Less than 24 hours after Seamus and Cole stood on the podium together, and Reese and Piper brought home medals of their own, we were back on that hill for Day 2. It did not go the way we planned on the course. But it went exactly the way I hoped it would.

Cian, Carrick, and Carter were all eliminated in the first round. But I want to share why I am more proud of this crew than I have words for.

Carter and Carrick were absolute warriors. Carter came out of the gate in 4th and battled back to 3rd in his heat, going back and forth with the rider behind him the entire course, having to pass him twice. The kid probably had 40 lbs on him and never backed down. Carrick won his LCQ after starting 3rd and making some incredible passes, then came back and held strong in his heat after starting 4th and fighting hard to take and keep that third spot. We were genuinely happy with both of those finishes. Next year, when they're at the top of their age group, they are going to crush it.

I was bummed for Cian. He has beaten everyone out there before and should have been in the mix for a podium in a field of 47. A fall in the first round knocked him out way earlier than any of us expected. That stings.

But here's what I want everyone to know.

There are two kids from Minnesota who Cian races all the time in our regionals, kids who have been chasing him for years and have never been able to catch him. Yesterday, one of them made the semi-finals and one made it all the way to the finals. Their coaches and parents will tell you the same thing they tell me: they think Cian is a total badass and have looked up to him for years. That is not just a proud dad talking.

Cian stayed. Three hours after he was eliminated, he was still on that hill hyping those kids up, helping them strategize, cheering them through every run. Other kids would have gone free riding or headed back to the condo. Not him. Quiet, stoic, probably a bit embarrassed and frustrated, and he stayed anyway. I could not be more proud of that kid.

Carrick and Carter were right there with him. And so was Seamus. Less than 24 hours after winning gold, he was out on that hill all day coaching and supporting the younger riders. Nobody asked him to be there. That is just who he is.

The four of them showed up for their fellow Minnesota riders from start to finish, and that is exactly the culture we have been building.

For four years, we’ve worked to build relationships with coaches and parents from every Minnesota team so that when we get to Nationals, we show up as ONE TEAM. Yesterday, our boys lived that. They represented BENT OXEN and the entire Minnesota snowboard community exactly the way I hoped they would.

I love seeing our crew on the podium and bringing home hardware. But I am much more proud of what I saw yesterday. These boys are the real deal, and it has nothing to do with results.

Thank you for sharing them with me.

Coach Tommy
BENT OXEN