Words: T-Bird
Captions: Pat Bridges

The Launch 2012 presented by Red Bull, with additional support provided by Giro, went off today at Bear Mountain. Many people call their experience at Bear “Beach Boardin’” due to the always temperate climate on-hill and today, for the first day of The Launch, was true to form. With not a cloud in sight, no wind, and 70-plus degree temps, the riders were greeted to a park like none other, thanks to Clayton Shoemaker and his diligent crew of pushers and shapers.

Bear Mountain has cut its teeth by manufacturing the some of the world’s most premier park features, and their hard work has paid off, as now, riders from all over the globe travel to the west coast’s park Mecca to lap an entire mountain riddled with jibs, jumps, and tranny. All of this culminated today when The Launch park was unveiled. Transition abound, jumps, redirects, and one massive step down/road gap-esque hit all funneling through the main gully and offering infinite options provided a day of filming and shooting for the ages.

Head to SNOWBOARDER for full recap…

Rider: Sam Taxwood
Photo: E-Stone