Spring skiing & snowboarding is in full effect in Lake Tahoe. This past weekend I was asked to photograph another great event put on by the High Fives Foundation. High Fives Foundation is a Lake Tahoe-based non-profit organization dedicated to raising money and awareness for athletes who have suffered a life-altering injury while pursuing their dream in the winter action sports community.

“Can you hear it? The ground is rumbling, shaking off the tens of feet of snow that the Lake Tahoe region has received in the past weeks. That’s right, trains 2011 – Freestyle Ski & Snowboard Contest is on its way… all aboard!

The High Fives Non-Profit Foundation, Marker Bindings, Volkl Skis, Smith Optics and Alpine Meadows Ski Resort are proud to host the invitational slopestyle contest on Saturday, April 16 from 11am-4pm. This is a truly rider-driven event, featuring top local and pro athletes mixing it up in The Shreadows Terrain Park arena. The unique team-oriented format rewards creativity and style in a progressive environment. With music from DJ One Truest and catering from Full Belly Deli including chicken wings from the wing king himself Jamie LaValle (Marker/Volkl), trains 2011 is a locomotive of energy, positivity and fun for all!

The event consisted of 3 competitions and was an invitational event open to 30 skiers and 6 snowboarders. Two obstacle feature areas were present with 4 jump options, 2 jib features and a special memorial rail feature in dedication to late Lake Tahoe local CR Johnson sponsored by Smith Optics. The first competition was an individual competition where the judges would pick the best male and female competitor who showed the best all around performance. The 2nd part of the competition was the TRAIN portion of the event where individual teams of six participants would follow in simultaneous fashion in their own choreographed manner showing off for the judges. It can get real dangerous as participants are jumping off 70-90 features very close to one another. No injuries happened and that is always a good thing! The final part of the event was the best High Five. Participants had to figure out a way to “high-five”their teammates mid flight in order to make their best impression. Winners donated $500.00 checks to the charity of their choice. Winners also received a large amount of free product from this years sponsors. Fun in the sun and all for a great cause!
Winners
Snowboard: Branden Reis
Team: Grey Team
Best Male Performance: Parker White
Best Female Performance: Grete Eliassen
This years event was sponsored by GoPro, Aelix, Unofficial Networks, Armada Outerwear, Big Truck Headwear, Sports Basement, DieCutStickers.com, SportsInsurance.com, Smith Optics, Discrete, Burton Snowboards, and PortersTahoe.com.