RIDE Shakedown (Canada) - Marc McMorris and Megan Ginter dominate at the 2010 RIDE Shakedown
By: Snowboarding.com | Date: Saturday April 03, 2010
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Marc McMorris dominates the 2010 RIDE Shakedown
Marc McMorris and Megan Ginter took top honours at the 2010 RIDE Shakedown on Saturday at Mont Saint-Sauveur. McMorris a native of Regina, Saskatchewan and only 16 years old, will go home with the $12,000 purse. Sébastien Toutant (L'Assomption, Quebec), champion of the 2009 RIDE Shakedown, secured second place and $3,000 in prize money, while Eric Willet (Frisco, Colorado) won $2,000 for his third place finish in the men's finals, where 16 of the 40 semi-final participants were selected to compete. All four amateurs that qualified on Friday for the Pro semis managed to secure a spot in the finals to conclude a fantastic two-day competition that attracted a crowd of nearly 25,000 spectators.
Megan Ginter dominate at the 2010 RIDE Shakedown
The women's finals consisted of the top 5 riders from the semis with Megan Ginter (Carnation, Washington) claiming first place and a $5,000 prize. Lynn Neil (Salt Lake City, Utah) walked away with 2nd place and $3,000, while Alexandra Duckworth, originally from Nova Scotia and currently residing in Kingsburg, California, finished third and won herself $2,000.
"I didn't ride as well as I wanted, and I missed my first run in the semis. But then, I got back on track for my second run and I finished first," explained McMorris, who impressed the judges with his Backside 1080 Double Cork on the Big Air and his Frontside Blunt slide 450 Out on the Flat Bar. "I went into the finals feeling pretty confident. I landed the same tricks and it paid off! It's great standing on the podium with my friends and fellow riders. I'll definitely be back next year!"
As for Megan Ginter, she took a major gamble by being the first female snowboarder in the history of the RIDE Shakedown to perform a 720 on the Big Air, followed by a 5050 Frontside 180 Out on the Flat Bar rail.
"I'm thrilled! said the 22-year-old champion. "The competition itself is so much fun, not to mention the great atmosphere here. It's a bit more laid back than regular slopestyle, so it's a great opportunity to really let loose and give it your all. One thing is sure: I'm coming back in 2011."
Between the semi-final and final rounds, spectators were treated to the mesmerizing Push.ca half-time show.
This featured 15 professional skateboarders landing tricks on the Down Flat Down rail. Thomas Parent of Brossard won over the crowd with his 50-50 backside 180 out that earned him $2,000 in prize money.
"It's the largest RIDE Shakedown yet, in terms of both the number of riders and the number of spectators," explained Brendan O'Dowd, President of Dizzle Entertainment and co-organizer of the event. "We now have international presence and that's why we're seeing riders from around the world. The crowd has changed, too. It's not just teenagers anymore, but families and people of all ages, who come to watch spectacular performances. And with this great weather, we really couldn't ask for anything more!"
With the launch of the RIDE Shakedown in Seattle last month, the 2010 Canadian edition of the event attracted the largest contingent of U.S. riders so far. The snowboard community in the U.S. has quickly realized that the RIDE Shakedown is an international level competition, which explains why so many athletes made the trip to Mont Saint-Sauveur. Given the exceptional weather, we can safely assume that even more U.S. riders will return next year for the RIDE Shakedown's 10th anniversary.
The 2010 RIDE Shakedown on television
The 2010 RIDE Shakedown in Mont Saint-Sauveur can be seen on television thanks to our two broadcasting partners, V Télé, which will present the event on Friday, April 16, 2010 at 7:30 p.m., and TSN, which will air it on Sunday, April 25, 2010 starting at 11:30 a.m.
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