Huntsville, UT – The first day of competitions saw top amateur snowboarders and freeskiers take to the Winter Dew Tour’s slopestyle course at the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals at Snowbasin Resort on Saturday. 20-year-old Danika Duffy won the women’s snowboard contest, while Brendan Hart of Meredith, N.H. took the title for the men. In freeski, Camino, Calif.’s Robby Franco continued his winning streak by topping the podium in Utah.nDropping into her second run already holding second place, 20-year-old Duffy impressed the judges with her final run of the competition to take the top position on the podium.

“This is probably the best competition for amateurs who are trying to make it as a pro, because it’s inexpensive and can really get your foot in the door. It’s really awesome that Gatorade does this for us amateurs,” said Duffy. “I’m really excited. Hopefully I’ll be ready for the Winter Dew Tour next year.”

Taking her run down the professional slope course, Duffy pulled a super clean 50-50 gap to front lip on the top rail, boardslide through the up-down rail, 50-50 on the cannon rail with a nice melon grab off the end, to back 3 tail, straight air with mute grab, and 50-50 on the Gatorade rail. Her run earned a top score of 93.75, narrowly beating the previous high score. South Lake Tahoe, Calif.’s Julianne Brackett, 16, placed a close second with a 91.00, while Kelly Underwood, 19, rounded out the podium in third with a 60.00.

In the men’s division, Hart came from behind to take it all in his second run. The New Hampshire native pulled together a banger run that included a 50-50 on the gap rail into a 50-50 back 180, half-cab 50-50 on the backside doublecork 1080 frontside 720, and stalefish on Gatorade legacy piece. Finishing in second place was Jacob Aaronson, who topped his first run with an 87.50. Rounding out the podium was Joseph “J.D.” Dennis in third place with a final score of 85.25.

“It’s really cool what Gatorade’s doing for the winter sports,” said Hart. “Qualifying into the Winter Dew Tour will be the biggest thing to happen so far in my career.”

Franco earned the right of passage to professional competitions with his win in this afternoon’s contest. With the win, 17-year-old Franco becomes the 2011 freeski slopestyle Champion and will join the five other Champions at the Winter Dew Tour in December.

“This is amazing, Gatorade could not do a better competition,” said Franco. “The way they treat their riders, doing everything to help kids get out in the pro level is above and beyond anything else out there. Look at this trophy – it’s sick!”

Franco’s run, a 270 onto the flat box, transfer over switch up to the down rail, a switch up on the flat box with a rodeo 5 off to the jumps where he hit a switch left nine and kangaroo, finished with a switch onto rail, earned the top score of a 90.00. Competing on a torn meniscus, he topped one of the closest podiums in the history of the Finals. Second-place finisher and 13-year-old Willie Borm’s run earned an 89.00, and Maine’s Tyler Duncan’s 88.00 was a tight finish for third place.

Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Huntsville, Utah – Snowbasin Resort

Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle – Finals
1. Danka Duffy, Manhattan Beach, Calif., 93.50.
2. Julianne Brackett, South Lake Tahoe, Calif., 91.00.
3. Kelly Underwood, Welches, Ore., 60.00.
4. Taylor Owen, New London, N.H., 42.50.
5. Jamie Madrid, Fontana, Calif., 39.00.
6. Carly Harrington, Buffalo, N.Y., 30.00.
7. Rachel Wheeler, Homedale, Idaho, 21.00.
8. Alexis Roland, Bloomington, Minn., 7.75.
Jessica Gibson, Floral Park, N.Y., DNS.

Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle – Finals
1. Brendan Hart, Meredith, N.H., 90.00.
2. Jacob Aaronson, Needham, Mass., 87.50.
3. Joseph Dennis, Costa Mesa, Calif., 85.25.
4. Matthew Krichgasler, Prior Lake, Minn., 83.25.
5. Mark Reininga, Fredonia, N.Y., 69.00.
6. Kyle Mack, West Bloomfield, Mich., 58.25.
7. Gared Schneider, Hayden, Idaho, 55.25.
8. Brady Lem, Chanhassen, Minn., 45.25.
9. Jeremy Page, Hood River, Ore., 35.25.
10. Caden Michnal, East Kalispell, Mont., 30.50.
11. Daniel Voit, Buffalo, N.Y., 17.25.

Freeski Slopestyle – Finals
1. Robert Franco, Camino, Calif., 90.00.
2. Willie Borm, Chaska, Minn., 89.00.
3. Tyler Duncan, Freyeburg, Maine, 88.00.
4. Cesar Rodriguez, El Dorado, Calif., 87.75.
5. Will Hibbs, Jericho, Vt., 87.50.
6. Ian Hamilton, Missoula, Mont., 83.00.
7. Alex Gorham, Stowe, Vt., 81.75.
8. Tanner Coulter, Eagle, Colo., 81.25.
9. Lars Ellingson, Mount Baldy, Calif., 77.75.
10. Michael Briggs, Portland, Ore., 64.25.
11. Freddy Brideweser, Canton, Ohio, 29.25.
12. Tanner Boudreau, Hood River, Ore., 24.50.
Austin Torvinen, Duluth, Minn., DNS.