HOMESICK Comes Home as Stratton Mountain Hosts 3rd Annual Event
From March 21-23, 2025, Stratton Mountain transformed into the epicenter of snowboarding culture during the third annual HOMESICK. More than a competition, it was a pilgrimage celebrating the sport's rich history and vibrant future.
The legendary Byrneside Trail, which once hosted the US Open from 1988 to 1998, became a stage where snowboarding legends and emerging talents shared the same slopes. The event blended nostalgia with cutting-edge progression, featuring three distinct competitions that captured the essence of the winter sport.
Friday kicked off with an intense OG downhill slalom. Racers battled challenging Ice Coast conditions requiring sharp edges and even sharper focus. After the first few laps, the two courses turned into unpredictable obstacle runs underscoring the old saying that if you can ride the East, you can ride anywhere. The head-to-head format sparked friendly rivalries, and the age-ordered classes became a petri dish for forming new friendships among peers. Have you ever seen Lucas Magoon ride a slalom course? (spoiler alert, it was steezy AF). Friday night DJ Joe Bell had the dance floor jumping for all ages at the free admission welcome party at Grizzlies.
Saturday showcased a retro halfpipe under bluebird skies. With soft conditions encouraging a very sendy atmosphere, new riders reinvented classic tricks and some old dogs learned new ones. Tina Basich, Shannon Dunn, Lane Knaack, Pat Moore, Tricia Byrnes… the names were as endless as the aired out methods. On the tail end of one of the best Northeast winters in recent memory, Stratton Mountain built the halfpipe that the people needed. HOMESICK brought a fun jam with music and a hyped up crowd. Hilarious banter-laced-with-burns from Todd Richards and Mary Walsh could be heard between cheers as legends resurrected tricks from decades past. A new generation of riders laid fresh bricks of progression on the custom wall-ride installed by the Stratton Mountain park crew.
The Zebulon Rail Jam on Sunday opened to sunny slopes, and a much firmer base. The street squads came out in force strutting their stuff in a jam format with high fives and higher stoke. Legendary photographer and co-founder of East Street Archives, Gary Land, could be seen behind the camera as always, and briefly, underneath the board of Zeb Powell. Fresh features put a smile on the faces of riders of all ages and abilities, and the final day sealed the trifecta for riders signed up on the Full Send package- competing in all three events. Check out the highlights from all three days on Stratton Mountain’s Instagram page.
But HOMESICK was about so much more than competition. At the base of the mountain, the festival village buzzed with energy. You might have bumped into Eddie Wall in the lodge while you were getting a coffee next to Ross Powers. Riders from different generations mingled, celebrating their shared passion. The Dawning Exhibit was open to all with free admission, a shrine to snowboarding's evolution. Vintage boards, early blueprints, and stories told straight from the mouths of those who lived it about how a counterculture sport transformed into a global phenomenon. This year's exhibit showcased Tina Basich, Shannon Dunn, Craig Kelly, and Tom Sims. Binders of evidence provided by Paul Graves were on display, full of letters written to resorts battling for a chance to ride the lifts, and stories of what it was like to take the early snowboard tests just to get a mid-mountain ticket.
Fiddlehead Beer set up beer gardens at the village, half pipe, and rail jam to serve their custom "HOMESICK Sauce" pilsner and non-alcoholic refreshments. Burton, Arbor, and Sims were on hand for demos of the latest lineups of snowboards. Smith Optics, IKON, and Darn Tough showed up in full force, demonstrating the Industry's commitment to preserving snowboarding's spirit. Non-profit organizations like the Shred Foundation reminded everyone that snowboarding is about more than just tricks—it's about making a positive impact. Boarding 4 Breast Cancer had raffles, giveaways, and hosted their most successful art auction ever at the Stratton Burton store.
Riders from age 7-63 were competing all weekend in a true gathering of kindred spirits sharing the outdoors and having fun together. Event co-founder Barry Dugan closed by commenting: "It is a labor of love, and we take pride in bringing generations together to celebrate with old friends, and make new friends!" From veterans who remember the sport's rebellious beginnings to young riders making their first turns, HOMESICK created a space where everyone was welcome.
The message was clear: Snowboarding is a lifestyle, an art form, and a family. Stratton Mountain and HOMESICK reunited that family in the most magnificent way possible.
Cover photo courtesy of Leigh Labrake. All others courtesy of Stratton Mountain Facebook
