Pat Hucking an Air (Pic Taken from TV)

Whistler BC — Just 2 weeks ago at SIA Shred booth in Denver, Shredder Pat Deneen — reigning World Champion Mogul Frestyler from Cle Elum Washington State — declared that he was ready for the Olympics, but that he would have to hold nothing back if he had a shot to beat the formidable field of opponents.

Hold back he did not.

Cypress Mountain, just north of Vancouver was the scene of triumph and the diametrically opposed evil twin, tragedy.

The compact and stout kid know as “the Rocket”  nailed his first air and accelerated to blistering speeds, knees pumping up and down like pistons, faster than any other racer approaching the second ramp. He went into a D-spin, an aerial that he had yet to perfect in practice.

Looking down from the start and having seen the high standard of competition in the qualifying round, he felt in his gut that he needed to pull off something quite special to make the podium. There was no way he wanted to play it it safe and end up somewhere in the middle of the pack. Pat’s desire for a medal was greater than settling for mediocrity.

And in the blink of an eye, Pat landed. Crash landed. He took out a gate and slid another 25 feet face first to a halt. Years of preparation, grueling hours in the gym, psychological conditioning all culminating in a moment of heartbreak.

A teary-eyed Deneen slid past the finish line and his hopes for Olympic medal dashed.

Anyone who knows Pat and his humble innocent demeanor must have felt a huge sense of sadness for him, especially having crossed the finish line in last place and seeing a his eyes swell up.

Saluting Pat... We're with You!

But no later than the fateful performance by Canadian Alexandre Bilodeau, winning the countries first ever gold on home soil, the realization set in that it was in the air, that it was meant to be this way: one man’s tragedy and a whole country’s triumph.

Pat is a massively talented shredder who, once the disappointment is overcome, will be back on his skis sticking it to the competition once more.

We’re proud of you Pat! You got serious balls going for an air that wasn’t dialed in completely, but you knew you needed to try to have a chance to win. The shredder community solutes you.

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