Showing posts with label US Open. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US Open. Show all posts

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

ESPN.COM - US OPEN COVERAGE



The photo gallery was picked up by the page one editors and pulled about 600,000 views yesterday.
CLICK HERE for more ESPN coverage!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Chas Guldemond and Kjersti Buaas Win US Open Slopestyle Competition

STRATTON, VT (March 22, 2009) – The last day of the US Open proved to be the busiest with junior jam finals, men’s and women’s slopestyle finals and three major titles being awarded. Chas Guldemond (USA) and Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas (NOR) won slopestyle finals and $20,000 each. Chas Guldemond and Jamie Anderson (USA) are the new Burton Global Open Series Champions, each taking home $100,000, currently the largest single payout in the sport. Scotty Lago (USA) and Kjersti Buaas will be driving new Volvo XC60s after winning the Volvo Most Valuable Rider Awards. And last but not least, Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) was crowned the new Men’s Swatch TTR World Tour Champion, claiming $50,000 for his amazing efforts throughout the 2008/2009 TTR season.

Chas rode home with $145,000 today, he had this to say of his win, “I really wanted to do good on the Global Open Series, but I never planned on this. I really appreciate the people above that took care of me, and everyone along the way. This is such a great day.”

At the beginning of slopestyle finals, the variable weather conditions constantly switched between sun, clouds, snow and wind. The women got caught in a snow squall during their first runs, but after about 20 minutes, the clouds magically parted and the sun came out. After a sticky snowfall, riders struggled to make it through the course. Jenny Jones put together a solid run, holding on to first place for a while. But it was Kjersti Buaas who took the top spot on the US Open podium for the second time this weekend with a run that included a nosepress on the box, 50/50 to frontside 180, Cab 540 indy, backside 360 indy, frontside 360 stalefish ending with a frontside 720 mute. Kjersti had a very successful weekend at the US Open, earning $13,000 for a win and Amp Best Trick in the quarterpipe competition, $2,000 in the halfpipe competition, $20,000 for winning slopestyle and scoring keys to her second Volvo XC60 of the year after winning the Volvo Most Valuable Rider award at both the Burton European Open and the US Open. Chanelle Sladics earned third place and the Emergen-C Best Trick award for her front boardslide 270 out on the down rail.

“Being the best overall rider meant a lot to me because I strive to be good in the pipe and slope,” said Kjersti. “I was trying all season to be good in both disciplines, it makes me so excited. Now people can’t just define me as a pipe rider, and that means the most to me.”

In the men’s finals, the slow course didn’t bother Chas Guldemond, who dropped in knowing that he had the $100,000 BGOS title in the bag. While the other riders struggled to gain enough speed to make it through the entire course, Chas won the competition with his first run. His winning run included a frontside boardslide 270 out to a 50-50 backside 180 followed by a switch backside 900, backside 1260, Cab 900 ending with a backside rodeo on the jumps. Sebastien Toutant (CAN) put together a solid run earning second place. And Scotty Lago, who won the US Open quarterpipe competition, earned third place and clinched the keys to a new Volvo XC60. Peetu Piiroinen earned the Emergen-C Best Trick award for his backside rodeo 720. Chas had the biggest payday of any US Open competitor this weekend, earning $100,000 for the BGOS title, $20,000 for the slopestyle title and $25,000 for earning the Swatch TTR World No. 2 position.

Scotty Lago was at a loss for words when he learned of winning his Volvo, “Words can’t describe how I’m feeling. I am so pumped being the best overall rider at a contest with so much history. Today is my best day I’ve ever had in snowboarding for sure.”

Earlier in the day, snowboarding’s up-and-coming groms competed in the annual US Open junior jam halfpipe competition. Thirteen-year-old Arielle Gold took the title for the girls with her technical spin combinations and her impressive amplitude. Tanner Barrett emerged from a field of 83 boys to take the title with his massive frontside 900 tail grab to McTwist mute followed by back-to-back 540s and a tail to slob air.

2009 US Open Final Results
Men’s Quarterpipe
1 Scotty Lago (USA) FLOW
2 Daniel Ek (NOR) FORUM
3 Sebastien Toutant (CAN) O`NEILL
Amp Highest Air: Luke Mitrani (USA) BURTON

Women’s Quarterpipe
1 Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas (NOR) ROXY
2 Lisa Wiik (NOR) ROXY
3 Elena Hight (USA) VOLCOM
Amp Highest Air: Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas (NOR) ROXY

Men’s Halfpipe
1 Danny Kass (USA) GRENADE 93.50
2 Peetu Piiroinen Peetu (FIN) BURTON 91.83
3 Luke Mitrani (USA) BURTON 89.83
Amp Best Trick: Luke Mitrani (USA) BURTON

