3/4/07 - BOYNE HIGHLANDS, MICHIGAN Back 1st - Mitch Litwiller 2nd - Sir Stripey Sweater, Esq. 3rd - Cameron Strand Totally Worth Mention - Marie Hucal DOWNLOAD THE BOYNE HIGHLANDS VIDEO PODCAST GO TO THE SNAKE SESSIONS PODCAST PAGE Boyne Highlands, Michigan played host to the ninth US stop of the Forum Snake Sessions. The park crew pulled out all the stops for the event staying up until 5:30am the night before finessing the park, so you know it was on point. Forum team rider Stevie Bell also hosted the event and layed down the rules and helped judge for the day. A good sized crowd signed up to participate in the event along with another 20 or so "snakers". Plenty of moms and dads were out on the scene showing support, along with what seems like the whole terrain park staff. The course consisted of a mini ramp with a rail and a barrel for stalls on top. Cameron Strand was throwing down some serious handplants that would have made Pat Bridges proud. Midway through the contest someone knocked the rail out of the snow, so in true improv fashion, Stevie helped the terrain park crew sledge hammer that thing back into the snow in a different position than before. 15 riders ended up being selected for a final session since it was too hard for the judges to narrow it down to 10. The features for the final round were an up rail and a kicker over a barrel, with the option of hitting the mini ramp again, too. In the end Mitch Litwiller came out on top with the best performance of the day with Sir Stripey Sweater, Esq. and Cameron Strand nipping closely at his heels. Props to the mini-shred of the day, 10 year old Luke Klinger, and big ups for 12 year old Alesha Reed, for turning out for the comp. INTERVIEW WITH THE WINNER - Mitch Litwiller Forum: What made you get out here today to ride? Mitch: Oh, actually, my sponsor, Brick Wheels, in Traverse City. Um, Chad, up there…he’s the manager and he told me to come out here. Forum: How long have you been riding for them? Mitch: This is my 2nd or 3rd year. Forum: How long have you been riding? When did you get started? Mitch: When I was about 8 so about 7 years ago. Forum: What’s the best thing about riding in Michigan? Do you have any advice for anyone who’s going to be dropping into the area? Mitch: Well, Marquette Mountain definitely is awesome. Last year we went there and they had 80ft booters. It was awesome. Forum: What do you do besides ride? Mitch: I race bikes. I’ve been doing that for about 8 years. Forum: Mountain bikes or dirt bikes? Mitch: BMX bikes and I used to race dirt bikes. And golf. Forum: Who do you ride with out here? Mitch: Levi [Hubbel]. He’s pretty much my best friend. Forum: That works out. What do you want to have going on in the next five years as far as snowboarding goes? Mitch: Well, I definitely want to be a pro out in Colorado or somewhere out there. That way I can get noticed a little bit more than here, but I’m taking marketing classes in school just in case that doesn’t work out. Forum: And you are in what grade? Mitch: 10th. Forum: If we walked into your room right now what would you be listening to? Mitch: Definitely some Andre Nikatina and most rap. I like rap a lot. Forum: You got any lady friends? Mitch: Well, kinda. Forum: Ok, we’ll keep that real D.L. Mitch: Right! Forum: Are you influenced by any riders? Anyone whose style you’re really diggin’ on? Mitch: Um, Simon Chamberlain. He’s really awesome. He’s got good style. Forum: Anyone else you want to give a shout out to? Mitch: Definitely my mom for coming out here, and my dad is actually back in Traverse City putting on a competition so he couldn’t make it.  Yeah, my parents do a lot for me.