Tailgate Alaska 2011

Even at its worst-still the best! That was the overall consensus at the 2011 Tailgate Alaska:World Freeride Festival.

Just before the event, locals were calling this the worst season in thirty years. With 150+mph gusts across Thompson pass things were not looking good for event.

However, by the end of March, just before Tailgate Alaska was going to kick off the weather was starting to look better. During the first days campers entertained themselves in the stormy weather with "snow science classes, ping pong, darts, the bakery, Flow tent, digging into the walls of the parking lot, and poking around the mountains."

Luckily on April 6th, the skies went from stormy to clear blue. With great weather and 2+ feet of fresh snow, competitors were ready to hit the mountain.

Ross Baker, North Face rider, talks about his experience at Tailgate Alaska;

I came up here by myself, and I knew some people who were going to be here. I've already made so many good friends and so many good connections. We've been out every single day hiking couloirs and just riding the best powder in my entire life nothing beats this place.

On April 10th Tailgate Alaska came to an end, but not without fresh snow and an excellent party to close. A three foot storm left riders with the best riding conditions, while DJ Cross "spun records as the Northern Lights danced across the sky above the Alaska Rendezvous Lodge and Mt. Billy Mitchell."

Get all the info on Tailgate Alaska: World Freeride Festival here.