Words and photos by Owen Ringwall
History was made on Thursday, January 11th, 2016 as fans and athletes gathered at Fenway in America’s oldest, and arguably most iconic, ballpark for the Polartec Big-Air. The event, which gathered national attention since the behemoth structure went under construction – is the first ever Big-Air Centric US Snowboarding Grand Prix event, as well as the first of its kind, bringing Olympic-level riding to downtown Boston.
The structure was staggering. With the drop in standing at 140-feet tall, it was three times the height of the famed Green Monster. The gap stretched to a solid 70 feet from takeoff to knuckle (some may scoff and say that is ‘not that large’, but this thing was definitely no joke) and finished off at home plate. The field of riders was then narrowed down to 10 men and 6 women finalists after a series of qualifying rounds, which sidelined podium favorite Sage Kotsenburg as well as female Olympian Ty Walker.

Finals kicked off once the sun had dropped below the Boston skyline and the temperature plummeted, firming up the jump and landing. Riders were given three runs to stick two different runs, the best two combining to form a final score. In the ladies department Julia Marino, an 18-year-old from Connecticut who came to the event as a forerunner with no actual intention to compete, made it through qualifications to take home the big gold with a cab underflip and an absolutely massive backflip. Jenna Blassman took home second with a massive backside 720, and Brooke Voight brought home third with proper frontside and backside 360’s.
When it came to the men, New Hampshire local Chas Guldemond brought home third and was a crowd favorite all night, stomping a cab double cork 1260, and a backside 1080. Mikey Ciccarelli snagged second with a cab double 1260 and a backside double 1080. Max Parrot clinched first on his second run with an absolutely massive triple cork 1440 that followed a cab doublecork 1260 from his first run. Max Parrot has dominated the Big Air field as of late and gave the crowd at Fenway something to cheer for on his third and final victory lap with a huge laid out backflip to the bottom of the landing.
See also: Focal Point: Air + Style LA by Gabe L’Heureux














Full Results
Men:
1st: Max Parrot
2nd: Mikey Ciccarelli
3rd: Chas Guldemond
4th: Seppe Smits
5th: Jonas Boesiger
6th: Mons Roisland
7th: Eric Beauchemin
8th: Lyon Farrell
9th: Michael Schaerer
10th: Sage Kotsenburg
Women:
1st: Julia Marino
2nd: Jenna Blasman
3rd: Brooke Voigt
4th: Spencer O’Brien
5th: Jessika Jenson
6th: Karly Shorr