Photos by Tim Zimmerman
The 29th annual Legendary Mount Baker Banked Slalom was one of the more difficult courses in the race’s history. The high pressure conditions in the month leading up to the event made solid ice out of what is normally a malleable natural half pipe. For the first time in history Mt. Baker course builders used chain saws and ice blocks in order to form some pretty sporty “banks”. Concern over the potential speed riders could reach combined with dangerous conditions, builders made the course tighter with approximately 20 more turns than usual making it more slalom than banked. Magne-Traction and sharp edges were key on the bulletproof luge.
In Pro Men Lib Tech’s Blair Habenicht and Gnu’s Temple Cummins laid down runs and scored top ten spots and coveted Pendleton blankets. Both had to overcome some rattles; Temple in qualifier run caught a gate to the face and went down, chipped his front tooth, and cut his lip, Blair on the finals run 1 slipped out smacked his head and cut his lip.
Congratulations to Blair for his 8th place finish and to Temple for his 10th place finish! Congratulations to Barrett Christy Cummins for her Bronze Duct Tape finish! Congratulations groms Cody and Kaela for their Bronze and Silver Duct Tape finishes! And congratulations to all the racers who survived the weekend!
View the total coverage at lib-tech.com/lbs
View the final results at lbs.mtbaker.us