IRISH SPRING Cleanest Jam winners! The course was broken up into three parts. Dave Smutok pulled a 360 over a gap at the top of the course. Paul Basagoitia did a 360 tailwhip from the quarter pipe and Timo Pritzel aired over the 15' foot high wall ride. Each athlete won $100 from Irish Spring.

Monster Park Gets off to a Wild Start
By: Lou Mazzante

Saturday was supposed to pass quietly, a mere practice day leading to today's Monster Park slopestyle competition. But when the event's title sponsor announced they would throw down $300 for the best move, the day turned into a mini-contest of its own.

Dubbed the Irish Spring Cleanest Jam, the session allowed riders half an hour to ride each of the course's three sections, from the huge drops at the top, to the 15-foot high curved wall ride at the bottom. Each section offered dozens of possible lines and riders could make as many runs as they wanted.

Fueled by the open format, riders were constantly pushing each other, trying new moves and dialing in their lines. "I love this format, everyone's so relaxed but the progression is incredible," said 18-year-old Geoff Gulevich.

The athletes decided who won, basing their decisions on the riders' lines, style and tricks. Dave Smutok took the first section for pulling a 360 over an off-angle table-top-style hip jump into a deep bowl; Paul Basagoitia won the second segment for launching a 360 tailwhip high off a quarter pipe onto a dirt tranny; and Timo Pritzel's 17-foot booter straight up and over the wall ride took the final segment.

Bike Magazine Monster Park is being held at Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia, which has become a serious a mountain bike destination in the East. Throughout the contest, and even during practice earlier in the day, several hundred spectators lined the course, many
of them in full armor, taking breaks from their own riding. Even more spectators are expected today for the full-on contest. If the action on Saturday was any indication, they should see some insane riding. Check back tomorrow for a full report.