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Annual snowskate event draws 40-plus to Donner Summit resort

Andy Berendsen | Special to the Sun

Results

Youth skatercross

1. John Andres Zapata

2. Jared Linker

3. Liam Becker

Women’s skatercross

1. Becky “Beckstar” Gentile

2. Miranda Worrell

3. Kendra Wilson

Men’s skatercross

1. Pat Bonser

2. Pat “Goblin” Quinn

3. Pat Daly

Youth slopestyle

1. John Andres Zapata

2. Jared Linker

3. Liam Becker

Women’s slopestyle

1. Miranda Worrell

2. Kendra Wilson

3. Becky “Beckstar” Gentile

Men’s slopestyle

1. Adrian Rasmussen

2. Pat “Goblin” Quinn

3. Jason Hogan

Best Trick

Pat “Goblin” Quinn (Christ Air over rock gap)

Best Slam

Sac City Phil (numerous)

TRUCKEE, Calif. — Through the good winters and bad, Donner Ski Ranch remains true to its roots.

The Donner Summit resort — which in 1980 became the first in the Lake Tahoe region to sell a lift ticket to a snowboarder — continues its support of rising niche sports, evidenced by this past Saturday’s 7th Annual Minus 7 Melee.

The annual event is put on by snowskate pioneers Kurt and Jill Zapata of Truckee-based Minus 7 Snowskates.



Despite being closed to the public due to thin snow conditions, Donner Ski Ranch fired up its main chairlift to transport more than 40 participants to the backside of the resort, where a lift spun until the competition concluded around 3:30 p.m. Snowskaters then hiked out and capped the day with a party at the Donner Ski Ranch bar.

The event itself included skatercross and slopestyle competitions.



In the men’s skatercross, the group of skilled riders raced on a downhill banked slalom course, with five heats of four racers each, and the winner of each heat moving on to the finals.

The level of riding was impressive and an all-out “melee” for the finish. The women, who raced three heats on the same course, showed similar skill.

Slopestyle consisted of one big jam session — a whole afternoon of “let’s see who rips the best.” Features included a big rock half covered with snow, rails, flat boxes, cannon rail jumps, a barrel and pyramid.

Sierra Sun sports editor Sylas Wright contributed to this report


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