US Open Scrapbook It's been said repeatedly that this event is "more than just a contest." Aside from the nostalgia for one of the longest-running competitions in the sport, and the stigma attached to its size and prestige in bringing together the top dogs from around the world, the Open really is more than just a contest. It's more like a celebration, a coming together of anyone and everyone who gives a shit about snowboarding.

So rather than just throw out a bunch of guy-in-the-air, white snow, blue sky, he's-got-the grab photos, the following are a collection of images that, aside from raw snowboarding action, is what the Open is all about.

The Party: When the East Coast parties, it goes off. The party vibe at this year's open was unprecedented, and at times, almost sketchy when the crowd's energy seemed uncontainable. But in the end, the only real damage was the garbage left in the wake of the thousands of fans that threw down a few in the middle of the afternoon like it was Spring Break in Cancun.

The Crowd: Nowhere else will you find a crowd like this one at a snowboarding contest. It's what makes the Open the biggest and the best snowboarding event of the year, a testament to the growing number of people stoked on the sport.

The fans: Kids at the bottom of the pipe anxiously wait to get Mike Michalchuk's autograph.

The Legend: An always elusive athlete and very private person, the Open is one of the only ways to see Terje in the flesh. So I knew it was critical to get a photo of him. So here it is, that coveted photo of Terje, about to land on me while I was trying to get the best angle. I'm not sure if it was my fault-maybe I was standing too close to the lip or something, but he crashed. When he landed in the flat bottom, he looked me right in the eye. Oops! Sorry!

The Vendors: Yet another US Open t-shirt, trying to be punk. No one can do it like the now defunct East Infection magazine guys and their infamous "I love Jennie Waara's backside" stickers from last year. Nice try, though.