Lib Tech's DTTD Heats Up Twin Cities

Minneapolis; MidWestern Urban Snowboarding Hotbed

3rd and Hennepin, Downtown Minneapolis; not what comes to mind when one thinks of snowboarding, let alone epic snowboarding. However, this was the site, on Saturday October 19, for the most anticipated urban snowboarding event in the industry.

Lib Tech’s Downtown Throwdown has been the epicenter of urban rail contests for the last 7 years. The brainchild of Lib Tech and Snowboys Productions’ Krush Kulesza, the Throwdown began as a small “Do It Yourself” contest in Seattle and has expanded into the leading event in urban snowboarding. In 2013, the DTTD moved from the West Coast to the MidWestern Urban Snowboarding Hotbed of Minneapolis. This year $20k in total prize money is on the line; the most in contest history and bringing the cumulative amount to $100k. Riders were chosen from edits posted on the internet that gained popularity due to progressive and daring moves. This comp is not for the mundane or competition heavy snowboarder. The Downtown Throwdown was created for the evolution of the sport, for the urban rider pushing the limits of their athleticism, pushing the limits of what can be done and in some cases what should be done. Think Cru Jones on Hell Track.

The DTTD has set itself apart from the bland and typical one to two feature contest. Creativity is the soul of action snow sports. The DTTD allows its participants to explore the expanse of their riding genius and provides the means by which to expound upon it. The best urban and park features are picked each year and set on a tiered structure. A typical contest has one to two features on a single level. Tricks get stagnant, predictable; riders reach a cap of trick inventory as feature options are non-existent. The 2013 DTTD Comp had nine of the best features on three different levels. The 150 foot structure rose from the asphalt to 30 feet into the grey skies. Urban snowboarding’s version of a Sphinx and Mona Lisa love child with a dash of Bro and garnish of Sickbird. Snowboarding is the paintbrush, Lib Tech’s Downtown Throwdown the canvas.  To see some more pics check out “Lib Tech’s Downtown Throwdown Rocks Minneapolis.”