Words and photos by Jordan Ingmire
Flow Tailgate Alaska is a gathering of dedicated shredders from around the world. Everything is accessible and anything is possible in Alaska. Backcountry knowledge, sled experience and heli budgets regulate your access and keep you coming back year after year to get to that next peak.
Every year I weigh my financial options and leave all responsibility behind to roll the dice on scoring deep, stable snow on the steepest sustained pitches the world has to offer. This year I rolled the dice and won!
The weather was perfect for the 10-day event in early April. Prior to everyones arrival 3-5 feet of snow fell in the Chugach Mountains, followed by a 5-day window of blue skies and hi-fives. Our days were spent on snowmachines while helicopters buzzed overhead and the brave at heart scaled the massive mountains on foot. Evening stories were exchanged in the beer garden and late night parties went off thanks to the folks at Black Bear Energy. On this trip I can’t count how many times I heard the phrase “that was the best day of my life.”
The combination of experienced athletes and safety experts at Flow Tailgate Alaska provides a perfect environment for snow enthusiasts of any experience level to push their limits. At Tailgate you can expect to make new friends while shredding the sickest lines of your life.
Thanks to Mark Sullivan for organizing Flow Tailgate Alaska and all the sponsors: Flow Snowboarding, Trew, Dye Snow, Alaskan Brewing Co., Black Bear Energy and ABS.
