Lord of the Ropes

Words by Marsha Hovey

Photos by Stephen Jende

Shot on Canon 1Dx Mark II

The sun sets on Dresser, WI as 64 of the midwest’s most notable snowboarders make their way to Trollhaugen for year four of Lord Of The Ropes. The brainchild of Pete Harvieux, creator of the Interior Plain Project amongst many other things, LOTR is one of the most unique & beloved snowboard competitions out there. It embodies the midwest community in a way that is hard to put into words. Hometown heroes, big name pros, the hungry up and comers, all battle side by side on the rope tows that they were raised on, that have made them into the machines that they are. The best part of it all, it’s truly anyone’s game.

In case you’ve never heard of Lord Of The Ropes. We’re going to break down the nitty gritty details, so you can fully appreciate the newly crowned Lord, and what he went through to grab his crown.

THE RIDERS

Pete thinks long and hard about each invitation. Who’s been filming all season, who’s been gettin’ after it at their local resort, who’s been keeping the stoke alive, who’s new and noteworthy, etc. Eventually, a list of 60 midwest riders is decided upon, and they prepare for battle. A secondary list of names titled “The Chalice of Souls” holds 24 wild card names. From this group, the final four spots are chosen, pulled out of the chalice, and thrown into the ring. 64 total riders, men and women, some 20 years apart in age, get ready for the battle of a lifetime.

THE BRACKET

One week prior to the event, the bracket is seeded live for all to witness. It’s possibly one of the most exciting days of the season. Names are drawn at random, and the suspense of it all never disappoints. This year, first matchup of the first round was none other than Benny Milam vs Blake Lamb. Boom. Just like that, bracket excellence by the luck of the draw.

All 64 riders are chosen for their first round matchups, and then, the rest is up to them. Round 1 = 64 riders, 32 matchups. Round 2 = 32 riders, 16 matchups. Round 3 = 16 riders, 8 matchups. Round 4 = 8 riders, 4 match ups. Round 5 = 4 riders, 2 match ups. Round 6 = 2 riders, one final matchup. One person walks away victorious. One person is crowned Lord Of The Ropes. One person is $2,000 richer.

THE JUDGING

One of the most unique aspects of LOTR is the judging system. Before each matchup, riders roshambo to decide who drops first, and then it’s a blur of trying to keep up with the level of riding that happens battle after battle after battle. There are no amplitude markers, no rule book of points to tally, none of that. LOTR is peer judged and community driven at its core.

Three judges decide the victor of each matchup. One invited guest judge stands strong the entirety of the event, providing a steady eye and that crucial tie breaking vote if need be. After each battle, the two riders who just duked it out, immediately become the judges for the next matchup, standing side by side, regardless of who won and who got knocked out.

Each judge is equipped with two colored paddles; Blue for the 1st person that dropped, Yellow for the 2nd person. One line, one chance, one winner, voted on by your fellow riders until only one remains. The Lord of The Ropes title is literally decided on by those that failed to earn it.

THE WINNER

Lord Of The Ropes is a chess match on snowboards that leaves both riders and spectators surprised at every turn. The riders have an endless menu of options. Do they pick their tricks based on the people judging them that round? Do they plan their line based on their opponent? Do they say, screw a strategy, I’m here to have fun with my friends? Predicting the winner and betting on brackets is not an easy task. Sure, riding rails and lapping the rope is like breathing for these people, but a competition atmosphere is quite foreign to most. It adds an element of mystery that leaves prediction almost impossible. Who can conquer their opponents, the eyes of the crowd, and the features in front of them?

In 2018, Kyle Kennedy, Trollhaugen local, took the crown, and returned in 2019 to do the same. In 2020, Danny Sokol, Alpine Valley local, earned the title and proved that there really might be something in the water (or the cheese) of Wisconsin snowboarders. This year, on February 19th, 2021, Pete Croasdale, Buck Hill local and Panic Order young gun, became the newest Lord Of The Ropes, defeating Kyle Kennedy in the final round, and stealing away his chances for a threepeat. Needless to say, it was an exciting way to end another chapter in the story of LOTR.

3435Thanks to The Interior Plain Project, Indeed Brewing, and Trollhaugen, this homegrown event continues to be a reality. Lord Of The Ropes is special. It’s an event that represents the heart of the midwest community in a way that makes everyone feel like they are a part of it, no matter where they actually live. Cheers to LOTR Year IV, and we can’t wait for Year V.