere to analyze the race, others checked the booths of the attending snowboard brands to get the low-down on the latest gear.
Woodstock of snowboarding Photo: R. Schopper
2 Days of Peace, Music & Snow Photo: Kone Heigl
Farmer, Kidwell & BK Photo: R. Schopper
Although nobody really cares about rankings at the LBC, Chris Bachmann and Paul Gruber ceremonially presented some special awards like Soul Master, Oldest Board, LBC Fashion, Youngest and Oldest Rider, as well as Lifetime Achievement Award. The latter of which was dedicated to Terry Kidwell!
Right in time for dusk the crowd gathered again, only this time in the huge party tent where the evening was opened with the LBC Movie Night, showing classics such as This is Snowboarding (the very first Sims team movie), the documentary The Holy Grail of Snowboarding and Apocalypse Snow (starring Regis Rolland). After that MORTAL KOMBAT SOUND from Regensburg and MC U-Cee rocked the house and the whole tent bounced to finest reggae beats.
Winners Fashion Award Photo: R. Schopper
Winner Oldest Board Photo: R. Schopper
Winners Oldschool Women Photo: R. Schopper
The next Longboard Classic will be on April 9th, 2011 - don’t miss the Woodstock of Snowboarding !!!
Check www.longboardclassic.com for more info