Defending Champs And Hooter's Girls Look Good On Opening Day

The lovely ladies who serve those tasty wings made a glamorous appearance, but it was team Breckenridge who got most of the action. Their creations, which included a monstrous step-down jump and elevated trapezoid flatrail, were some of the most heavily sessioned features of the day. After a tentative first few hours where riders tested the terrain, team Breckenridge saw their once intimidating kicker desecrated by all sorts of spinning and inverted tricks. Just a little bit farther down the hill and conveniently located in front of the VIP tent, their rail saw a constant stream of takers, including Max Lotten who impressed everyone with his "Hot Garbage."

Park City's steep, 30-stair, single-bar rail (yes, they actually went through the trouble of building steps out of wood) was also busy, just like the Mammoth/June quarterpipe wall-ride. Lake Louise's triple takeoff table became the center of attention for a while thanks to Andy Finch spinning from the biggest wedge and eventually throwing down a huge backflip.

Blue skies and light winds were a welcome change after Breckenridge received three feet of snow on Wednesday. The 36 inches in 24 hours raised the stakes for builders who were already having a hard time competing against the clock and each other. The snow was responsible for delays and even one entire rail being crushed by another team's snowcat. While most riders and media types celebrated Cutter's Cup Eve in the bars, builders worked until 2:30 a.m. to make sure the park was ready for opening day.

Looking Ahead: As usual on the first day, a few features didn't have their potential fully tapped. Lake Louise painted their rail bright yellow so everyone would see it, but that didn't do much for traffic. It might have something to do with what looks like an intimidating 60-degree kink. Park City's jump, nicknamed the "Hooter Booter" went mostly unridden with the exception of a few entertaining attempts. Thanks to a long, steep landing, it looks like the "Hooter Booter" will have a role to play at Cutter's Cup as the week goes on.

If you're within driving distance of Breckenridge, come on up Sunday, Apr. 27, between 11:00 a.m. and 5 p.m. to check out all the action for yourself. Otherwise, come back to snowboardermag.com for more news, photos, video, and rumors.

Check back here on Sunday night for more coverage.

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