V Tree Squeeze

Your Price: $40.00

Iikka Backstrom gets skinny and splits the goal posts in Japan in 2020

Part Number: 200115-iikka-backstrom-dc-japan-154

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On one of the very last days before the word COVID was spoken by anyone outside of the scientific community we found ourselves parked on mountain pass in Hokkaido, Japan directly across from this V-shaped tree. Obviously I was frothing at the idea of any of the riders in the van that day sending it through it's narrow opening. Somehow I managed to play it somewhat cool, not wanting to seem overly excited and put any unnecessary pressure on the situation. There were other options to hit and I knew eventually someone would have to go and investigate the possibility of making this tree feature work. It was just too perfect looking to ignore, but as the case with most perfect-looking-for-a-photo features, is there's less than perfect issues to overcome -- run-ins, compression, landings and in this case a really rotten and hollow snow pack on this aspect that did not seem possible to form a jump out of. Iikka took the bait and was the first to investigate and take on the impossible building of a ramp to mellow out the compression and a small lip to ollie through. This was pure sugar snow, and the more he got into it, the less likely it seemed. But 20 years of jump building and just enough will made this thing come together, just barely. The in-run was the exact width of his board and it was questionable if the lip would hold once he got there with the amount speed needed. The light was fading quick as another storm was coming in, now-or-never time was approaching. Luckily "now" was chosen and because of his perfect style, we'll never have to go back to get this one again. One of my favorite photos from the strange season of 2020.

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V Tree Squeeze

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