While our neighbors down south have the US Open to celebrate every year in mid-March, Ontario has something even more legit: The Quiksilver Down Low at Mount St. Louis Moonstone. And since this year marked the fifth anniversary of the popular end-of-season "anti-contest" contest pioneered by Barrie's Tropical North snowboard shop and Quiksilver, no one wanted to miss it.

Along with a sizeable turn-out of Ontario's best riders came one of the most beautiful riding days of the season: a blue-bird sky and warm temperatures made for hoody-wearing spring conditions from first to last chair. The Down Low has a fun and easy-going format, with riders sessioning different sections of the park at scheduled times throughout the day. The judges pick who's ripping the hardest, and riders are rewarded with cash. In the meanwhile, everyone shreds the park, watches the contest and hits up the free barbeque.

The first obstacle riders and spectators encountered when they arrived at the Moonstone base was a gated security check, with resort staff on patrol for pass offenders and contraband. A few savvy riders must have been sneaky though, as I saw more than a few people drinking out of their gloves throughout the day. Good job.

Shane Dennis' injury run. He proceeded to land about 15 feet past the gap, shoulder-to-ambulance.

The jam-style contest is broken up into three sections: pipe, jumps and rails. First up was the halfpipe. Like year's past, the superpipe was modified with a 30-foot gap cut into both the left and right walls. Riders hit tricks over the gaps until the session was brought to a halt when the talented Shane Dennis had a gruesome accident hitting the frontside gap, fracturing his shoulder. Unfortunately Shane (aka: L.S., "your favorite neighbourhood rapper") was also part of the event's entertainment and was due to perform later in the day. Being the trooper that he is, he made it back from the hospital in time to slang a few CD's and perform a quick post-event set. In the end, aside from Shane's spectacular crash, it was Kevin Scriver who earned the most attention and took the victory.

Andrew Kirn about to trim some branches.

Andrew Skelhorn, not one for nesting, let's everyone know he's back in town.

Part two of the contest was the most unique. Overnight, the deck of one of the jumps grew a tree and a vertical log, creating a Travis Rice-type set-up for riders to tap and spin through mid-air. Nines, rewinds, and taps were all thrown down through, and around, the tree and log. With more than a few riders eating sap and branches, the brave Andrew Kirn got the nod for stomping the best tricks. Around this time everyone hit the barbeque at the bottom of the park for a burger or dog, and took in the agro sounds of Quiksilver rep Kyle Taylor's death metal band, History at Gunpoint. This got everyone amped to hit the big jumps, and that's where the contest moved to next.

Lunch! Hey, don't I know you, guy in the front of line?

Riders had to navigate through slushy conditions to gather enough speed to find the landing; by this time of the day the sun was beating down pretty hard. But in spite of the sloppy snow, you can name a trick and it was done during the session. All the competitors were stepping up, especially Andrew Skelhorn, who flew back from Whistler to lay a beat-down to the jumps. But alas, it was Kevin Scriver again who took the jump category, due to his willingness to hit both jumps when most riders performed off just the bottom show-time hit.

Kevin Scriver, multi-talented winner.

More local talent.

The third and final portion to the day was the rail jam. The set-up was a double set, street-style rail and riders got buck. Honorable mention goes to Horseshoe Valley local Blair McKinney, who was killing it. However it was the seemingly effortless sliding of Scot Brown - fresh off his win at the Telus Triple Challenge rail jam last weekend at Blue Mountain - that took the victory. Kid has serious skill and style, especially with those Rasta beads in his ginger mop.

Sayer?!? How are you gonna write the story when you're busy trying to win the contest?

Scot Brown, locked in for the win.

Well, winter 2009 is a wrap for Mt. St. Louis Moonstone. With Kevin Scriver taking the overall title, Quiksilver is sending him to Vancouver this week to compete in the Showdown Over The City at Grouse Mountain. Look for full coverage on PUSH.ca from the event.

Much love to Moonstone for having a hype park all season, and to Quiksilver and Tropical North for throwing the sickest year-end jam every season. I'm looking forward to the 2010 edition already.

Scriver fills his purse.

Shane "L.S." Dennis makes his return; doped up and slung up, he does it for the fans.

Photos and captions: Matt Forsythe
Check back shortly for the full gallery.

Results

Pipe gaps: Kevin Scriver
Tree jib booter: Andrew Kirn
Jump line: Kevin Scriver
Jib session: Scot Brown
Girl Ripper: Sam Deneana
Overall: Kevin Scriver

"I came back for the Down Low this year because it's one of the most fun events I've ever been too. Everyone is there having a great time, enjoying the last day at Moonstone... You get to see some amazing snowboarding... it doesn't even feel like a competition, because everyone is there to just push each other on a sunny day with no pressure. You can't beat snowboarding, sun, free food, great bands and good friends." -Andrew Skelhorn

"The Quiksilver Down Low just keeps getting better, and the gnar-meter reaches a new level every year. The sun was out all day, giving the riders a chance to push their limits while battling wakeboard-like conditions. From the pipe gap to the double jump line death gaps, to the jumps with trees sticking out of them, the park at Louis was nothing short of a scene from Cirque du Soleil. I was stoked to be among all the local rippers, and weekend/monthly warriors, as we slashed the Ontario snow soup around one last time at Louis. Huge thanks to the park staff that spent countless hours preparing for this ridiculously fun event."  -Kevin Scriver

The History of The Down Low

While the Down Low, as an "official" event, celebrated its fifth anniversary this year, the event has actually been around even longer. Down Low founder Kevin Morris gives us the scoop:

"I started the Down Low about seven years ago, and at the time I really wasn't happy the way contests were being done. It seemed like the fun was being sucked out by having to deal with structure, judging, uniforms, and rules. My idea was to bring the contest back to what my buddies and I used to do every day we rode. We sessioned one item ‘till everyone was over it, and at the end one guy always ruled the sesh, but we all had fun.

The contest started pretty small originally, with about 15 invited riders, at an undisclosed city handrail location, but word spread pretty quickly. When Quiksilver called me five years ago and wanted to be involved, we moved it to Mt. St. Louis. Thankfully those guys have been super supportive. I can't think of any other resort that would let you build some of the features we've had. Craig Burley and the park staff surpass themselves every year, you have to give those guys credit for pushing it.

Every year the event grows, word spreads and riders tell me that it was the most fun they had all year. Hopefully we can continue to grow it and push new features that reward risk and creativity. Congrats to all who rode, showed up to hang, ate the free food, heckled, threw snowballs, broke their shoulder, pulled the best trick they've ever done, raked a take-off, or snuck in some beer, because we at Tropical North know you're the reason our contest is successful."

Check out the gallery for more shots from the whole day.