sethhuot_mndec10_blotto_0786
A ‘gap-to front board drop down’ is a wicked maneuver, because the technicality involved in jumping over a small gap, landing on a big round-bar, sliding for a ways between your bindings with your backside leading the way, then dropping down to ground level from the second story is nerve racking. Seth Huot definitely paid the piper a coupe of times before riding away clean and racking up his first shot of an X Games Real Street segment. Photo: Blotto
When an architect sets out in designing a building, city park, overpass, or any other structure that includes public safety devices, never did it cross their minds that these long metal bars called handrails — sometimes square, sometimes round — would fuel an entire niche within snowboarding while influencing terrain parks worldwide. The handrail, in its simplest form, is the classic down-bar, a piece of metal running straight down a set of stairs used for pedestrian stability, and perfect for enthusiastic snowboarders. It was the early street-riding pioneers taking what they knew from skateboarding and applying it to the snowboarding process during the winter months that fueled a revolution. It’s absolutely incredible where it’s gone from there and hopefully this gallery shows you a little bit of that.
As a bonus, I included the trick names with each image, because you’ll get a kick out of saying them aloud, whether you’re the seasoned snowboarding veteran or an innocent bystander taking note of these freestyle fanatics risky life and limb in the name of fun and filling up video parts. Enjoy.
For more from Blotto, check out his site and see what he is offering up on 500px.com. And be sure to follow him on Instagram and Like him on Facebook.