Whitehorse snowboarder Max Melvin-McNutt unveiled his latest trick at Sun Peaks Resort’s Rockstar Energy Terrain Park in back-to-back competitions over the weekend.
He was the rock star in both.
The 18-year-old member of the B.C. Provincial Freestyle Team took first in both B.C. Snowboard Provincial Series Slopestyle competitions at Sun Peaks, about 50 kilometres northeast of Kamloops, B.C.
His two open division wins were his third and fourth so far this season.
“I’m excited. This was actually the fourth competition of the year I got first place in,” said Melvin-McNutt. “I’m happy with my riding, I’ve learned a lot of new tricks. It’s just great to be out there throwing them in contests.”
It was Melvin-McNutt’s first competition of the season with his B.C. team. He already took first for the second year in a row at the Sandor’s Icebreaker Rail Jam last month at Mount Sima in Whitehorse. He then rode to first at the King of the Rails competition in Whistler, B.C.
Melvin-McNutt gapped the competition with tricks off the big jumps.
His big one was a switch frontside double cork 900.
“It was the first time I got to do my double cork, which is pretty much two flips with a spin, so it was a big deal being able to put those down in a contest,” said Melvin-McNutt. “It shows that they prevail with the judges, that they are a top trick that they look for. I’m glad I can do those now.”
He also landed a backside 900, “accompanied with other tricks in the run.”
On the rails he threw down a switch frontside 270 to a frontside boardslide on the rail and a front sideboard slide fakey on the second rail.
Melvin-McNutt, who is the first Yukon boarder to make B.C.‘s provincial team, is not the only outsider on the team, which dominated the competition. The second and third place finishers in the open category are also on Team B.C. and both are originally from Ontario.
“Team B.C. isn’t strictly from British Columbia, they gather people from around Canada who live in B.C.,” said Melvin-McNutt. “There’s guys on my team from Manitoba ... I’m not the only outsider.
“The whole team makes finals every time.”
Melvin-McNutt’s first season with Team B.C. last year ended abruptly. After winning his age category in his first competition and taking in other top-five results, Melvin-McNutt sustained a broken collarbone during a practice.
Before joining Team B.C., he represented the Yukon at two major Games. He was awarded the overall silver in the juvenile boys division at the 2010 Arctic Winter Games, also winning gold in the half-pipe. The next year he placed eighth in the halfpipe at the Canada Winter Games.
Contact Tom Patrick at tomp@yukon-news.com