Imagine combining the thrill of a high-flying big air competition with the cunning strategy of Texas Hold 'Em poker. Throw in some of the top snowboard athletes in the industry, a live DJ, pyrotechnics, and six-time X Games Superpipe gold medalist Shaun White to host it, and you've got High Roller Hold 'Em - the biggest party and snowboard competition to ever hit Lake Tahoe.
High Roller Hold ’Em will take place on Heavenly’s World Cup run on Saturday, April 6, 2013, with a monster big-air jump designed and constructed by Snow Park Technologies, which is known for building the world’s top competition venues, including ESPN’s Winter X Games.
In this unique poker-style format, each rider will be dealt two cards with each card featuring a different trick. Each rider will then bet on the trick of their choice and must execute the trick during that jump to win that round. The rider that lands the trick with the highest level of difficulty will win that round and qualify for the winner-take-all super final.
Event Lodging
The action starts at 4:30 pm on Saturday, April 6 with a live DJ and Big Air Exhibition. Then the top snowboarders in the world take to the on-snow poker table starting at 6:30 pm to bet on who can land the biggest trick. This high-production, signature night-time event is one giant, unprecedented party for both athletes and spectators so put it on your social calendar today and book your trip today. Prices start as low as $99 per person for lodging!
Book Now
Season Pass Holders
The best season pass holders deserve the best season pass perks! Join the Epic Pass Club at a special Pass Holder VIP tent starting at 6:00 pm for some appetizers and drinks on us. Be prepared to Flash Your Pass to enter! All Epic Pass holders are welcome: Tahoe Value, Tahoe Local, Epic Pass, Epic Local.
Schedule of Events
April 6, 2013
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Athlete warm up
6:00 pm – 6:30 pm Opening Announcements
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Competition
8:30 pm – 8:45 pm Awards Ceremony
8:45 pm – 9:30 pm DJ and Pyrotechnics show
Competing Athletes
High Roller Hold 'Em is the industry's most innovative big air competition. And in it's inaugural year, some of the top athletes in the world are flying to Heavenly Mountain to throw down and stake their claim. Read up on the competing athletes, and make your bets wisely.
Mark McMorris
It is hard to imagine having a more dominant season that Mark McMorris has had in 2012/13. Since December, the 19-year-old Canadian has taken first place in big air and slopestyle at the Dew Tour, received a gold medal in slopestyle and silver medal in big air at the Winter X Games Aspen, first place in slopestyle at the Burton US Open in Vail, and a gold medal in slopestyle at Winter X Games Tignes.
Chas Guldemond
Chas, a local favorite, has been snowboarding for over 16 years and currently resides in Truckee, California – close to his home mountain, Northstar California. Always a top contender at any event, Chas has a handful of X Games, Dew Tour and Burton US Open medals, and is widely considered as one of the biggest names on the snowboard competition circuit.
Gjermund Braaten
Coming from the snowboarding hotbed of Norway, Gjermund has made a name for himself as one of the most complete riders in snowboarding. Coming hot off of a third place finish at the Toyota Big Air in Japan, Gjermund will be looking to take top honors at the inaugural High Roller Hold ‘Em event.
Ulrik Badertscher
Known for his clean style and technical trick combinations, Ulrik is one of the rising names in snowboarding. Credited as the first snowboarder to land a 1620, Ulrik won the 2011 Air & Style event in Beijing and came in second in slopestyle at the 2012 Burton US Open. His most recent wins include: 2013 X Games Aspen, Big Air – 5th; 2013 Dew Tour, Big Air – 5th; 2012 Burton US Open, Slopestyle – 2nd.
Sage Kotsenburg
Sage’s snowboarding resume is stacked with X Games medals, Dew Tour championships and a claim to landing the first ever cab double cork 1440: pretty impressive for only being 19.
Eric Willett
When Eric Willett isn’t cruising the parks at his home mountain of Breckenridge, he is competing at the biggest events in competition snowboarding. Known as one of the best slopestyle snowboarders in the world, Eric has four Winter X Games Slopestyle medals to his name, including a gold medal from the 2010 Winter X Games in Tignes.
Mark Hoyt
Mark, a Colorado native, grew up shredding at Powderhorn Resort until he graduated high school early and moved to Breckenridge. Mark is known for his jumping abilities and smooth style. Landing a triple cork last year at Superpark 16 and taking a 3rd place finish at the Grand Prix slopestyle, Mark is an up-and-coming force to be reckoned with!
Eric Beauchemin
Eric is a rising star on the competition snowboarding scene, and is looking to follow-up his first place finish at this year’s slopestyle competition at the O’Neill Pleasure Jam in Austria with a win at the inaugural High Roller Hold ‘Em event.
Pat Burgener
Eighteen-year-old Pat Burgener is one of the biggest names in Switzerland’s snowboarding scene, and was named the Swiss Big Air Champion in 2012. Pat was the first snowboarder to land a switch backside triple cork 1440 in April 2011, and is coming off of a third place finish at this year’s Freestyle.ch big air event.
Ian Thorley
Growing up in the wilds of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Ian's parents put him into his first pair of skis before he could walk. With a hill only five miles from his house, Ian spent most of his winters there and soon convinced his dad to let him switch to a snowboard. The switch was probably for the better, as Ian took home silver medal in slopestyle from the 2010 Dew Tour at Mount Snow.