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Steeped in community, support and friendship, Big White Ski Resort’s annual Neil Edgeworth Memorial Banked Slalom has a legendary status among snowboarders across the province of British Columbia. This year, it’s back for the 24th time on the final weekend of the season, April 7 to 9.
“We don’t call it a competition,” says Flynn Seddon, Big White Ski Resort’s Director of Terrain Parks and Outdoor Events. “We refer to it as a gathering, and the amount of people who are coming each year, it’s growing. It’s truly an industry event for people to get involved in and just have a good time remembering friends, hanging out and meeting new people.”
In the mid-1980s, Doug Lundgren, local snowboarding pioneer, Seddon and some friends took part in the legendary Mt. Baker Banked Slalom. It was such a blast, they decided to bring the event to Big White Ski Resort in 1987 and call it the Inland Banked Slalom, named after Doug’s shop located in the back of Inland Diving and Scuba Shop.
Ten years later, Big White local, Neil Edgeworth, was tragically killed in an avalanche in France, giving way to the renaming of the Inland event to the Neil Edgeworth Memorial Banked Slalom.
With other pioneering snowboarders lost along the way since then, the event has turned into a gathering for snowboarders of all ages to remember these athletes and the true nature of the sport itself.
With other pioneering snowboarders lost along the way since then, the event has turned into a gathering for snowboarders of all ages to remember these athletes and the true nature of the sport itself.
Tess Critchlow, Big White athlete, Olympic Snowboard Cross racer, and 5-time Canadian National Champion, has been participating in the NEBS since 2001, at just six years old. That year, she came second in her age category - losing only to her older brother. At age 13, in 2009, Tess won in her age group at NEBS, as did her brother and mom.
“This event is all about community and being able to celebrate with my family like that really brought that feeling home,” Tess says. “What Neil and the ones who loved and supported him gave and continue to give the sport really set the foundation for my snowboarding career. I have known the amazing people that put on these events since I was six or seven and they still push to keep the sport thriving!”
Tess adds that its events like these that would-be snowboarding professionals should participate in.
“Drop into any riding event you can, even if it’s not your specialty. Pushing out of your comfort zone and rounding out your riding skills on different sides of the sport will only benefit you.”
The 2023 NEBS event takes place April 7 to 9. Register here.
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