Kirkwood, CA – The North Face Masters of Snowboarding Finals will be returning to the legendary Cirque venue at Kirkwood Mountain Resort. The permanently closed Cirque bowl will host both days of the men's and women's snowboard competition. Just the opportunity to ride this terrain makes the cost of admission into the contest seem like a wash. Think $125.00 heli runs and that's about what you can expect to find on the Cirque. In the last 2 weeks Kirkwood has watched the snowfall totals pile up with an incredible 9 feet of pow.

Photo Adam DeVargas

A $20,000 total prize purse up for grabs for the Kirkwood competition. Along with an extra $5,000 to the overall tour winner. Right now young ripper Jonathon Penfield is leading the men with 111.5 points and my money is on him to take the title (go ginger mafia). For the ladies a tight race is coming down for the winner, Laura Hadar has 161.5 points and Maria DeBari is on her heals with 160 points

Jeff Meyer in route to 6th place 2010 TNF Masters Kirkwood | Photo Hardaker

It can still be anyone's game as there are 15-20 men and women that are all in contention for the overall title. I can already feel the excitement building as everyone is going to be riding hard for the chance at a bonus check of $5,000 and title as overall 2011 North Face Masters Champion.