As much as the Banked Slalom is a celebration of the sport of snowboarding, it is also certainly a celebration of the good friends and family we enjoy as well. For many, the event is as much about the people you get to hang out with at the start area, on warm up runs, at impromptu parties in Glacier and at gatherings like the Salmon BBQ. In the spirit of celebrating good friends, the annual Baked Salmon BBQ has traditionally been in the honor of a good friend and Alaska/Baker local, Teal Copeland, who was lost in a tragic car accident on the Mt. Baker Highway almost three years ago. His close friends Andy Johnson and Scott Stamnes worked fishing in Alaska during the summers and helped supply us the salmon for the BBQ the past few years and brought it each year as a gift for Teal . . . and as a gift for us to enjoy.

The annual burning of the board, an homage to the snow gods.

And now when I think of the Salmon BBQ it again strongly reminds me of the importance of unique and special friends in our lives. . . for Scott was taken from us by a reckless driver in Marseilles, France just a few weeks before the Banked Slalom last year. I can't help but think that Teal was needing some help tracking up all that fresh powder in the sky, and I think of the two of them when I see the strong mountain wind blow snow over a ridge on Shuksan or Table Mountain and wonder if that is them slashing a highline together. We will miss Scott's grand show on the skate ramps this weekend and his calm, cool smile and genuine greetings and hugs.

We will light the big fire in the parking lot on Saturday, and with thanks to Scott's Dad Mike, our Mountain Host and fisherman Reidar Solberg and our Lib Tech friends we will be serving up Alaskan salmon again this year. For many more years to come, co-racers, friends and family will hang out by the monster bonfire and re-hash the day's best run, spectacular save on gate 3, or other memorable moments. . .and know Scott and Teal would have it no other way.

   Send to a friend  | Submit your photo or video
   Top Rated Photos |  Top Rated Videos |  Most Sent