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Or warm. But the shivering Tscharner seemed happy despite the conditions, as she headed down for some celebratory sushi. "It's the middle of May, so the pipe was good, but slushy," said the Swiss rider, who has taken up residence in Whistler since the Sims Invitational last month.

The pipe was steep and deep, with walls pushing 16 feet built at a 22% grade. In fact, some riders said it wouldn't even be ridable during the icy winter months. Today, it was a slush-pipe and the trick, according to men's winner Aubry, was to stay upright through the transitions.

"You've got to go through with a flat base, that's the thing," he said. Digging an edge in only slowed progress.

"The pipe was steep and deep, with walls pushing 16 feet built at a 22% grade. In fact, some riders said it wouldn't even be ridable during the icy winter months...."

Aubry, who's had to sit out the last few Westbeach pipes due to injuries, was joined by a serious passel of countrymen. In fact, 15 out of the 16 semi-finalists in the men's field today are Canadian, and the women's field was definitely was also full of natives - quite a different scene than last year's contest, in which Americans dominated. It's hard to say just why so few non-Canadians showed up, but it's fair to guess that sore bodies and the approach of surfing and mountain biking season has something to do with it.

But there was no lack of impressive riding today. Standouts include local rider Rube Goldsmith, who consistently busted out with smooth, huge airs. He took 5th, just behind American Kyle Clancy - the only non-Canadian. Drae Glover took 3rd, behind the technical genius Justin Lamoureux, the boy from Banff who refuses to take a run without throwing in some hairball frontside-backside combos.

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Local rider Kim Dunn busted some backside air and took 2nd in the women's comp, followed by another local, Lori Glazier. Amber Stockhouse took 3rd, followed by this year's US Open ruler, Canadian Natasha Zurek, who opted for some highly technical runs today.

With a jam format, the eight riders in the women's finals were allowed a half-hour to strut their stuff for Canadian dollars, and the 16 men were given an hour. The pace was a bit furious as each rider lapped the pipe, cruising back to the top with the help of a snowmobile. But it seemed like everyone just wanted to get the whole thing over with, because the rain showed no signs of stopping.

No longer part of the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival, this season's Westbeach is remarkably more low-key than in past years. The rain doesn't help, but the fact remains that most people are pretty much done with riding a board for a few months. Mountain bikers seem to outnumber snowboarders in Whistler Village and up on the hill nary a hoot or holler was heard, even during the best of runs. It's a bit depressing.

Hopefully, the sun will shine a bit tomorrow, as more Canucks huck their meat in the big air.

— MC and Riley, drinking Köld and cursing cameras for MountainZone.com