VAIL - The second Malay Day at the Golden Peak terrain park Friday was a rowdy backyard barbecue.

The smell of brats and burgers cooking on the grill wafted in the air while thumping music poured out of the DJ tent at the bottom of the halfpipe. Pabst Blue Ribbon and Budweiser cans were in ready supply.

From the chairlift, packs of snowboarders and skiers could be seen huddled together at both ends of the halfpipe and throughout the snowboard park.

Some riders and skiers tested their mettle in the halfpipe, rail, and big air competitions, which were held under a jam format. Others just milled around, enjoying the sun and the company of friends while they watched the competition.

The event, said Ethan St. Germaine of Vail, was the perfect way to honor local pro snowboarder Josh Malay, who died in a snowboarding accident in late February of last year.

"It's truly important to honor a real Colorado snowboarder," St. Germaine said. "We're out here representing our fallen friend. It's a perfect way to do it - drink beer and snowboard."

St. Germaine was on hand to watch the competition and throw back a few beers. Others, like Fernando Valdez of Avon, were at Golden Peak to throw down in front of a big crowd.

"Everyone who knew him, they're just shredding for him," Valdez said. "This is about just doing your thing and having fun."

Valdez said he first met Malay last year while the two were waiting for a bus together in Avon. The two became friends and went riding together a few times before Malay's death.

"He was a sweet guy - a really nice guy," Valdez said. "He's a big inspiration for everyone here."

For $10, entrants got a hot pink strand of cloth to safety-pin to themselves - a nod to Malay's trendsetting accesorizing - and free lunch, provided by Vail Resorts.

There were also plenty of handouts provided by an assortment of sponsors.

All proceeds went to the Josh Malay Memorial Fund.

Some, like St. Germaine and Valdez, knew Malay personally. Others knew of Malay through friends or had become fans from seeing him in snowboard videos and magazines.

Amy Bennetts, a seasonal employee from New Zealand, said her ex-boyfriend knew Malay.

"I just wanted to come and chill out," Bennetts said. "This is probably my last day on skis. We're here to remember someone and it's great that everyone just comes out and jams. Everyone is having a good time. It's awesome."

Photographer Jeff Potto, one of Malay's closest friends, said that Vail should be commended for continuing to honor the memory of Malay.

"I guess it maybe just shows that Vail is showing true commitment," said Potto, who shot a cover photo of Malay for Snowboarder magazine. "That's basically what Josh showed - true commitment to the sport. He's not around anywhere, but this means they really loved what he was doing. They want to keep that feeling alive in the valley and this is one way to do it. By the obvious turnout, you can feel the community support for it."

This year's event brought out even more snowboarders and skiers than the first Malay Day, held last year during the same week.

Potto attributed the increased turnout to the type of person Malay was in life. He said, in spite of his fast-growing fame, the local pro always stayed true to himself. He never became arrogant or forgot about the people who helped him along the way.

He was, as Potto said, the atypical big name snowboarder.

"Any day I find myself not motivated, I can look back on thoughts of Josh and it gets me off my ass," Potto said. "It makes me go do my job. ... Josh was really humble for his ability level. He was head and shoulders above the average guy, but he was more interested in helping that average kid instead of focusing on what he could do. People are selfish. He was selfless."



Staff Writer Nate Peterson can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 608, or via e-mail at npeterson@vaildaily.com.