The following article was originally printed in the October 2024 Issue of Slush. To access the full article click here.
As it pertains to the World Quarterpipe Championships, one thing is becoming astoundingly clear: The top-level Americans are losing their competitive edge when big money isn’t involved. Normally, I might say this is a reality I didn’t care too much about regarding snowboarding. I am one of those people who is, well, skeptical about what competition really does for snowboarding’s image. That, of course, is kind of a tired argument based on an era of core that I was barely even alive for, but still seem to gravitate towards. Surely gigantic contests give mainstream appeal to snowboarding, but the highflying mega corks are tough for the lamen to comprehend, and therefore, it seems like it makes it look like more of a novelty than a lifestyle.
So, if you allow me to stick with the notion that competitive snowboarding feels distant from the aspects of snowboarding that I fell in love with, then I would add that the World Quarters is different.
Over the last few years, this contest has proven to be a stage for international riders of the highest caliber to come and show their stuff while American riders of the highest caliber seem to, well, ignore it. I think it speaks to the state of the American snowboard scene—too cool, uninterested in snowboarding in the late season.
This event should be an international badge of honor, yet it has become the biggest example of big-name Americans unwilling to strap in for a contest with a prize purse of $4,000. I too wish there was more money on the line. I typically refrain from pointing out that SLUSH is an independently owned magazine with no corporate backing unless it feels imperative, and this would be one of those times.
If I were even confident that any of the people I am referring to actually read magazines, I might be concerned about backlash from such a statement.The silver lining is that some more underground names, up-and-comers, are able to put on a show. Names that come to mind include Levko Fedorowycz and Ellie Weiler.
On the international side of things, Raibu Katayama, a former champion, went head-to-head with Valentino Guselli, the clear contender to best the veteran champ. Guselli had broken a record by going 38 feet on a hip in Schilthorn, Switzerland, in April of this year.
Valentino’s ability to ride that quarterpipe was one of the most impressive displays I can remember seeing all winter. Reminiscent of an older era of snowboarding that I had not seen—well, probably since the last time Raibu won the contest. These two titans went head-to-head like two gorillas competing for leader of the troop.