For immediate release

EASTERN BOARDER - NASUHA NAMED TOP SHOP FOR
FIFTH ANNUAL SHOP SHOWDOWN AT LOON MOUNTAIN

LINCOLN, NH - The fifth annual Shop Showdown at Loon Mountain, brought 11 teams of New England's best snowboard shop riders to the Loon Mountain Park for one of the most entertaining events of the season.  The super fun, but ultra laidback competition, challenged riders in the superpipe, a jib garden and mogul field.  On the line was a multi night stay and ride package at Northstar-at-Tahoe, a stay at the Mountain Club on Loon, Loon lift tickets, swag, cash and the infamous trophy.

The morning initiated with a quick riders meeting and judging of best costume.  Making a showing were a few Umpa Lumpas, a Twinkie and Filling, Ninja like dudes wearing thermals, Batman and Wolfman, plus a few thugs.  But it was Lahout's riders Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo that took best dressed. 

After costume judging finished up, Oakley's Nelson Wormstead took over the mega-phone to provide some audio entertainment while teams kicked it off in the superpipe.  With tricks barely going over the lip, in rode Burton rider Molly Aguirre to boost the level of the contest and some serious airs.  With a lingering sent of amplitude left for the riders, teams had no problems stepping up their game and boosting some big tricks.  Lahout's team rider and Loon Mountain Park groomer, Tom 'Tomcat' Peplinski, threw some big frontside 5's off the first wall, Eastern Boarder - 3 rider Tanner McCarty hit a mctwist while teammate André Beriau put some serious steeze into a run full of stalefish's, Eastern Boarder - 2 rider Chris Carr easily took the biggest airs of the day and Theory rider Shaun Murphy took the pipe comp with superb style and stomped tricks.    

As judges tallied scores from the superpipe, contestants and spectators moved over to the most memorable event of the day…mogul madness!  Riders had to steer through a field of moguls, hit a jump, run some more moguls and hit the finish line kicker - all while being timed and judged for style.  Guiding through the mogul field seemed to be no problem during first runs, and many riders concluded with the crowd favorite backyard backy for style points.  Once runs were timed, speed had to be figured into guiding the white mines that littered the course.  EB Nashua riders Sam Hulbert and Brandon Reis skimmed through the course and took home the record time of 13.7 seconds.  EB - 2 and EB - 3 opted for more creative lines that included a method high-five by Teddy Lavoie and Chris Carr and a board tail tap backside 180 out from Tanner McCarty and André Beriau.  Video from the final runs can be viewed at www.loonmtn.com.                 

A BBQ lunch was next in order as some dark clouds started to roll in.  Fortunately, only a few drops fell and it was off to the jib garden for the final portion of the contest.  The course consisted of the brand new step down box and a stair set that offered three different jibbing options: a street style down rail, flat-down rail and street style flat-down box.  While some riders were a bit slowed down from previous events, others saved their best tricks for last.  Front and back boards seemed stock for everyone, so the game was stepped up to lipslides, gap to features, switch onto features, and even the occasional 270-on-270-off.  Molly Aguirre popped up again and instantly drew attention while throwing down on the first box and down street rail.  EB Nashua riders were easily the judge's favorites, and winners of the final event, by executing perfect spin, style and stomp.

Overall Winners were finally announced and a quick product toss from White Flag and Oakley concluded the day.        

Overall Winners:
1st Place: Sam Hulbert & Brandon Reis (Eastern Boarder Nashua) - Four-nights and four-days of riding at Northstar-at-Tahoe, $200 cash money, Oakley packs….and of course the legendary trophy! 

2nd Place: Shaun Murphy & Ian Keay (Theory) - Two-night stay for two at the Mountain Club on Loon, four two-day lift tickets and Oakley packs.

3rd Place: Mike Parnell and Travis Neuenhaus (Lahout's #2) - Oakley packs.

4th Place: Tom Peplinski and Steve-O Gallant (Lahout's #1) - Hats and tees.

Costume Winners:  Mike Parnell, Travis Neuenhaus, Tom Peplinski and Steve-O Gallant (Lahout's Snowboard Shop 1 & 2)

Loon Mountain, rated the #1 resort in the east by Transworld Snowboarding readers, has five parks up and running, including the #6 nationally ranked Loon Mountain Park, #7 ranked Superpipe and Burton Progression Park.  Upcoming events include Last Call with Eastern Boarder on March 21, Slush Pool Party on April 7 and Hike and Huck on May 5.

Photos from the event can be found by visiting terrainparks.loonmtn.com.  For more information about Loon Mountain events and up-to-date snow conditions, please call 800-229-LOON (5666) or visit www.loonmtn.com.

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