As the landing of the Ironing Board became completely annihilated, the group moved downhill to the final and most diverse zone. There was a creatively designed line of BMX-style jumps into a berm, followed by a logslide, built by the dudes from Denver skate and snowboard shop, Emage. There was a tabletop jump with a hole in the run-out large enough to bury a Mini Cooper. And there was an upward-sloping log attached seven feet up a tree trunk, which saw a heavy session.

Kit Hendrickson bonkin’ his nose

The format of Love Games allows attendees to take the event as seriously or casually as they want. There’s no registration, no official staging areas. Riders can hike relentlessly, getting hit after hit, or show up at noon, catch a little air, sit down, drink a beer and talk shit. For those that do put in the work though, there are rewards.

This year there was an added awards category for those consistently exuding the most stoke. It was called the “Froth Puppy award” and was decided by Burton’s Alex Andrews, who was on-hand building and riding all weekend. Third place Froth Puppy went to Tyler Dewitt, who helped build the course and quietly handled feature after feature. The second frothy pup was Ethan “Maverick” Campbell, who chucked himself all day long, rarely riding away, yet smiling the whole time. But the frothiest puppy of them all was longtime Colorado ripper, Ryan Cruz. Ryan not only put in work with a shovel, but strapped in and dominated each feature.

The legend award, presented by The North Face, rightfully went to Mike “Gags” Gagliardi, Never Summer’s sales manager, the oldest competitor in the field and a true Colorado legend. Gags was out there ripping on a swallowtail all day long.

Fourteen year old Luke Winkelmann rides with power beyond his years. Luke knows how to hold and tweak his grabs, and came away with the Vans Jamie Lynn award for best method.

Satellite’s twelve year old team rider, Justin Phipps, took the grom award – a Nitro board with a Cheech and Chong graphic, that stood six inches above his head. He’ll grow into it.

Francesca Smith was one of only a few girls stepping to the course, and she did so with style and power, earning her the win for the ladies.

Left to right: Kit Henrdickson in 3rd place, Nate Cordero in 1st place and Hunter Frutchey in 2nd place.

The nicest guy in snowboarding, Kit Hendrickson, took third overall. Hunter Frutchey, who has been on the Love Games podium before, took second, and in first overall was Nate Cordero who will be heading to Powder Mountain with Alex Andrews.

Thank you to Satellite for putting on yet another legendary Love Games and to Burton, Red Bull, The North Face, Vans, PBR, Skullcandy, Salomon, Dragon, Slash, Nitro and Fillmore Pant Company for helping support one the raddest grassroots events going on in snowboarding.