Photo by Photo Submitted
Stian Langbakk (centre) stands at the top of the podium in the Male U15 slopestyle competition at the B.C. Provincial Series Event #2 in Whistler, B.C. Saturday. Photo courtesy of MIKE STASTOOK
Langbakk finishes first twice in B.C. snowboard competition
Fourteen-year-old Snowboard Yukon rider Stian Langbakk did not have ideal preparation for his first competitions of the season after a concussion and a back injury kept him off snow for most of December.
Fourteen-year-old Snowboard Yukon rider Stian Langbakk did not have ideal preparation for his first competitions of the season after a concussion and a back injury kept him off snow for most of December. That rough start, however, did not stop him from winning two BC Provincial Series events in Whistler this past weekend.
The BC Provincial Series attracts the best young riders in B.C. and includes athletes from Alberta and from as far away as Ontario and Quebec.
Langbakk competes in slopestyle, in which snowboarders perform tricks on rails and jumps that are judged based on their difficulty, amplitude, variety and execution.
On Jan. 5, Langbakk placed first of 13 competitors in the Male U15 category with a score of 79.97, ahead of Rhys Rozon from Québec and Jonas Gaces from Whistler. His performance was also good enough for fourth of 46 competitors overall.
Reflecting after the event, Langbakk said, “My goal was just to put down a run.”
Athletes are judged on their best of two runs.
“In my first run in finals, I totally messed up the rails. I just focused on doing my run for the second one. I was really happy to land it,” related Langbakk.
The second day of competition went even better. Langbakk again won U15 but moved up to second overall, narrowly missing the top spot with a score of 81.03, compared to 81.15 by 19-year-old Dashiell Klebe-McCulloch from the North Shore Snowboard Team. Alexandre Slavinski from Blossom Academie in Quebec rounded out the top three overall.
“Landed all my runs. Upgraded my tricks. Bluebird day with fresh snow,” said a pleased Langbakk after the event.
“Big thanks to the physios and osteo, and my coach, Mike (Stastook),” he added. “And thanks so much to the Air North GOAL program and my sponsor, UNLTD Boardshop in Banff, for their support.”
He will next compete at the Air Nation/NorAm series at Sun Peaks near Kamloops in mid-January before joining his Snowboard Yukon teammates for an Alberta Provincial Series event at WinSport in Calgary at the end of the month.
Complete event results are available at https://www.bcsnowboard.com/2024-event-results/
– Submitted by Brent Langbakk
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