Boarding in all elements

Jonathan Warren had never entered a snowboarding competition before.

Neither had brothers Jye and Tosh Townend.

Yet it was the thrill of competing in that event that took the Huntington Beach trio from Surf City to Squaw Valley last weekend to compete in the first stage of the first-ever Ultimate Boarder competition. The weeklong triathlon-type event, which also includes competition in surfing and skateboarding, began with Sunday’s slope-style snowboard course.

Squaw Valley conditions Sunday were nearly ideal with clear skies and warm temperatures and the snow solid but turning to slight slush in the afternoon.

“It was a blast,” said Warren, 26, the top local finisher in the event in 20th-place. “Being originally from south Florida and leaving the surf of Huntington for the snow, I’d say it wasn’t a bad showing. I think everybody had a lot of fun.”

Forty-five athletes ranging in age between 13 and 49 competed and were split into two heats (morning and afternoon). The eventual 10-man final was entirely composed of competitors whose main discipline is snowboarding.

“Everyone, though, was cheering each other on, whether or not you were a strong snowboard competitor, or surfer or skateboarder who was new to this,” said Jye Townend, 25.

Jye Townend and Tosh, 23, finished in 27th- and 21st-place, respectively.

Jye Townend is one competitor whose main focus is surfing; Tosh also is an outstanding surfer, but is a professional skateboarder.

Ten years ago, the brothers were part of a Dwyer Middle School surf team that won the National Scholastic Surfing Assn. Interscholastic National Middle School championship. That team was coached by their father, former world champion and surf coach Peter “PT” Townend.

Also on that team was Shaun Ward who won the men’s title at the Van’s Pier Classic last month at the Huntington Beach Pier.

“Tosh and I are cheering each other on in this competition, although we decided to place little wager on each of the competitions,” Jye Townend said.

“Right now, I owe him. I’ll get even, though.”

Todd Richards of Encinitas won the snowboarding competition.

“We saw some real quality coming out of the final today,” said guest judge Jim Rippey.

The surfing portion of the Ultimate Boarder competition took place Wednesday at C Street in Ventura.

The results weren’t available at press time.

The skateboarding event, the final leg of the “triathlon” of board sports, is Saturday at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

“We’re doing this just for fun,” Jye Townend said of him and his brother.

“I was a little nervous at the start of the snowboarding competition and I pushed out a little bit. It’s a lot different than a surf contest but it was fun though, and a great experience. Now I can move on to what I know best, which is surfing. I’m looking forward to that.”

The winner of the inaugural Ultimate Boarder competition wins $30,000 cash, an $8,000 Rockford Fosgate sound system and custom-made Soul Ryde skateboard.