Coast to Coast: Spring's Best Snowboard Gatherings Delivered
Homesick and the Bomb Hole Cup Remind Us What Snowboard Events Are For
Spring contest season just delivered its two most culturally vital events of the year, and the takeaway couldn’t be clearer: the snowboard world doesn’t need a stadium, a massive title sponsor, or a broadcast deal to throw an unforgettable party. It just needs riders who care, mountains that deliver, and a crew willing to show up for each other. From Vermont’s rich heritage roots to Utah’s raw, send-it energy, Homesick at Stratton and the Bomb Hole Cup at Brighton reminded everyone why grassroots events remain the beating heart of snowboarding.
Homesick at Stratton Mountain, Vermont (March 20–22, 2026)
East Street Archives and Stratton Mountain teamed up for the fourth annual Homesick festival, cementing its place as the East Coast’s premier celebration of snowboard culture. Founders Gary Land — legendary photographer — and Barry Dugan built something authentic that riders actually look forward to, rather than something manufactured for clout.
The three-day on-hill program united legends, current pros, up-and-comers, and everyday shredders across every age and ability:
Friday, March 20 – Planet Zebulon Rail Jam (Lower Suntanner): Hosted by Zeb Powell (Stratton Mountain School alum and one of snowboarding’s most creative forces), this event featured expanded pro men’s and women’s divisions alongside open and grom categories.
Saturday, March 21 – Powers Retro Pipe (East Byrneside): Olympic gold medalist Ross Powers returned to help judge on a throwback halfpipe carved by Stratton’s Parks crew on a slope that hadn’t seen one in decades. The session perfectly blended early-2000s nostalgia with modern progression.
Sunday, March 22 – OG Downhill (Suntanner): The weekend closed with head-to-head dual slalom racing straight out of snowboarding’s raw origins. This year introduced a dedicated adaptive athlete division — a long-overdue and widely praised addition.
Off the hill, Homesick’s cultural programming was just as strong. Pioneer rider and artist Jamie Lynn made a major appearance, teaming with his 1910 brand (co-founded with artist Schoph) for the 1910 Print Show at the Burton Store in Stratton Village. The exhibit featured collaborative limited-edition prints, graphics, and apparel that beautifully captured snowboarding’s artistic heritage. It fit seamlessly alongside the Dawning Exhibit, Vintage Board Room, book signings, live music, and endless community hangs. Jamie Lynn’s presence alongside figures like Shannon Dunn, Ross Powers, and Zeb Powell created an atmosphere thick with legacy and inspiration — proving snowboarding culture isn’t a side attraction; it is the main event.
The Bomb Hole Cup at Brighton Resort, Utah (March 28–29, 2026)
Out West, the fifth annual Bomb Hole Cup proved that low snow can’t kill good vibes when the community steps up. Brighton’s park crew and the Bomb Hole team built two ripping snake runs despite lean conditions, and the energy never dipped.
Day One – March 28: Banked Slalom + Splitboard Race
A massive, inclusive field of riders, groms to veterans, pros to adaptive athletes, snowskaters to vintage setups, attacked two berm-filled courses.
Pro Banked Slalom Results:
Pro Men: 1st Grey Katko (fastest run of the day at 23.75 seconds), 2nd Hunter Goulet, 3rd Sawyer Reivich.
Pro Women: 1st Freya Hammerlein (25.075 seconds), 2nd Emily O’Connor, 3rd Mela Stalker.
Notable Winners:
Splitboard Race: Shane Campbell (his third consecutive victory). Standouts also included Noah Gates (Super Grom Boys), Airish George (Grom Girls), and Jason Walker (Adaptive).
Day Two – March 29: Park Showdown (Freestyle/Slopestyle)
The event flipped to pure creative chaos on Brighton’s park features. Pros opened with mandatory 900s, then unleashed all-out attacks on rails, boxes, jumps, and the infamous limo launch. The format rewarded style, progression, and big energy.
Overall Bomb Hole Cup Champions (combined performance):
Pro Men: Grey Katko
Pro Women: Mela Stalker
Grey and Mela’s dominance across both natural terrain racing and technical park riding made them clear, well-deserved weekend warriors.
The Last Word
Two mountains. Two completely different vibes. One undeniable truth.
Homesick honored snowboarding’s East Coast soul by bringing icons like Jamie Lynn and 1910 into the fold while growing organically. The Bomb Hole Cup kept it raw, ridiculously fun, and deeply inclusive despite thin snow. Neither chased mainstream approval. Both were built by riders, for riders — with community as the core principle, not a marketing angle.
These are the events worth showing up for: the ones that look and feel like snowboarding actually looks. Two down, both absolute bangers. The community is alive and thriving.
See you at the next one.