Winter Splinter a Success by mbaillie

After months of organizing by local riders, the 2008 Winter Splinter turned out better than planned with everyone taking home prizes. Although the rider turn-out was not as high as expected, the incredible group of riders that were present made the event well worth while. The creative riders and organizers agreed that a jump jam type competition would best fit the crowd and atmosphere. After a couple of hours of warm-up the fun began.The Red Bull girls got there just in time to get everyone pumped with Red Bull and bustin' out moves for the cameras. Adam Hauck almost landed a foot-jam tail whip with a Red Bull can in his hand! Then Mark Baillie aired the gap between the 8 foot quarter and the vert ramp, over the stairs that the red bull girls were standing on.

Red Bull girls to start the day right

Red Bull Girls and Mark Baillie

The competition began on the box jump/rhythm section. One after another, riders took turns throwing down their best moves and finding lines and tricks to outdo the others. Adam Hauck and Andrew Bigelow (aka Beast) were styling out some really nosed-in 360’s over the first giant box, Nick Soloninka (aka Dirty Nick) added a bar spin to that beast, and finally worked up the courage to 360 it as well, followed by a tail-whip of the second box!

Beast 360's the spine

Adam Hauck nosed-in 360

Nick Soloninka Barspin

Other competitors joined the party with moto-style whips, spins, no-footed tricks, and flips. To finish it off, Adam went to town with a 360-tailwhip to the top of the 1st box, followed by a 360 tire tap wall ride over the spine! He called it out the night before and held true to his word.

Justin Guignard flippin

Ryan Reddy Toboggan

Dirty Nick's tailwhip

The group moved over into the big street course, where we saw numerous creative lines involving the hip and the 11' quarter. Highlights included Adam tail-whipping just about everything he could, including the 8 foot wide channel gap and the step up hip. Beast surprised everyone by doing his signature sprocket stall to 270-off from the top of the 11 foot vert wall, dropping in to the 6 foot plow quarter! He also stuck the biggest abubica possible in the park on the same obstacle. Dirty Nick made many attempts at a back flip to manual on the main spectator box as well as bar spin to manual on the deck of the 11 foot vert wall. Peter Mills and Justin Guignard were throwing 360’s off just about everything.

Last it was over to the bowl where the energy just kept flowing. Huge wall rides, crazy flow, abubica on the hand rail that was set back 4 feet from the bowl, wall ride to tailwhip in, and wall slaps on building supports were just a few of the killer lines these riders where nailing.

Beast's Abubica

Beast on the wall ride

Adam adding tailwhip to wallride

Justin sticking the tire tap on pillar

After that it was time to start handing out prizes. Using a rider voting method the prizes where handed out. Thanks to the amazing support of our sponsors we had enough goods to give out so that nobody went home empty handed. Places were awarded as follows:

Pro:

1st – Adam Hauck – Black Market
2nd – Andrew “Beast” Bigelow - Black Market
3rd – Nick Soloninka – Eastern 26
4th – Justin Guignard – Atom Lab
5th – Peter Mills – Industry Nine

Expert:

1st – Ryan Reddy
2nd – Chris Buckley – Green Cycles
3rd – Mark Baillie
4th – Zach Kuss – Geekhouse Bikes
5th – Cory Reddy

Amateur:

1st – Ryan Fisher
2nd – Jon Jowers
3rd – Mark Duckworth
4th – Ian “Bacon” Galdy

Prizes that were awarded include:

Black Market: Riot build kit, an additional Riot frame (yes, there were 2 Riot frames given away!), an extra set of bars, stem, seatpost clamp, hats, and t-shirts

Industry Nine: Classic set of hubs, 20mm front and 10 mm rear.

Ray’s MTB Park: Weekend for 2 including hotel at the local Holiday Inn for 2 nights.

Thompson: 6 certificates for stem or seatpost, winner’s discretion.

Sponsorhouse: 10 certificates for a 1 year membership, hand full of t-shirts.

Maxxis: A ton of Holy Roller tires and t-shirts.

SIC: two classic stems, and two Chase neutral gears.

Bicycles South of Decatur: Avid brake set-up. One BB7 caliper, pair of Speed Dial-7 levers, and an Odessey Linear Slick cable.

Eastern 26: Two seats, two t-shirts, and a pair of plastic pedals.

Hooters of Newnan: A 50 wing certificate.

Dirty Nick: A set of Atom Lab rims from his private collection! Still plastic-wrapped and ready to go ;- )

Red Bull: Tons of drinks throughout the competition, along with some pretty girls to cheer us on!

Pros so confident in their skills

Experts and their prize

Chris walking away with the Riot Build Kit

Am. winner Bacon

Am. winner Ryan

Riot frame winner Duckworth

The day was an absolute blast with riders coming from as far as Ontario to take part and we are glad they did, as they showed unbelievable bike control. Also huge thanks to the pros who helped out. Adam Hauck from Black Market, Nick Soloninka from Eastern Bikes, and Peter Mills From Industry Nine helped out big time with their guidance and suggestions.

Afterwards, a few of the riders joined Nick at Hooters, where he cashed in his prize of 50 wings...needless to say, fun and entertainment was not lacking in this group!