To most, the second weekend of December is just another weekend in the frivolous countdown to Christmas. To the snowboarding community, this time of year means far more than that. In fact, most rider's anticipation for the night when some fat man is supposed to squeeze his way into your house to load you up with more material goods is heavily overshadowed by the arrival of one of snowboarding's greatest events.
For the last 12 years, minus the infamous gap year, the Dirksen Derby has successfully brought together thousands of fellow boarders and friends to our local hill, Mt. Bachelor, for a weekend packed with fast lines and good times. Everyone from local riders Randal Seaton, Jonny Sischo and Janessa Bork to the occasional Travis Rice and Mark Landvik show up for this ultimate celebration of snowboarding benefitting Tyler Eklund.
BlackStrap and a group of our local Athletes have been fortunate to take part in this sacred event for many years, so this season we wanted to share with you this exclusive experience. Follow along for a look into the Dirksen Derby 12 with imagery from photographers Jon Tapper and Trevor Lyden.
Proper line etiquette displayed by Jonny Sischo and Randal Seaton. - P. Jon Tapper
A solid wax and tune is customary at the top of the course. Janessa Bork following suit and keeping her wax dialed. - P. Jon Tapper
Randal Seaton absolutely railing on Red course. - P. Jon Tapper
Marissa Krawczak staying high (on berms).
Top of the course with Johnny Sischo, you can feel the nerves through the screen.
Johnny holding it together on a Green Course doozie. - P. Trevor Lyden
BlackStrap employees Jim Sanco and Thomas Carpenter had the honor of racing again this season and lets just say bragging rights were claimed. - P. Trevor Lyden
When Jon Tapper isn't snapping legendary photos of the event, he's greasing left turns on Red course. - P. Trevor Lyden
Watching the sitski division is never short of inspirational. - P. Trevor Lyden
The locals (pictured Iain Smith) always show up and lay down some fas times. - P. Trevor Lyden
Jonny Sischo got a little chilly of waiting in lines and found a spot to warm up in the sun. - P. Jon Tapper
Elijah cornering his way into First Place. - P. Jon Tapper
Elijah bringing home the bacon in the Grom's division and earning himself another spot in the Legendary Baker Banked Slalom.
DD12 Results:
ELITE MEN
- Harry Kearney
- Travis Rice
- Felix Dallaire
ELITE WOMEN
- Desiree Melancon
- Colleen Quigley-Voutilainen
- Marie-France Roy
MEN
- Martin Ciszek
- Jacob Huntsaker
- Mitch Kirby
WOMEN
- Hannah Eddy
- Kelsey Boyer
- Gillian Andrewshenko
GENTLEMEN
- Che Contreras
- Tim Rechetniak
- Jake Price
GENTLEWOMEN
- Marni Yamada-Entrop
- Amy Eichner
- Shannon Downing
CLASSICS MEN
- Justin Mooney
- Billy Anderson
- Adam Haynes
OLDER & WISER MEN
- Tom Burt
- Sean Aiken
- Kristian Jamieson
OLDER & WISER WOMEN
- Sharon Carlson
- Julie Brown
- Michelle Tullis
TEENS MEN
- Mac Malkoski
- Milo Malkoski
- Chad Carlson
TEENS WOMEN
- Cali Carlson
- Cali Loeb
- Tate Harkness
YOGIS
- David Kinney
- Mike Beaulieu
- Terry Luzier
GROM BOYS
- Elijah Pyle
- Chet West
- Wyatt Cline
GROM GIRLS
- Zeia Rose
- Lila Yeoman
- Kaylie Neal
MINI-SHRED BOYS
- Matthew Laboda
- Taylor Torcom
- Max Schubert
MINI-SHRED GIRLS
- Jeffrey Anderson
- Andee Schader
- Violet Henderson
SIT SKI
- Anna Soens
- Gabe Rousseau
- Tyler Eklund