One of the most creative goal-scorers in professional lacrosse, Ryder Garnsey, won the inaugural Air Gait competition over All-Star weekend. 

Garnsey, who has an Oscar-worthy highlight tape and a goal-scoring flair that few can replicate, seemed tailor-made for Saturday's event. But as Garnsey acknowledged, he would have to rely on extra creativity in what seems like a purely athletic contest against Myles Jones, Dox Aitken and Jules Heningburg. 

The Air Gait competition drew comparisons to a dunk contest due to its airborne requirements, and Garnsey’s first attempt – an alley-oop behind-the-back goal – may not have been directly inspired by any dunk contest. Still, there were some seeds planted from being a lifelong sports fan. 

“It wasn't like a concerted effort to go onto YouTube and look at those things, but I think that just like from being like a sports junkie, you pick up those things naturally and just like it sticks in the back of your head,” Garnsey said. ”I'm not athletic enough to replicate [dunks] in those ways. So just try to put your own little spin on it and hope it works out. And that's sort of what happened.”

That morning's shootaround proved to be Garnsey’s only training for the event, and it didn’t go well.

“It wasn't really a whole lot of premeditated stuff. I really figured out what I was doing the morning of,” Garnsey said. “We had like a little shootaround, and me and Dox were just screwing around out there. I didn't have much success, but I figured I'll jump a bit higher, I'll be trying a little bit harder, and it'll work. Luckily, it worked out."

Indeed, it did. 

The “little spin” on his first attempt earned him a 34 out of 40 from the judges, including former NFL players Matt Hasselbeck and Adam “Pacman” Jones.

Behind the back and the bow?@rsgarnz50 with a SOLID first round of the Air Gait Challenge. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/zx9SgwTKpT

— California Redwoods (@PLLRedwoods) July 13, 2024

Myles Jones, who converted a 360 and an Eastbay for his two attempts, joined Garnsey in the final round, which was where Garnsey added to his collection of viral highlights.

No one would take Garnsey in a vertical contest over Jones, so for Garnsey’s second attempt, he relied on his stick work and coordination to come out on top. 

“If I tried to just beat Myles by doing what Myles did, I would have looked so foolish. So, you know, you have to try to do something else to stand out,” Garnsey said. “And I think it was important that I hit them both on the first try. Don't give the judges a chance to question it. That was probably the most important part of the whole thing."

Garnsey pulled out the props with a rebounder and relied on Aitken for the final assist before fully extending himself for the goal, for which the judges awarded him a 38 and the championship. 

WHAT A SHOT 🔥

Ryder Garnsey wins @PremierLacrosse's first Air Gait Challenge 👏 pic.twitter.com/LIehWGDbDm

— ESPN (@espn) July 13, 2024

“We were just at shootaround in the morning, and we were talking to the broadcast guys… and they were just like, ‘Just shoot on [the rebounder], tell me what you think.' And it bounced back a little bit weird,” Garnsey said. “So then Dox and I screwed around with it for a little bit and decided that either one of us could try to use it in the finals if we got there.”

As Garnsey and the California Redwoods gear up for their game against the Utah Archers this Saturday, the creativity and skill that secured his Air Gait victory will hopefully fuel the Woods in their quest for their second win of the season.