Yesterday the K2 “POP This” high ollie contest came to my local mountain. While skiers may or may not have been welcome, there was definitely an understood “snowboard contest” subtext. Nonetheless, the mini-comp looked fun and included kids who would never dare to enter a regional slopestyle or even a railjam.

p: Greg Furey. bigboulderpark.

I’ll reserve the usual “skiing needs more fun comps” argument for its annual emergence around the time of the Orage Masters, but seriously, we need more fun comps.

The funfest that was the high ollie contest inspired me to dream up some skier friendly mini-comps of my own. The way I see it, the comps would need to have an obvious promotional aspect (K2 is promoting their “bambooyah” cores with the traveling ollie comp), be accessible for the average park skier, and be possible to set up easily at any mountain. Feel free to dream up your own possibilities…

Mini-360 Comp

Good way to promote a “reduced swing weight” ski, or a new, light core material.

All this would require is a triple jump line of little BMX-style gappers. Prizes can go to the fastest 360, first person to land them all switch, and, of course, the best 360 as judged by a panel of regional Ams from whatever company bites this idea.

Let’s add a “no x-country dudes” clause to that one.

Distance Ollie

Good way to promote a snappy or flexy core material, or any ski that promotes itself as actually fun to ride.

I think a straight highest ollie contest would be pretty cool on skis, but K2 already came up with that idea, so I’ll go with a new one. This contest would simply require a really sharp roller with a long landing. It’s easier than making a jump, so most mountains should be able to handle it. You’d basically draw a line in the snow and skiers would launch from there on down the landing. Possible prizes could go to best ollie-180, best crash, and the grand prize to the king/queen of distance.

Butter-Jam

Promote park-rocker, flex points, or straight noodlieness.

Start with a mellow flat box or down bar, craft a very broad and relatively flat takeoff, and let the butters begin. Draw a line a few feet before the feature, and demand that you switch directions after that line. Then award prizes based on best nose and tail butters, and best overall dopeness. Easy as that.

An old favorite of mine. p: R. Marcucci