What do you do when superlatives just aren’t enough? The final day here at the O’Neill Evolution 2013 exploded into something that will go down as a watershed moment in snowboarding history. Maxence Parrot (CAN) stomped the first ever contest-landed Triple Cork on European snow to take out the Big Air Finals just ahead of 15-year-old Kyle Mack (USA), who scored a world first by putting down the first contest-landed Triple Frontside Rodeo.

It was never a question of simple progression; this was the physical statement reflecting the quantum leap in the level of snowboarding heading into 2013. Tonight’s results also saw Antoine Truchon (CAN) take the lead in the World Snowboard Tour Big Air rankings, and Kyle Mack (USA) move into second in the Overall rankings.

In a day that was always expected to build towards a climax, the first official action came in the form of the Women’s Big Air Finals. While not a points-earning event for the Women, it was Miyabi Onitsuka (JPN) who impressed all week and took out the O’Neill Evolution Women’s title with a huge Backside 360 to Lipslide to Front board, edging out an improving Christine Szumovski (AUT). It was left to the ever-stylish Celia Miller (USA) to complete the podium.

That said, today’s 6 Star World Snowboard Tour Big Air climax was always going to be the highlight – and it delivered big time. And with the rider field whittled down to the Semifinals, only eight riders were left to battle it out for the World Snowboard Tour Big Air points and the lion’s share of the US$ 80,000 prize purse.

Sebastien Toutant (CAN), with a Cab 1260 Double Cork Melon to Backside 270 Gap to Out, was unlucky to go out against Kalle Järvilehto (FIN) in the closest of knockout battles to decide the 4-rider Super Final. With only four riders still standing, the level went up yet another notch, reducing the field to just two riders.

In the last bout of the evening, Maxence Parrot clinically and unconditionally stomped the first ever European contest Triple Cork, scoring a seemingly insurmountable 93.40 – the highest score of the event. If you haven’t heard the name Kyle Mack before, hear it here, and hear it now. The 15-year-old uber-ripper-in-waiting dropped into his second of three runs only to suffer the worst slam of the contest following a failed attempt at the unprecedented Frontside Triple Rodeo.

Having witnesses the slam and leading in the scores, Parrot was obliged to drop in first and decided to go for it, nailing his sickest Triple Cork yet before putting down a smooth Boardslide to Backside Lipslide combo in the rail section. Not surprisingly, the crowd went nuts, and the judges delivered him another highest score of the event with a fully-deserved 96.80.

With the contest all but wrapped up by Parrot, Mack picked himself up from his horror slam and dropped into this third and final run. Stomping a never-seen- moments ensued before the judges returned a 95.00 points score, thus awarding Parrot his biggest contest title to date.