Supernatural renamed Ultranatural?! - The year's raddest contest is almost here!

Supernatural renamed Ultranatural?! - The year's raddest contest is almost here!

Backcountry snowboard competition evolves as Travis Rice and 15 of the world’s top riders prepare to drop into an updated course designed to crown the world’s best all-around snowboarder. When Red Bull Ultra Natural touches down at Baldface Lodge outside of Nelson, B.C., Canada, a group of eight new riders will meet the eight top finishers from last year on a course with more features and options than previously imaginable. With an updated format, new judges and of course a new name, Red Bull Ultra Natural runs on a single day during the February 15-21 holding period.

“This event was created as the highest echelon of competitive snowboarding. It draws on all aspects and a lifetime of accumulated snowboarding skill and knowledge,” says event creator and pro snowboarder Travis Rice. “Entering into its second year at Baldface Lodge, Red Bull Ultra Natural will provide an even further evolved platform for the heaviest continuous lines ever ridden. Now that riders have an idea of what to expect, there is no doubt the governor is coming off.”

Red Bull Ultra Natural is the only event that brings together the most accomplished big-mountain freeriders, who fine-tune jaw-dropping film segments and first descents deep in the backcountry, with the current crop of freestyle riders raising the bar in the park and pipe. With three distinct sections of the course designed to show off each athlete’s strength and individual discipline, the event aims to serve-up a day of snowboard competition beyond anyone’s wildest imagination.

 

 

 

The brainchild of Travis Rice, Red Bull Ultra Natural creates the dream snowboard run located within the 32,000 acre tenure of Canada’s premier snowcat operation, Baldface Lodge. On the 45+ degree slope nicknamed “Scary Cherry,” a new wider start area and more line options will create more diversity for the riders in 2013. More than 80 existing features have been refined and additional creative hips and objects have been placed on-course to create transitional riding elements in between the upper tree-line jumps and pillow lines, the middle section’s super-kicker, and the natural jib and jump section near the finish.

The single day competition ensures that the event takes place under only the best possible conditions – a mix of deep powder, good sunlight, and safe conditions. Snowboarding legends Jamie Lynn and Peter Line will join Temple Cummins, Andy Hetzel and Head Judge Tom Burt this year as they base scores on an overall impression of the riders’ two runs, with the best run counting towards the win. A shift of almost two weeks later in the season will help ensure that sunlight on the NorthEast slope will last across all 32 runs. 

 

Over at Transworld Snowboarding (full article HERE) they got a bit more info on what exactly went into the course in terms of changes straight from Travis Rice:

Transworld: How did you decide on the changes?

Travis: We learned a lot watching people ride last year. It was easy to tell where the strong and weak points were so we went in and clipped out all the weak points—the trees that were too tight, a couple of stunts that were a little too big, and added a more dynamic mid-slope feature. We thought the lower section last year was a little too mellow so we wanted to make it a little more challenging.

How do you edit the course?

TR: As the different storms shape the features we add a little snow, take away a little, and make sure things are lined up. Sometimes storms come through with wind and blow the features off or sometimes they come in heavy and grow the features to the point where we have to shovel them off again. Leading up to the window for our event we try to get everything lined up and safe for the riders.

 

Well, I'm not so sure about the new name, I'm guess there's a story behind that one, but am sure as hell looking forward to the event. This'll be a good one for sure and there will no doubt be a ton of media coverage and goodies for us all to salivate over. Stay tuned for all the action right here.

Here are some photos of the insane course:

 

All photographs copyright Red Bull Media House North America, Inc.

 

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