Above: Ben Ferguson sending it out the halfpipe. PC: Peter Morning
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a stoned teenager on a snowboard? If you’re anywhere near Mammoth Mountain right now, you might see a bunch of riders boosting through an unusual looking course, one that has all the hallmarks of a serious and professional event, but seems to have none of the pressure and stress. Is it an energy drink induced hallucination? Nope, it’s the Red Bull Recharged.
Red Bull Recharged is the latest in a string of events that are pushing the onus from winning titles and pulling off robotic manoeuvres to rider progression and creativity. Not to say the spin to win format isn’t impressive as hell, it’s genuinely mind boggling to sit and watch what gravity defying rotations these shit hot riders pull off in comps, but the Red Bull Recharged aims to push snowboarding in a different direction.