Dustin Craven at Podium

Words/Photos: Shaun Hughes

Dustin Craven won the Empire Shakedown this Easter weekend at Mont Saint-Sauveur just outside of Montreal. Winning the grand prize of $15,000 with a fs 1080 to fs Board slide 270 out on the ledge. 2nd prize going to Charles Reid and 3rd going to Brad Martin.

Andrew Hardingham

This years Empire Shakedown was a cut above the rest, with its big air to rail and winner takes all formats. Its unique design set-up is always a surprise to the crowds and riders, and thinking after last years McDonald’s rail garden was pushing the envelope, they go and blow our minds again with a store front entrance which included a down ledge to drop, gap to log jib and flat ledge to step down not to mention the HUGE kicker that had to be stomped before even getting to the rails.

Although the weather at times just wouldn’t quit with blowing snow and winter like temps., the riders were just as fierce throwing all caution in the wind for that grand prize of $15,000. In the end Dustin Craven from Banff took home the 1st place prize and all the bragging rights too. Winning with his first judged run in the final stages of the hour long jam, throwing down a huge fs 1080 on the kicker to a fs board slide 270 out on the ledge.

Brad Martin

But the crowd of 10,000 plus was restless and the night was young. Trust me when I say this weekend was about two things, first was the riding and second was insane all night parties and if you've never been to Québec, you can't understand what I'm talking about but there’s a reason why pros fly from around the world to enter this contest and keep coming back too. So check out www.shakedown.ca for all the final results and more info about next years great Canadian contest.