Copper Mountain, CO – Under clear skies and chilly temperatures, Luke Mitrani and Olympic champion Kelly Clark led the USA snowboarders on Saturday, finishing second at the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe at Copper Mountain ski area in Colorado. Australia’s Olympic Champion Torah Bright and Nathan Johnstone took the wins.
“It feels unreal, I didn’t expect this result coming into this event I am over the moon right now” Johnstone said about his first place win. “Its great to combine the two together (FIS and Tour Points), every great halfpipe rider in the world was here today and to compete with all the people I have looked up to for so many years is really special to me.”
It was the first U.S. stop for athletes to gain Olympic qualifying points and 5Star World Snowboard event points.
Louie Vito, of Sandy, Utah, was third in the men’s competition behind Mitrani, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. Five American men finished in the top seven including Zach Black (Breckenridge, Colo.) in fifth, Greg Bretz (Mammoth Lakes) sixth, and Benji Farrow (Ludlow, Vt.) seventh.
“My first run went really well and I was happy with how my double came together,” said Mitrani, whose first run consisted of a double Mikalchuk, front 900 tail, backside air, front 1080 tail, cab double 1080. “My second run, I blew it so I was glad that I had the security from my first run.
“You know, I really like the halfpipe here at Copper and I am stoked to see how the Olympic qualifying period will continue to go, it feels good to be here and I am looking forward to the next Grand Prix at Park City,” Mitrani added.
Similarly, five U.S. women cracked the top seven. Clark, of West Dover, Vt., was second behind fellow Olympic champion Torah Bright of Australia. Following Clark were Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) in fourth, Kaitlyn Farrington (Bellevue, Idaho) fifth, Ellery Hollingsworth (Darien Conn.) sixth and Elena Hight (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.) seventh.
“I rode more conservatively than I usually do today, but I am OK with that,” Clark said of her run that featured a front 900, backside 540 mute-grab, front 720 indy, cab 720 mute-grab and front 540. “I feel really good about my riding and I am happy with where I ended up. I think if you are pleased with your riding than that is really all that matters.”
OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Snowboard World Cup
Sprint U.S. Grand Prix – Copper Mountain, CO – Jan. 12, 2013
Halfpipe
Men
| Rank | Bib | Name | Year | Nation | Points |
| 1 | 9 | JOHNSTONE Nathan | 1990 | AUS | 1000.00 |
| 2 | 35 | MITRANI Luke | 1990 | USA | 800.00 |
| 3 | 38 | VITO Louie | 1988 | USA | 600.00 |
| 4 | 3 | LONGO Arthur | 1988 | FRA | 500.00 |
| 5 | 23 | BLACK Zachary | 1990 | USA | 450.00 |
| 6 | 24 | BRETZ Gregory | 1990 | USA | 400.00 |
| 7 | 27 | FARROW Benjamin | 1992 | USA | 360.00 |
| 8 | 30 | JOSEY Chase | 1995 | USA | 320.00 |
| 9 | 7 | CALLISTER Kent | 1995 | AUS | 290.00 |
| 10 | 69 | HABLUETZEL David | 1996 | SUI | 260.00 |
Women
| Rank | Bib | Name | Year | Nation | Points |
| 1 | 19 | BRIGHT Torah | 1986 | AUS | 1000.00 |
| 2 | 3 | CLARK Kelly | 1983 | USA | 800.00 |
| 3 | 26 | CASTELLET Queralt | 1989 | SPA | 600.00 |
| 4 | 5 | GOLD Arielle | 1996 | USA | 500.00 |
| 5 | 4 | FARRINGTON Kaitlyn | 1989 | USA | 450.00 |
| 6 | 7 | HOLLINGSWORTH Ellery | 1991 | USA | 400.00 |
| 7 | 6 | HIGHT Elena | 1989 | USA | 360.00 |
| 8 | 33 | MATSUMOTO Haruna | 1993 | JPN | 320.00 |
| 9 | 14 | TETER Hannah | 1987 | USA | 290.00 |
| 10 | 37 | LI Shuang | 1992 | CHN | 260.00 |