Women’s Halfpipe
1 Torah Bright (AUS) ROXY 96.00
2 Kelly Clark (USA) BURTON 93.33
3 Ellery Hollingsworth (USA) BURTON 87.00
Amp Best Trick: Torah Bright (AUS) ROXY

Men’s Slopestyle
1 Chas Guldemond (USA) DC 94.50
2 Sebastien Toutant (CAN) O’NEILL 92.17
3 Scotty Lago (USA) FLOW 90.83
Emergen-C Best Trick: Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) BURTON

Women’s Slopestyle
1 Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas (NOR) ROXY 92.00
2 Jenny Jones (GBR) BILLABONG 87.00
3 Chanelle Sladics (USA) O MATIC 93.00
Emergen-C Best Trick: Chanelle Sladics (USA) O MATIC

US OPEN DAY 5 COVERAGE

OUTSIDE ONLINE - US OPEN HALFPIPE COVERAGE

CLICK HERE to read more!

Danny Kass and Torah Bright Win US Open Halfpipe Competition

STRATTON, VT (March 21, 2009) – Epic weather and an impeccable halfpipe greeted 15,000 fans and many of the world’s top snowboarders at the US Open Snowboarding Championships held at Stratton Mountain Resort. No strangers to the top spot on the US Open halfpipe podium, Danny Kass took home his record-setting fifth US Open halfpipe title and Torah Bright earned her third US Open halfpipe title. Bright earned a bonus $3,000 and the Amp Energy Best Trick award for her stylish switch backside 720 while Luke Mitrani claimed his second Amp Energy Best Trick award with a crowd-pleasing switch double back flip.
p: Aaron Blatt
The women dropped in first, and Kelly Clark took the top spot early on in the competition with a frontside air, backside 540 mute grab, frontside 720 indy, Cab 720 ending with a frontside 540 earning an impressive 93 points. It wasn’t until the third and final runs that Kelly lost her hold on first place. Torah Bright’s final run stole the show when she dropped in switch, starting off with Cab 720 indy, followed by a crippler, backside 360 indy, switch backside 720 ending with a backside 540. Kelly had one more chance to top Torah’s amazing 96 points, but she fell on her last run.
p: Aaron Blatt
Torah’s run earned her a coveted spot in the US Open history books, tying Kelly for the most US Open women’s halfpipe titles. “I feel great,” said Torah. “I didn’t realize that I tied with Kelly for the most wins. It feels really good, especially because the US Open is such a special event.”
r: Peetu Piiroinen
p: Aaron Blatt
In the men’s finals, Luke Mitrani was the star of the first runs with his signature switch double back flip. Last year’s Burton Global Open Series champion Peetu Piiroinen’s second run earned him first place for a little while and included a frontside 720, Cab 1080, alley-oop backside rodeo, frontside alley-oop, a frontside 540 ending with a backside 720. But it was the third run when the podium order changed after snowboarding superstar Danny Kass took the first place title with a winning run that included a frontside 1080, Cab 1080, frontside 900, backside 720, ending with a switch alley-oop 540.
r: Torah Bright
p: Jake Stangel
Danny had this to say about his record-breaking fifth US Open halfpipe title, “I feel amazing, I am beyond stoked that this is my fifth win,” said Danny Kass. “It feels great to come out again and put together some runs. I was feeling it today for sure.”
r: Kevin Pearce
p: Jake Stangel
As if the action in the US Open halfpipe wasn’t enough, Santigold, whose album ‘Santogold’ landed at number six on Rolling Stone’s top albums of 2008, took to the stage for a free concert following the awards ceremony.
r: Danny Kass
p: Jake Stangel
After today’s halfpipe finals, riders only have one more chance at tomorrow’s slopestyle finals to earn points towards the $100,000 BGOS title. Currently, Chas Guldemond (USA) and Charles Reid (CAN) are a mere 500 points apart for snowboarding’s biggest single payout. On the women’s side, Jamie Anderson (USA) still has a healthy 5000 point lead ahead of Silvia Mittermueller for the BGOS title.
r: Kelly Clark
p: Jake Stangel
Peetu Piirionen and Shaun White were neck and neck in the Swatch TTR World Tour Champion title race, but with Peetu placing second today in halfpipe he has clinched the 2008/2009 TTR World Champion title. The TTR World Tour award ceremony will happen tomorrow following slopestyle finals where Peetu will be presented with the TTR World Tour Champion trophy and a total of $110,000 will be paid out to the TTR Top 5.
p: Aaron Blatt
The 27th Annual US Open wraps up tomorrow with the junior jam halfpipe competition, followed by men’s and women’s slopestyle finals, after which three major titles will be awarded: the $100,000 Burton Global Open Series men’s and women’s title, the Volvo Most Valuable Rider Award and the Men’s Swatch TTR World Tour Champion award.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

NEW YORK TIMES - US OPEN COVERAGE

CLICK HERE to read more!

