With some of the world's best riders attending, the 33rd Burton US Open presented by MINI kicked off with women’s Slopestyle semi-finals, determining the top six girls for finals. The Men’s semi-finals were postponed due to bad weather and went down one day later, with the top ten moving up to finals.
History was made when Yuki Kadono (JPN) dropped in his last run throwing down a trick fest of Switch Backside 270 on 270 out, Lipslide to Fakie, Half Cab on Backside 360 out, Frontside Double Cork 1080 Mute, Backside Triple Cork 1620 Mute and a Switch Backside Triple Cork 1620 Melon. A run he had never tried before scoring a 90.05. Mark McMorris (CAN) landed a solid run including back-to-back Triple Cork 1440s putting him just behind Yuki. Young gun Tyler Nicholson (CAN) rounds it out in third place, with his first ever Burton US Open podium. Due to today’s second place and his performance at the Burton European Open in January, Mark McMorris worked his way up the WST Pro Series ranking, securing him the first ever men’s Pro Series Slopestyle Champion title.
happy Yuki Kadono
Mark McMorris
Jamie Anderson
The ladies were battling it out for both the top spots of the event as well as the Pro Series Champion title. In the end Jamie Anderson (USA) was able to put down a clean run with a Cab 270 to Tailslide, Switch Boardslide to Regular, Boardslide 270 out, Backside 540, Cab 720 Nose Grab and a Switch Backside 540, getting a high score of 90.95 and securing herself her fifth US Open victory.
2015 Burton US Open Slopestyle Finals Highlights
Since the Halfpipe event at the Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, only the two results from the Burton European Open presented by MINI in Laax, Switzerland and the Burton US Open presented by MINI in Vail, Colorado, were counted to determine this year’s Pro Series Halfpipe Champions.
Kelly Clark
Halfpipe riding at its best entertained thousands of spectators gathered at the bottom of the pipe, cheering for their favorite riders from all over the world. US Open veteran Kelly Clark (USA) put down a perfect run consisting of a Frontside Air, Backside 540 Mute, Frontside 1080 Indy, Cab 720 Mute, Crippler Stalefish and Method Air, a performance showcasing her outstanding riding, securing herself not only her 8th US Open victory but her first ever Pro Series Halfpipe Champion title. 14-year old American Chloe Kim came in second putting down her first ever landed Frontside 1080 in competition, while Arielle Gold (USA), attempting a Frontside 1080 Stalefish in her last run, rounded out the podium in third.
Ayumu Hirano
Men’s finals were thrilling right down to the last runs, the top riders pulled out their best tricks, entertaining the crowd to a maximum. Taku Hiraoka (JPN) was able to surpass his own performance by throwing down a Frontside 540 Indy, Backside 900 Mute, Frontside Double Cork 1080 Stalefish, Cab Double Cork 1080 Mute and a Frontside 1260 Tail Grab in his second run, firing himself into the top spot of this year’s US Open. France’s Arthur Longo stepped it up in his last run, combining technical difficulty with outstanding style, finishing in second place. Ayumu Hirano (JPN) becoming third today, celebrates being crowned the first Pro Series Halfpipe Champion after his second place at the Burton European Open earlier this year.
2015 Burton US Open Halfpipe Finals Highlights
Photos: © WST
Source: http://www.worldsnowboardtour.com
