Eastern Boarder’s Last Call returned for another year this past Monday, March 23rd at Loon Mountain. The EB crew started the event as a “last call” contest after Burton’s US Open contest and 24 years later it’s still going strong. This year the EB crew brought the Stone Cold Steve Austin energy alongside 20K cash up for grabs thanks to sponsors Rome Snowboards, Vans, GoPro, Oakley, Pisten Bully, Pro-Tec, Spiral Wax Co, Turtlebox Audio, Crab Grab, and Slush Magazine.

Contest is simple: Loon builds a buck course set up with three zones, Eastern Boarder invites the riders, and the East Coast energy takes over. Rome Snowboards brought most of their team, including importing snowboard king, award winning video rider, Olympic athlete, and genuinely nice guy Rene Rennekangas. Thirtytwo sent some of their crew out to the East Coast which included Scott Stevens’ first time back to Last Call since 2007.

Contest started with the Zone 1 Jump session: Loon Park build a proper jacker then put a butter pad in the middle of it with transition side on either sides. If you’re going straight over the recommended approach was to point it and resist the fear to speed check and potentially knuckling the butter pad end and jump knuckle. Most ridden spot was probably the knuckle of the jump but the judges were taking note of those who were clearing it and putting down some heaters.

Zone 2 was the Rails session and Loon really packed them in there. Take that one “challenge rail” found at your local terrain park and multiple it by 5. Make it to the end and you’re standing above most everyone else. First person I saw to lock into the rider’s left combo rail was Lucas Magoon. Let’s take a moment to recognize Lucas Magoon and Derek Lemke dropping in on the same course, it’s like the yin and yang of street snowboarding at the same contest.

Break for lunch to mingle with the riders and fans alike over some hot dogs and chili before getting back on course for the third and final zone. Last Call is like a who’s who of industry heads and east coast icons lapping between watching the contest. Watch The Eastern Boarder Movie (2008) before you continue reading, good vibe check of the type of energy that Last Call brings.

Zone 3 was the quarterpipe session where we see who’s got transition skills and who should probably get tapped by Pat Bridges to chill out and watch. Connor Cavanagh came out swinging reminding us all that he’s got transition chops. Cooper Whittier was throwing down, blasting airs out of the the quarterpipe and hitting the bar across the channel gap. Rene casual approach to the QP means launching it with a smile and laugh as he put down some heat. Joey Fava was launching method grabs out of the QP and Scott Blum was holding proper handplants. After one chaotic drop when they practically landing on each other it quickly turned into a doubles routine and the boys got their results and a fan favorite moment from the zone.

Connor Kelly and his pink Ride board were flying all day which led to him winning overall for the Men’s and after watching her top her showing at Beat Down everyone had a sense that Sofia Bruck was on the way to take overall for Women’s.

Best Overall Jumps: Callen Hwang and Connor Kelly
Best Overall Rails: Ashley Sobczynski and Casey Willax
Best Overall Quarterpipe: Athena Comeau and Joey Fava
Hardest Charger Award: Will Vear
Most New Hampshirest aka the Crab Grab 603 Award: Tim McClaughlin and earned $603 in singles

Connor and Sofia adding their names to the legendary Last Call stool before the apres took off at the legendary Bunyan Room.

Last call for this year’s Last Call merch over on easternboarder.com

(Use HOLDEN15 for 15% off your entire order on the EB site, but you didn’t hear it from me)

Photos by Ashley Rosemeyer

Words by Holden Barth