Snowborders take 2nd place at SnoFest Published Feb. 16, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Nigel R. Sims 460th Space Wing Public Affairs BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Four Airmen from Buckley won second place for the snow boarding competition at SnoFest 2011. Sno Fest featured a variety of different snow activities including snowboarding. The competition was a snowboarding race better known as slalom racing on the Keystone NASTAR course. Slalom racing is a course that is constructed by laying out a series of gates. Each gate is formed by alternating pairs of red or blue poles. Snowboarders must pass between the poles, forming the gates a number of times quickly and efficiently to accomplish the course. Even-though the Airmen were excited about coming in second, their determination to come in first has not, and will not dwindle. "It was nice to come in second place," said Tech. Sgt. Travis Myers, 4th Manpower Requirements Squadron. "It would have been better to come in first. Our team finished second in last year's snowboarding competition and we were hoping to take first this year. "Each base had the option to either have four or five teams to be involved in the race," said Sergeant Myers. "Representation was a very important factor in this competition." "I feel like coming in second place showed good representation for Buckley," said Senior Airman Jeremy Coates, 460th Medical Operation Squadron. "However, learning to become a great snowboarder is not easy. There are many different ways to practice to become good. "The best way to become a great snowboarder is repetition," said Airman Coates. "Snowboarding can become discouraging at times because it hurts to hit the ground, but as long as you continue to practice you'll gradually become good at it."