Words by James Ohara, pictures by Russ Shea

Recently Damian Doyle’s Standing Sideways crew organised a very special event in the Northern jibbing mecca that is Castleford. With brand new features designed by three of the UK’s top riders and some sick prizes thrown into the mix, the evening was always going to be something special. Thankfully, Whitelines’ James Ohara was on-hand to watch the action and send us this report.

Last Friday night (The 11th day of the month of June, year of our lord 2010) saw the culmination of a week’s worth of digging and shaping by Damien Doyle and the Standing Sideways crew. Signature features from UK stalwarts Jonny Russell, Dom Harington and Stu Edwards had been thunk up, dug out and shaped ever so sweetly, the seshun was ready to kick off.

Nobody was wasting any time and shit got really real, really quickly. With pretty much a who’s who of the UK jib scene in attendance, the level of riding was bordering on the silly at times – and that was by no means limited to the big names. Everyone present threw down their ten cents worth in the name of a reet good time.

The first feature to be put under the spotlight in the name of giving people free stuff for fun things happening was Jonny Russell’s Rrrrhythmic Razzmatazz. This cheeky boardercross on crack was one of the most fun obstacles to ever be seen, with more lines available than Scarface’s coffee table. The inventiveness of the obstacle was highlighted by Mr. Russell (out with a dodgy shoulder) and Mr. Ian Ashmore running amok in delightful floral dresses (!) persuading people to become the most inventive trani-finders.

Obviously inspired by these beautiful erm maidens, the riders’ stepped up the creativity to the next level. The central gas pipe spine was the target of most peoples’ affections with several attempts to mount from the side walls of the feature. Others repeatedly attempted to butter it like a slice of warm toast and then spin off the end to flat – with limited success it must be said – but damn were they persistent!

Next under the spotlight was Stu Edwards’ Down Bar Delight with a nice selection of downward-sloping slidey things (box, rail, gas pipe). Under this more familiar guise the shredding kicked into over drive with riders displaying the level of awesome jibbery that our nation is rapidly becoming known for thanks to our very rail-orientated fridges.

Boys and girls, cool kids and skiers all demonstrated skills that, if needed, could probably pay bills. Jamie Nicholls threw cab and back 270s on with at least a foot of air between him and the rail. Andy ‘Nuddsy’ Nudds was demonstrating his awesome board control sliding from nose to tail with pin-point precision (just one of the impressive array of tricks he was sending). Ross Needham and one ambitious lad nailed the shit out of a backside 270 hard way on 270-out of the gas pipe – you have no business doing that sir (see the video evidence coming soon, it was sick)!

Last of all was Dom’s Pipe of Mild Peril (or Infinite Frustration, as it became to many of the riders), a 25-metre-long section of slippery yellow Transco gas pipe. The initial challenge was first to reach the end. Many a valiant effort was made until it was finally conquered by Tom Hunt. The mission was then moved onto finding the sexiest side trani with some going huge from the on ramp to clear as much of the pipe as possible and find the miniscule trani on either side.

As Whitelines sat in the bar when all was done, drinking a frosty one (it was a satisfying pint) and watching the piste bully sweep away the night’s obstacles, all that could be thought of was roll on the next one in August!