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Breck became a scene for snowboarding in the 1990s |
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Sunday, December 11, 2011 13:05 |
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In the early '90s when terrain parks were still in the concept stages, snowboarders made good use of whatever obstacles were available. Matt Cassal, with the help of a couple friends, demonstrates the art of riding over a picnic table at Breckenridge's Peak 9. Mark Fox, Summit Daily News
Editor's Note: The Summit Daily News takes a look at Breckenridge Ski Resort as it approaches its 50th birthday on Friday.
By Janice Kurbjun, Summit Daily News
In the 1990s, when Interstate 70 wasn't the gridlock it is now and Summit County was continuing its growth as a major international ski destination, Todd Richards came to town.
The snowboarder got caught in Boulder on a cross-country trip (they were headed to Southern California, where Richards now lives full time) because of its beauty. It wasn't long before Richards and his fellow snow-loving buddies discovered the mountains. A New Englander, Richards came to Colorado thinking he was at the top of his game, but admits he was sorely mistaken.
Colorado, he proclaims, was the place where competitors were bred. Now in his 23rd year as a professional snowboarder, Richards swallowed the pill, turned up his competitive edge and took on the challenge of competing for No. 1 in the game.
Today he has “World Champion competitor” and “Olympian” to add to his list of accomplishments, and has since evolved into a commentator for circuits such as the Dew Tour and fulfills other roles in the TV and online broadcast worlds.
Read about Breck in the 1990s, when Day-Glo gear was the norm and a clash between skiers and boarded heated up.
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