Beautiful Vail, Colorado, played host to this year's GoPro Mountain Games.
Riders were greeted with an excellent slopestyle course that was well maintained throughout the competition and was complete with mulitiple lines, and transfers as well as a choice between wooden ramps and classic dirt jumps.
Practice got underway mid afternoon with the weather holding out for the most part with the biggest issue being intermittent wind that is par for the course high in the Rocky Mountains.
Steve Bafus has a unique and creative style, interpreting the course in his own way.
Seeing as GoPro was the title sponsor of this year's Mountain Games there was no short supply of "the world's most versatile camera". GoPros could be seen on everything from the traditional stick to cable cam's and steady cams.
Towards the end of open practice a quick storm did roll in, and while most riders had the course down by this point a few made the most of the rain and carried on trying to get their runs dialed before qualifying.
One feature that had many riders scratching their heads was the open loop. only a handful even eattempted it, and of those, only about three rode it out clean.
Eric Johnson was one of those few who found consistency on the loop and nailed it almost every time
Even freeride pioneer, Aaron Chase gave it a go a few times, but couldn't find the consistency to go for it during the runs that counted.
GoPro pulled out all the stops and kicked off finals in style by sending in their GoPro Bomb Squad to get the crowd warmed up. Between passing storms and gusty wind it was no small task dropping into the course and they definitely came in a bit hot.
Number 1 qualifier with was Adam Hauck, though despite two solid and stylish runs he could not back up that result in the final.
Anthony Messere made the trip to Vail and he brought his usual style of BLASTING bigger than everyone else.
Unfortunately he would have a massive and scary crash on his first run after over rotating a front flip on the final jump. A bit shaken but ok, he would take a second run and end up 5th on the day.
Specialized rider Mike Montgomery is healthy again and going huge.
This transfer was huge and took him from one side of the track to the other (note: In his final run he through in a tailwhip over this gap)
Mike Montgomery would take home 2nd place
But it was all about Brayden Barret-Hay at this year's GoPro Mountain Games. Smooth and stylish runs back to back earned him the top spot and $4000.
Thanks Vail and Thanks GoPro for hosting such and awesome event... See ya next year.
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