Fire dancer, keg jumpers share title
<p>Troy Nooroa performs his island fire dance on stage during the Black Star Beer Barter competition in Whitefish on Saturday. The barter was part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival festivities. Nooroa was one of three winners who each received a year’s supply of Black Star beer.</p><p></p>
More than 1,000 spectators crowded around the Great Northern Brewery in Whitefish on Saturday as Black Star beer aficionados competed for a chance to win 52 cases of the golden lager.
The second annual Black Star Beer Barter was part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival festivities. Contestants traveled from as far as the South Pacific and Portland for their chance at a year’s supply of Black Star beer.
“After much deliberation, there was an unexpected outcome, a three-way tie,” Black Star spokeswoman Ashley Garver said.
Winners included Parker Beeson, who offered his vintage 1970 Volkswagen as the “Ultimate Party Bus;” Troy Nooroa of the Cook Islands, who performed fire dancing with two fiery batons; and professional skateboarders Al Partanen and David Gravette’s beer stunts as The Black Star Barrel Barneys.
The two pro skaters jumped and back-flipped over kegs of Black Star beer.
“The judging panel announced the one submission that stole their hearts,” Garver said. Peggy Miller, a nine-year breast cancer survivor, gave an emotional presentation, pledging to walk 52 laps in the upcoming Relay for Life event. In lieu of a year’s supply of beer, Black Star will donate $5,000 to the American Cancer Society on her behalf.
The judging panel included pro skiers Andy Mahre and Lynsey Dyer, Whitefish Mountain Resort snow reporter “Big” David Erickson, Montana Brewers Association executive director Tony Herbert and Great Northern Brewing Co. general manager Marcus Duffey.
“We were completely blown away by the level of talent and creativity at this year’s barter,” Duffey said. “We felt that several contestants truly bartered what was worth a year’s supply of Black Star beer, so we had to do it,” said Duffey.