words by L.Gallagher:

SASS has got themselves one cool cat working the angles on hill every day. His name is Ben Girardi. Everyone calls him Ben G.

Kid’s got an eye. And better yet, he can rip his board too. On the last day of the session, when the rain had washed all the snow away, Ben pointed it down the dirt, dropped right into a couple hundred vertical feet of dirtin’, for certain. And stuck it, without getting stuck. So, here’s some of his work and yeah keep an eye out for Ben, both on his board and behind the lens. Get at him at \n // --> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you need a photog.

Joe Fontaine slashing pow.

Blasting a method on the new Superpark DTX 159 with 80's team ltd. graphics

IN YOUR FACE!

The first annual Smokin snowboards Porters Tahoe Pool Party is a wrap and an amazing way to finish the season at Boreal Mountian Resort. things got radical as kids hucked, planted, and tweaked their way to a bunch of loot and tons of gear on a super sweet setup by Boreal Terrain Park.

Sal Rubio Best Trick Winner

With huge hips, a bowled out corner/spine, keg volcano for bodacious handplants, ice block high dive low dive, 2 stair cases, and a variety of other jibs, the Smokin Porters pool party was one of the sickest contests of the year in Lake Tahoe. The Boreal Terrain Park crew threw down for us and the kids did the same in return.

Andrew Brewer getting some Vampire Blood about 20 feet off the hip

The party atmosphere and great weather made the final weekend at Boreal one to remember for sure. We were lucky to have the best bands in Lake Tahoe; Sex Rat, Del Mar, and Drinking Machine Guns, play live on hill throughout the contest making the whole party go nuts the entire time. And after an afternoon of ripping and slashing the custom setup the $1000 cash and over $6000 in gear got handed out to the gnarliest shredders of the day.

Matt Aspinall mid-rodeo

In the Boys 15 and under class Alex Turner proved to be the victor, winner of 50 bucks a pair of celsius boots and a big box of schwagg. Blair Eeson took 2nd and the boys handplant with a cartwheel over the keg and won a bunch of gear. The 100 dollar winner of the girls divison was Alison Hardy, killing it all day and Emily Bloch took the Sheplant on the tombstone. and in the open class Ryan Laurie took third place despite throwing a rodeo 7 over the qp and won 75 bucks and a ton of new gear and flux bindings. Scott Hoffman the Wolfman took second and won a pair of 32 boots and 125 bucks along with tons of stuff as well.

Binky running things

But making the big cash for the day was Andrew Brewer, with an ill bloody Dracula grab about 20 feet out of the bowl amongst other huge airs, he killed the competition and went home with 500 bucks. Best trick of the day and a Smokin Snowboard for his creativity and innovation of the over-Binky, Smokin Tent Bonk went to Soldiers Brand Rider and member of MS 13 Sal Rubio. And the Mens M.I.P. (most impressive plant) went to Bloody Joe and his frontside invert on the keg volcano. Joe had a 3 inch gash on his hand from a fight at the previous night's party, extreme!!!!...

Muscles almost got this handplant

You should have seen the other guy. At Smokin Snowboards we are so stoked the event was a huge success and we want to thank everyone involved and thank everyone for coming out.

Trevor from Spacecraft vandalizing team rider Alison Hardy's new Monix jacket.

I want to give a special Thanks to PortersTahoe.com, Boreal Terrain Park, Jon Slaughter, Electric Visual and Creepy, Volcom and Skin Dog, Monster Energy Drink, Del Mar, Sex Rat, Drinking Machine Guns, Rodney(the fucking man) for bringing his PA system, Celsius, Flux Bindings and RV, Landing Headwear, Crosby and Shasta from Soldiers Brand Outerwear, 32 boots, Snowboard-mag.com, OneBall Jay and Derek, Bern Helmets, Eesa Lux Layering, Tahoe Daves for tons of schwagg and helmets, Spacecraft, Acyl Clothing, Amp Energy Drink, Matix, DVS, Snowrev.com, Shoreline, Village Board Shop, Joe Fontaine, Wara Ceretti, Wayne-O, Laser, Jplagos.com, and of course Smokin Jay Quintin for having a truely core company. Supporting local shops and making bad ass snowboards.

Bud(left) from Sublime/Del Mar fame and the rest of the Del Mar crew

Make sure you come out next year for the Smokin Pool Party and visit Boreal throughout the year for some sick shredding and great parks.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE PICS FROM THE EVENT!