Laax, Switzerland –World Champions Kelly Clark, of West Dover, Vt., and Switzerland’s Iouri “Ipod” Podladchikov on Saturday each the Burton European Open halfpipe on a warm and sunny day in Laax, and in so doing each took home the event’s $15,000 first prize. Second in the women’s competition was American Gretchen Bleiler, of Aspen, Colo., followed by Yuki Furihata from Japan. In an exciting men’s final, Podladtchikov took the win with his second run with a score of 88.90, followed by American snowboarder Danny Davis and Japanese rider Ryo Aono.
Clark dominated yet another competition beginning with her first run on Saturday. With Bleiler on her heels, Clark improved her result in the second run, throwing a beautiful frontside 900 to backside 540, going into a massive frontside 1080 and a Cab 720 Mute to finish it off.
“It was great riding in sunny weather, it lifts the spirits, and the level of riding,” said Clark. “All the girls were pushing it and it still remains a challenge even after so many consecutive wins!”
Vermont's Kelly Clark soars to victory in Saturday's Burton European Open halfpipe contest in Laax, Switzerland. (photo: TTR)
Bleiler wasn’t able to improve upon her first run result but managed to hold on to her second place despite Furihata’s best performance in her second run which earned a score of 72.63, good enough for the last podium spot.
With crowd’s increasing around the pipe it was time for the men to drop in after a short shaping break. Podtladchikov took a first run lead, dropping in second to last in the first round. With two identical scores of 88.90 in his first and second run, Ipod failed to improve. His first run started off with a frontside 540 indy to backside 1260 double cork mute, backside air and alley oop Andrecht Plant. His second run was equally impressive and again showed a lot of style: frontside 900 tai to backside 900 mute followed by a frontside double cork 1080 to Cab double cork 1080 mute.
“It was so sunny today and you can just boost,” Podtladchikov explained. “There is a sick crew out here, pipe held up, sick crowd and it’s home turf for me so I can’t even talk right now, its incredible!”
The TTR world rankings have been shuffled now that the Burton European Open is complete. In the Women’s Halfpipe Rankings, Bleiler has moved into second, pushing Queralt Castellet of Spain into third. Swiss rider Ursina Haller moved into the top five with her result from Saturday. The Men’s Halfpipe Ranking still has Aono in the lead, followed by Christian Haller moving from fifth to second position with Podladtchikov moving up from thirteenth place to third.
The Women’s Overall Rankings sees Jamie Anderson now in the lead, pushing Cilka Sadar down to the second position, followed by Kjersti Ostgaard-Buaas. The Overall Rankings will remain thrilling till the end in the men’s competition, with Stale Sandbech still leading, but with Peetu Piiroinen now close on his heels in second place. Janne Korpi and Christian Haller move up into third and fourth, respectively, and still have a chance to take the lead from Sandbech at the upcoming Burton US Open in Vermont.
