By Brooke Geery
Lucas Magoon’s snowboarding career began at Killington Resort, where he was just a little punk who happened to possess more natural talent than just about anyone else. Groomed and trained by the community at the mountain, Magoon went on to international acclaim, and won just about every snowboard rail jam over a multi-year period. But, after a series of injuries, in addition to upheaval in the snowboard industry well beyond his control, Magoon found himself sponsorless and looking for any way to stay involved in the world he loved so much.
Killington local Maggie Leon was one of several women skat-
ers giving it her all during the Best Trick contest.
Lucas’s wife, Tonya, shared his dream, and together they founded Goon Gear, a clothing and lifestyle brand which has grown almost as quickly as their 4-year-old daughter, Winter.
Last weekend, July 17-18, 2021, hoping to bring many of the people they’d met through the years together, the Magoons organized Goon Fest — a mini festival held at a private house in Winhall just minutes from the base of Stratton Mountain. Vendors and friends began gathering on Friday, July 16, prepping the yard and mini ramp for the impending threat of rain and sharing stories and hugs after so many months apart.
Lane Knaack and his wife and daughter came over from New Hampshire for the festivities. “Everyone was there just to see friends, skate, eat hot dogs, listen to tunes and just try to escape the last year and a half,” he said. “That was a complete success. Pulling in and seeing Winter Magoon running around with Grandma Jeanie chasing after her, hearing the wheels on the mini ramp and the session going off and good tunes in the air just brought you back to a different time in life.”
Old friends Jake Sullivan of Rutland and co-host Lucas Magoon were reunited at the weekend festivities.
Tickets to the festival were sold out more than two weeks in advance, and Tonya estimated 170-200 people came through the event over the official two days.
“We were keeping it to a minimum! A lot more wanted to come, but we wanted to have some control,” she laughed. “And we did!” Though the Winhall town police did show up, it was only to ask people to move their cars. The music and skating continued late into the night with performances by Super Stash Bros, D French, Daveyboy413, Yvng Ohm, Sean Gon and Cotton Pony.
All weekend long, grills were firing, vendors offered some tasty treats, and Lucas was in and out of the house heating up Wild Mike’s frozen pizzas for anyone that was hungry. People of all ages pitched tents and hunkered down for the long haul, and no matter what your pleasure, there was no shortage of friends to be found, old and new.
“Lucas and Tonya did a great job creating a legitimate and welcoming party by bringing the community together,” Killington local pro Maggie Leon said. “Everyone was on the same page and the stoke levels were through the roof! I’ve haven’t seen so many people so happy before.”