Buaas and Lago Win US Open Quarterpipe Competition

STRATTON, VT (March 20, 2009) – The 27th Annual US Open Snowboarding Championships final events kicked off this evening at Stratton Mountain Resort with the men’s and women’s quarterpipe finals under clear skies in front of hundreds of spectators at the Sunbowl base area. Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas and Scotty Lago earned the first titles of this year’s US Open, taking home top honors and $10,000 in cash for their overall impression on the judges after tonight’s quarterpipe jam. In addition, Buaas took home another $3,000 after boosting 16’ and Luke Mitrani launched 25’ and won $3,000 each compliments of Amp Energy for the highest air in the quarterpipe competition.

Kjersti impressed the judges with her big backside airs, air to fakies and going for broke with different grabs. Buaas had this to say about her big win, “It hasn’t really sunk in yet, I never ride quarterpipe, I didn’t know what to expect. I tried to take things from the halfpipe and use them in the quarterpipe, and it really paid off.”

Scotty Lago wowed the crowds by pulling out every trick in the book and scored points with his clean style and lofty airs. Lago spun frontside and backside, throwing down tricks like a frontside 720 truckdriver and a corked back 540. “I really wanted to do well,” said Lago. “The jam format was awesome. I have been coming to the US Open for 13 years and this is the first time that I have been on the podium, I’m so excited.”

Daniel Ek of Norway took 2nd for the men and Sebastien Toutant (CAN) placed 3rd, taking home $5,000 and $2,500 respectively. For the ladies, Lisa Wiik (NOR) placed second and took home $5,000 and Elena Hight (USA) won $2,500 for third.

After an insane night of riding, the quarterpipe crowds were treated to a free RJD2 show, whose songs have been featured in no less than five snowboard videos.

Tomorrow, all eyes will be on the halfpipe where top riders like Shaun White (USA), Torah Bright (AUS), Kelly Clark (USA), Peetu Piiroinen (FIN), Kevin Pearce (USA) and Danny Kass (USA) will compete for the prestigious US Open halfpipe title, $20,000 in cash and valuable BGOS and SWATCH TTR points. A free Santigold concert in the Sun Bowl area of Stratton Mountain Resort will follow tomorrow’s halfpipe awards ceremony.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Halfpipe Women’s Qualifications – Day Three of the US Open


STRATTON, VT (March 19, 2009) Over 50 women took to the halfpipe today for qualifications amid variable weather conditions at Stratton Mountain Resort on the third day of the US Open in Vermont. Only five lucky ladies would earn spots in Saturday’s semi-final competition where they would face riders like Olympic Gold Medalist, Kelly Clark, X-Games Gold Medalist Torah Bright, and TTR World Champion Jamie Anderson.

Canadian Open halfpipe winner Palmer Taylor was boosting, Kendall Brown threw down some solid runs, Cilka Sardar and Elizabeth Beerman all looked solid, earning their places in Saturday’s semis, but it was Norwegian Linn Haug that took the top spot with her first run that started off with a big frontside stalefish, followed by a clean method, followed by a frontside 540, into a McTwist, finishing with a nosegrab.

Result
Halfpipe Qualifications Women
1 Linn Haug NOR BURTON
2 Elizabeth Beerman USA DC
3 Cilka Sadar SLO ---
4 Kendall Brown NZL ROXY
5 Palmer Taylor CAN BURTON

The US Open action continues tomorrow with men’s and women’s slopestyle qualifiers, the invitational quarterpipe competition and concert featuring RJD2. The US Open is the last stop on the Burton Global Open Series and offers riders the chance to earn points towards a male and female championship title, each worth $100,000, currently the largest single payout in competitive snowboarding.

The 2009 US Open halfpipe, slopestyle and quarterpipe action can be seen on NBC, Sunday, March 29 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. EST. If you can’t make it to Stratton, watch all of the semi-finals and finals live on March 21 and 22 on Go211.com, where webcasts and highlights of the competitions will also be available for on-demand viewing once the event concludes.

Burton would like to thank Stratton Mountain Resort, Volvo, SoBe, Go211.com, Paul Mitchell, Virgin America, GORE-TEX®, Corona, Emergen-C, Shiseido, R.E.D., ANON, Analog and Gravis for their support of the US Open. For more information on the US Open, head to www.opensnowboarding.com

Photo Credit: Jake Stangel