SNOWFIELDS, and in particular snowboarders across Victoria, including Mt Buller, will remember the snowboarding legend Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin on July 8 with a special event – “Shred for Chumpy”.
Snowboarders from Falls Creek, Hotham, Mt Stirling and of course Chumpy’s favourite mountain Buller, will celebrate the man he was and what he loved most – shredding the fresh snow.
Friend and business partner, Ryan Tiene said: “I was a pro snowboarder too, I filmed video parts and being the same age as Chumpy we connected throughout our careers.
”But we didn't come close till afterwards when Chumpy became my business partner at Turn & Burn.
“We ran snowboard camps and mental strength camps.
“Those who remember the skills and thrills of even watching Chumpy in action are invited to take part in this anniversary event – 12 months on from the day he died in a snorkelling accident on the Gold Coast.”
Chumpy Pullin was a world champion and was brought up on Mt Buller learning to ski and snowboard; taking on snowboarding as a profession, competing in world competitions and bringing home championship cups.
Ryan said there has been a great response to the proposed “Shred for Chumpy” day since it went viral on Facebook, especially from a lot of people who were not able to attend Chumpy’s funeral or paddle outs at the beach where he died last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, or were not close enough to Chumpy and maybe felt a bit uncomfortable going.
“A year on I think the wider community that looked up to Chumpy can really get a chance to say goodbye doing something he loved and was so great at,” Ryan said.
“Everyone is welcome on all mountains to join in on the event - the day so far is very loose.”
Ryan has invited those who want to remember Chumpy to meet in the morning (place to be decided) where he will have someone say a few words and then it's just ‘get out there and go shred, have a good time and enjoy the mountains’.
“It's just about getting out and ripping the hill for Chumpy,” he said.
There is no cost for the day other than snowboarders' usual expenses for getting on the mountain and lift passes.
Further details on a meeting place and how the course will run are to be announced closer to the date – keep watching.
