2010 Snowboard Test – Shred Bingo

Published on: 26th May, 2010

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The 2010 snowboard test week wasn’t just about the product and fads.

This years test saw another relentless episode of riding in the form of Shred Bingo, held on some poo covered farmers field in the middle of Kaunertal.

Like last year, this years Shred Bingo was an ideal opportunity for riders to grab some last gasp lime light, and in between spring showers, the crowd gathered, riders stepped up for yet another fine display of UK snowboard talents.

The jam was an open format, which saw groms and young guns standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the UK’s well known pros, hot off this seasons exploits.

Tricks were called in bingo fashion, with numbers correlating to rad moves, meaning that super techy or extremely easy moves could be drawn at any moment.

Once a rider landed a trick they received a letter. The first to S.H.R.E.D won the game and qualified into the final, where a three-trick, head-to-head battle would commence for the title Test Champion 2010.

The first game was a tentative affair as many riders looked tired and jaded from the days testing. However Jonny Russell was fresh as a daisy and proceeded to batter the competition in the first game and book the first spot in the final.

Grabbing some of Jonny’s inspiration, other riders soon picked up the tempo and started to fight for the other final spot. George Woolley’s style got plenty of props from the crowd and began to up the ante. Seasoned pro, Mike Austin, dropped some slick moves and wowed the audience with consistently stomped tricks.

Back shredding after his long lay-up due to injury, Stu ‘Monkey’ Horsham brought some danger to the party as he dialled some impossible tricks to score a few letters, but his best efforts came too late as the contest began to get more and more tactical.

Sam Turnbull and Danny McCormick stood pre-strapped, waiting to take full advantage of tricks that they knew they could lock down. Not saying that these were easy; Danny made  front blunt pretzels look casual, but the waiting game proved costly, as other riders took opportunities to grab the letters.

Angus Leith, shredding like a man possessed, dropped into every trick regardless of if he’d even tried it before! This ‘death or glory’ approach, complete with beer refreshment, gave Angus the edge as he pipped Danny and Sam to the complete set of letters.

So it was Jonny vs Angus in a three-trick showdown, with the crowd given the honours of calling the out moves for the final.

The first stunt; Front blunt – switch up – 270 danish.

Jonny dropped first and put it down out of the textbook. Angus didn’t. 1-0 Jonny Russell.

The second trick; Hardway front 180 on, cab 180 out.

Jonny dropped, looking confident and smoothly nailed hardway 180. No switchup meant Angus had a life line. Angus didn’t need an invitation and threw it down to a huge shout from the crowd.

One all. Final trick.

As the MC quizzed the crowd for suggestions for the decider, Monkey, team mate of Angus, offered up a pretty gnarly suggestion. Hardway backside 270 on to regular.

Perhaps not the best shout from Monkey as Angus’ face dropped.

Jonny Russell dropped in. Nailed it and rode out amidst the cheers of the crowd. With the pressure now fully-stacked, Angus let rip managing just hardway back 180 onto the box.

Jonny Russell was the 2010 Shred Bingo Champion, but the smiles were all round. Another fine session had finished at the Snowboard Test.

Join us next week for the final instalment from this years test, and don’t forget to look out for more from the test week in episode 16 of Shred, Lies and Videotape… coming to you soon!

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