Oslo, Norway – Kelly Clark, of West Dover, Vt., earned her 15th straight win on Saturday taking the Ticket To Ride title at the World Snowboarding Championships halfpipe finals in Oslo. Steamboat Springs, Colo.’s Matt Ladley had a huge frontside 1260 and a great run that scored him second place in the men’s competition while Iouri Podlatchikov of Switzerland took the win and Louie Vito, of Sandy, Utah, took third for the men while Gretchen Bleiler, of Aspen, Colo., was third for the women behind Spain’s Queralt Castellet.
Foggy weather and humidity made for tricky conditions in the halfpipe and it took great skill for the athletes to gauge their speed. Castellet executed the second ever 1080 to be done by a female in a competition. The first was Clark.
“It was a great three-run final and I am happier than ever to be on the podium with such good competition,” said Clark, who earned the World Championships trophy and $40,000 with a run made up of a frontside air, backside 540 mute, frontside 1080 mute, Cab 720 mute and ended with a frontside inverted 720. “It’s great to do well and I am happy with my riding, I go contest to contest, but ultimately it’s one run at a time. The top three women put down the best runs I have seen in a contest. We are progressing and it’s a privilege to be on the forefront of that.”
Elena Hight, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., came in 6th place for the women.
On the men’s side, Podladtchikov won Saturday night’s competition with an impressive run that consisted of a backside double cork 1260 mute, frontside double cork 1080 truck driver, Cab double cork 1080 mute and ended with a frontside 1080 tail.
“I’m super happy that this was such an amazing event,” said the Russian known on the pro circuit by the nickname “Ipod.” “It was so cool to ride. I gave it my best and it worked out. This being the World Championships, it’s a sweet, sweet victory.”
Saturday’s second place finish was Ladley’s second podium result of the season.
“Four days of competition in a row, it definitely takes a toll on your body,” he said. “I’m a little beat up and sore, but I feel good and I’m stoked. The pipe was really good today and the rain made it a bit faster with the wet snow, it helped me to go big. You focus and live in the moment and do the best that you can.
Rookie U.S. team member Benji Farrow, of Ludlow, Vt., took 8th place.
Next up for the U.S. halfpipe snowboarders is the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix to be held at Mammoth Mountain in California, Feb. 29 – March 3.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
World Snowboarding Championships
Oslo, Norway – Feb. 18, 2012
Halfpipe
Women:
1. Kelly Clark US 86.6
2. Queralt Castellet ES 85.6
3. Gretchen Bleiler US 82.9
4. Rebecca Sinclair NZ 74.7
5. Cilka Sadar SL 74
6. Elena Hight US 69.7
7. Ursina Haller CH 66
8. Soko Yamaoka JP 60.7
9. Nadja Purtschert CH 33.6
10. Mercedes Nicoll CA 25.6
Men:
1. Iouri Podladtchikov CH 90.8
2. Matt Ladley US 87.6
3. Louie Vito US 86.9
4. Taku Hiraoka JP 86.3
5. Nathan Johnstone AU 85.8
6. Christian Haller CH 82.4
7. Ryo Aono JP 80.3
8. Benji Farrow US 77
9. Markus Malin FI 75
10. Peetu Piiroinen FI 39.2
- 1. Kelly Clark US 86.6
- 2. Queralt Castellet ES 85.6
- 3. Gretchen Bleiler US 82.9
- 4. Rebecca Sinclair NZ 74.7
- 5. Cilka Sadar SL 74
- 6. Elena Hight US 69.7
- 7. Ursina Haller CH 66
- 8. Soko Yamaoka JP 60.7
- 9. Nadja Purtschert CH 33.6
- 10. Mercedes Nicoll CA 25.6