Park It Here, June

Working the Boardertown double kink. (Photo: Mammoth Times)

While no one has polled all the snowboarders in America, a quick glance at the park suggests why the management at June Mountain, California would make such a claim. Boardertown features tabletop jumps, log slides, rainbow rails, circular spines with kickers, and several gaps. The mountain has also provided several bonkable garbage cans, for that added jibbing pleasure. At the bottom, a small halfpipe leads down to Chair J4 for a lift back to the park.

This is Boardertown's second year. It was designed last year by Dan Rossier and Gary Taylor, with input from local riders. Transforming the run known as Gunsmoke into a snowboard park was another move forward in June Mountain's attempt to attract the boarders.

June has long been a favorite stop among snowboarders. The Ski Area opened to snowboarding in 1986, long before larger resorts such as Mammoth allowed snowboarding. June Mountain was among the first to feature a halfpipe and to host major televised snowboard events such as the O.P. Pro.

June Mountain's tree-lined runs and popular "face" have long been favorite spots to ride. But everyone wanted a park. "Last year, Gary and Dan asked snowboarders what they'd like to see in a snowboard park," Jim DeGraffenreid of June Mountain said. "And they built accordingly. All last season, they continued to talk with riders about what they liked and disliked about the park. Kandi McCoy was out there, too."

Their efforts produced what was reputed to be one of the best parks in the West. "This year, the park is very similar, except we added the little halfpipe at the bottom," DeGraffenreid explained.

Because of the late-season snowfall, the park didn't open until early February. "It takes quite a bit of snow to build this park. Some of the jumps are 15-20 feet high. But we can be creative -- like pulling snow from other areas," DeGraffenreid added.

For more information about June Mountain or Boardertown call: (619) 648-7733. The June Mountain Snow Phone: (619) 934-2224.