2010 OPEN- STRATTON MOUNTAIN RESORT, VERMONT
Saturday, March 20th
Words, Images- Judith Ecochard
Competition Images SHEM ROOSE
What a great way to spend beach weather worthy weather… at a major East Coast ski resort ---to witness some sports history in the making.
The skies were sunny and the temps weirdly warm for the BURTON US OPEN SNOWBOARDING CHAMPIONSHIPS…numero 28!
Packed in slopeside onlookers, included tons of avid kids scoring autographs from the pros at sponsors’ tents, college types soaking up the Spring break sun, and many skiers/boarders enjoying the corn conditions (and demo boards, courtesy of Burton)…
PLUS the swag from Shiseido (much needed suncreen SPF55+ and SPF60+), aromatic Paul Mitchell Hair and Body products, Nature Valley crunchy Oats N’ Honey bars…
And of course …the progressive riding and serious big air that the competitors killed…on the Saturday, Half Pipe competition.
500 feet long and lined with melting 22 1/2 foot walls, we saw some serious tricks---- like a backside 1260 double cork on the middle of his first run (Iouri Podladtchikov) and birthday boy, Vermont native Louie Vitto’s triple double cork on the Super Slopeside Style/Halfpipe…that we accessed--- hiking up the mountain.
The guys winner, Japanese native, Kazuhiro Kokubo’s killed for the win though…with a frontside 900 melon and th McTwist Chicken Wing, followed by three 180s. WOW.
An absent Olympic gold Shaun White was a bummer…but hey, we saw the other competitors who are all a lot younger than us btw…step up and soar. And Olympic bronzer medalist, Scotty Lago (USA), winning sponsor Highest Air award.
Nope---no competition for best slide down the mountain
BRAVO: Kelly Clark, Olympic champ and 4x winner of the women’s half pipe.
WANT TO SEE HIGHLIGHTS? The US OPEN is being broadcast on March 27th at 5PM EST---on ABC.
WE ALSO LOVED...how the gals scored the same prize money and the men. AND two 15 year old competitors. Fitting in serious training during high school!!!! FEARLESS.
Special Thanks to AMP Energy that got us perky enough to take a few runs ourselves!
