Due to lack of workable snowpack in the Natural Halfpipe shown here in the video, the 37th Legendary Banked Slalom has been postponed to February 2027. (LBS video)
BLAINE, Wash. — Organizers of the Legendary Banked Slalom announced they will postpone the 37th running of the iconic snowboard event until February 2027 because unsafe snow conditions have formed in the Natural Halfpipe.
In a video released this week, Mt. Baker Ski Area CEO Gwyn Howat said the current snowpack does not meet safety or build standards. They described the conditions as “unworkable.”
“So, as many of you are probably aware, the West Coast this year of the U.S. has been a little skinny on snowfall to say the least,” Howat said.
Founded in 1985, the Legendary Banked Slalom stands as one of the longest-running snowboard competitions in the world. Riders know it for its natural terrain, grassroots culture, and focus on creativity over traditional competition.
A rare postponement
“Two weeks ago we were really on track to have a really great Banked Slalom race course because the pipe was filling nice and had a great shape to it,” Howat said. “And then. And then that weather pattern known as the atmospheric river showed up.”
Howat explained the last event washed out much of the snowpack in the Natural Halfpipe.
The event has taken place almost every year for four decades, with the last cancellation occurring in 2024, when snow and weather issues also made the Natural Halfpipe unsafe.
This year, organizers said they could not safely shape or maintain the course. They stressed that rider safety drove the decision.
What happens next
The next Legendary Banked Slalom will take place in February 2027.
Organizers said they plan to return with the same community-driven format that has defined the event since its founding.
Roots of a Snowboarding Tradition
When the race began in 1985, snowboarding was a new sport and riders experimented with gear and course design. Only 16 snowboarders competed in that first race.
The broader ski community was hesitant to include snowboarding, while Mt. Baker was one of the few ski areas in North America that welcomed snowboarders at the time.
In the nearly four decades since, the event built an enduring legacy within snowboarding culture for its community focus, natural terrain, and the fan-favorite duct-tape trophy awarded to winners.
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