Stoked for the pipe

So this year, after not buying season passes at nearby Alyeska Resort for about a decade, he plunked down the money and started nagging Di Hibner, Alyeska's mountain general manager.

"She'd been bugging me for years to get the pass," Landry said. "The new owner came through, and all of a sudden there was a pipe in the works. I was e-mailing her and texting her all the time. As soon as the new cutter showed up, I kept bugging her -- when's it going to open, when's it going to open."

That day was Saturday, and, perhaps, as a tribute to persistence, Landry got to take the first ride in the pipe, shaped by the resort's new $250,000 Zaugg Pipe Monster machine.

"It was pretty intimidating at first," Landry said of his inaugural ride in the pipe. "They don't look that big on television.

"(Resort workers) were putting the finishing touches on it with blue marker, and I just went for it. Hey, I'm an old dude, so I wasn't throwing down any moves."

Snowboarders and skiers turned out en masse Saturday, some responding to fresh powder and others to check out the new Alyeska Pipeline Super Pipe.

"Everyone that saw it or was in it had a blast," said Paul Kelly, head coach of the Big Alaska Snowboard Team. "For those that rode it, (the halfpipe) was something new and unfamiliar. But by the end, everyone has smiles on their faces.

"I had a great time trying to figure it out. Each run I felt more confident and I think if the pipe is maintained correctly we'll be able to turn out some really good pipe riders in seasons to come."

Revenues from resort operations on Saturday topped New Year's Eve, typically the resort's No. 2 day of the season behind the Slush Cup in March, said Sandy Chio, Alyeska's director of marketing.

"It felt like winter was back in force," Chio added. "We were up 12 percent for just lift tickets alone this past Saturday. However, I'd say Mother Nature was the driving factor behind that increase, and the super pipe was just a lucky beneficiary."

The Alyeska Pipeline Masters Super Pipe competition, which was emceed by Landry, kicked off competitive riding Saturday afternoon, with 39 athletes competing.

"Snow was coming down really hard," Landry said, "and that made it difficult for pipe conditions."

After the competition ended, Landry estimated, some 50 to 60 riders were in the pipe, trying it out for the first time.

"There were a good amount of spectators," Chio said, "but it was had to compete with the powdery conditions on the mountain. Many folks skied by to watch but then would head up for more fresh runs."

Reach reporter Mike Campbell at mcampbell@adn.com or 257-4329.