The definition of Slackcountry (n): 1. The terrain around a ski-resort that is not part of the official paths. 2. Untouched powder perfect for competition.

This weekend saw the return of the Slackcountry Cup for its fifth year at Mount Baldy.

The two-day event saw snow and split-boarders heading to the top of Baldy’s slopes and then go further up the mountain, riding one of the resort’s big cat snow machines to the mountain’s apex where they boarded down otherwise untouched snow.

“It’s a contest in the loosest form of the word,” said organizer Steve “Doug” Hare. “It’s more a gathering of a bunch of like-minded people that like to ride powder.”

Over 60 competitors carved up the untouched conditions, weaving between trees, and getting air off barely-covered boulders on Saturday. That afternoon, the Hip Jam had them touch the sky with jumps off the ramp, shaped just for the competition.

Sunday saw the split-boarders take to the slopes, with a race to gather golden nuggets and turn them in at the finish line in a St. Patrick’s Day twist. Following the race, the contest at the top of the mountain began again.

According to organizers and competitors, the event is simple, rugged and a trip back to the basics, which is just how everyone likes it.

“This competition, it’s about the soul of snowboarding,” said Hare. “We don’t want it to be a huge thing, we don’t need a ton of sponsors, we don’t need an energy drink like Red Bull or anything. What we have here is good.”

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