Brothers enjoy competing for Buck Hill snowboard team

Spring has arrived, but for a pair of New Prague area brothers, winter can’t return fast enough.

Jeff and Alec Bohn have been competing with the Burnsville-based Buck Hill Snowboard team for the past two years. The two started snowboarding five years ago, with very inexpensive equipment. As they have progressed, they have increased their investment, with approximately $700-800 for board, bindings and boots.

The two practice weekly on Sundays beginning in late November, and snowboard three or four times a week through much of the season. Their competitions are organized by the Midwest Snowboard Racing League, with teams from Afton Alps, Hyland Hills, Steeple Chase, Trollhaugen and Wild Mountain ski areas. The competitors are grouped by age, with about 30 kids in each group.

There are four competitions held each season.

The two compete in three events, big air, slopestyle and giant slalom. They get two runs at each event and take the best score from each.

In big air, they must perform one trick over a man-made jump, and are judged on amplitude, difficulty and style. In slopestyle, the tricks are performed during the run, consisting of groundwork or air tricks, using obstacles within the run. Giant slalom is a timed race on a gated course.

Alec and Jeff work closely with a friend, Josh Rocheford. The three had successful seasons. Jeff took first place at a meet at Hyland, Alec took first place at Buck Hill and Josh took third place at Buck Hill.

All three of them are awesome to watch