Enjoy The Ride!: Shred Chaos Life in Kansas '15 - English Version by Alex Rossiter - Shred Life

"The Jewel"

By Alex Rossiter - Shred Life - Mountainboards NW
Photos: Mellissa Michler - Shred Life - Mountainboards NW

"here comes my write-up homie…"

The Chaos in Kansas competition featured Boardercross racing and Freestyle events. It was held at “The Jewel” which is this track in the middle of nowhere in the middle of a huge field owned by a man named Zach Heberly who is an industrial farmer and Mountainboarder. He owns the field with the track and allows the event to happen annually.

Zach Heberly

Although, this year was the first time in 4 years that the event has taken place so it had a big reunion sort of feel to it. A lot of people came out from all over with something to prove so there was a lot of fierce riding all the way from the old timers with scores to settle to the new competitors who are now dreaming of their rematches.

Marcio and Me sunset walk-up

My crew and I, Team Shred Life showed up on Thursday evening and stayed until Monday so we were there the whole entire time tent camping next to the track in the 103 degree heat and wind and riding the track relentlessly. We were deep: Jay, Chantz, Myself and My (then) girlfriend Melissa as full time photographer.

Me padding up first thing Friday morning outside la casa

Me, Chantz, Jay hot-lapping

I was able to meet and hang out with everyone who was there and make some rad new friendships, like the one forged in steel with Marcio when he and I agreed that he’d pile in with us from the Airport as carpooler 5.

Team Shred Life + MDG

And the Dirthead guys Don and Kevin from who’s crew’s ranks have come a veritable who’s who of Mountainboarders, and the MBS crew with J-Lee Benton and Bee Jo rolling official in the MBS mobille along with numerous other radical and legendary friends new and old all of which are lifelong now.

Don obviously facilitating a conference

I launched my brand Shred Life at the competition and co-sponsored the event. I introduced my one of a kind hand-made tee shirts designed specifically for Mountainboarders called “The Shred Shirt.”

Shred Life Logo

Everybody who won one as podium prizes or who just bought one off me said they were legit for riding in and mad steezy for peeping on.

Me and Devin a.k.a."Da-Gnar" at the party poppin'fly gear

J Lee bought one off of me and wore it in the Boardercross event. He put it on and shredded a narrow 2nd to Cole in pro BX. Word up.

J-Lee rocking his brand-new Shred Shirt chopping it up with Joseph

The Open class had a bunch of first time competitors but killers at that like Joseph a.k.a. JoMo out of nowhere with the Morrisson flip taking gold belt buckle in freestyle.

Joseph doing his "Morrisson flip" upper jump in Freestyle

This was our team’s second competition but first one that was well organized and highly competitive. We pulled in 3 team medals with my bronze Boardercross and Chantz as overall points with two.

Team Shred Life + Jo

The Pro class had some surprises like Ryno who came up solo from Texas and flew around wily as he is and like Marcio who planned to compete in the legends class but was convinced due to our mounting pressure to enter as a Pro which he did and came out the overall points winner of the division.

Marcio sunset 3

In the Legends category things got gnarly with old rivalries being rehashed in real time and longtime ripper homies out there trying to blow each other’s doors down. Don knocked down 2nd in freestyle behind Gene and 3rd in BX. The Legends dudes were the real inspiration and heart of the competition out there killing like they were teen agers.

Don tailing Kevin dusk

The Sunday night shred was the wrap up of the weekend and a free for all for whoever’s left with anything in their tanks.

It was rad to ride and unwind after the mayhem and be able to live on the track for the fleeting last moments which will live on as the sweetest for those of us who hung around.

Me sunset 3 on the textbook tip under advisement by Marcio

I got wrapped up in the romance and proposed to Melissa after the ride, which was a first at the Jewel, followed by applause from a bunch of dirty rippers.

Shred Life Guys love too!

I also personally found out that butt boarding on the Jewel is righteous until the step up below turn 4 where it loops you and that lantern riding while chasing down werewolves off the claim with your crew is crucial as well.

Jay keeping things fierce

There was so much happiness and stoke flying around that I don’t think any of us have stopped talking about it and hoping that it happens next year so that we can all go back to KS, drive to the middle of nowhere, find a field with a gate marked by a Mountainboard chained to it, get to the track and ride and camp for another weekend in the hot humid windy field where lies the Jewel.

Results:

BOARDERCROSS

Open Division

 1st Ty Rockwell

 2nd Chantz Keller

 3rd Alex Rossiter

Legends Division

 1st Patrick Thomas 

2nd Ted Ladue 

3rd Don Baker

Pro Divsion 

1st Cole Shipp 