COPPER MOUNTAIN, CO (Dec. 13) - Reigning overall champions Louie Vito (Sandy, UT) and Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT) boosted the best runs of the day to win their third Grand Prix halfpipe competitions in a row as the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix, presented by Sprint, opened for the season Saturday at Copper Mountain, CO.
Louie goes big to win the Copper Grand Prix. (Tom Zikas)
"The last two years I haven't made finals at the first Grand Prix and that's kinda been a bummer. But, It's nice going into the rest of the season with the win and knowing that you have that accomplishment," Vito said. "Hopefully the rest of the season follows in the right direction like this."
Vito landed two identical runs of back-to-back 1080s, back-to-back 900s and a straight air, but it was his amplitude in the second run that got him the top men's spot.
"Louie stomped both of his runs and they were super clean," said U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Head Coach Mike Jankowski. "After his first run he said, 'coach, I want to get a better score.' So he didn't change anything, but he went bigger and better."
Vito was joined on the podium by fellow U.S. Snowboarding rider and X Games gold medalist Steve Fisher (Breckenridge, CO).
"Once you get that first taste of a win, it's hard to settle for anything less than that," Vito said. "With how many good riders there are in the first contest it's nice to start my season that way."
Clark Owns Both Runs
While Clark has said that this is a season for her to reflect on her riding as a whole, as opposed to being in it for the competition, she needed no extra help in winning the Grand Prix in Copper as she threw down the two highest scoring runs of the day.
"It's really encouraging. I didn't know how my approach was going to go today. My focus has really been on the fundamentals these last few months and I'm really excited to have done so well just focusing on the basics," Clark said. "I know once I get more into the technical aspects, it will be a really big strength to me."
As far as Jankowski is concerned, Clark's riding focuses will only make her a bigger force to be reckoned with.
"Kelly is riding at the top of her game right now, but at the same time she's also looking to improve and take her riding to the next level, so watch out for more great things to come from Kelly," Jankowski said.
Kelly Clark takes the opening Grand Prix. (Tom Zikas)
Fisher, Teter Land the Podium Spots
Fisher made a repeat from the previous year's opening Grand Prix with another second-place finish after taking a hard spill in his first run.
"Absolutely a podium is a success for me - I think for anyone," Fisher said. "For not landing the run that I wanted perfectly, second place is awesome."
"The pressure was on after he fell on his last hit of his first run," Jankowski added. "The team was backing him up, he got his head on straight and he stomped and unbelievably clean run to bump himself up into the podium."
Teter made a successful return to competition after taking a season off and was riding strongly as she took the third place spot.
"It was really fun. It was the first time for Copper hosting it and it's going to be here for the next couple years. They do a really good job," Teter said. "Right in the beginning it was super good so I'm just stoked to be here."
For Teter, the podium spot was especially important as her winnings go directly to a village she sponsors in Kenya called Kirindon.
"I'm really excited with being on the podium. I come in with the intention of wanting to do really well, especially for my kids to make more money for them," Teter said.
Rookies Make it Big Time
The day was a standout for the freestyle rookies who sent four of their own into the halfpipe finals and came out more successful than they could have hoped.
The 14-year-old phenomenon Madeline Schaffrick (Steamboat Springs, CO) threw down a heel side drop into a front 7, cab seven, front five and back seven to finish fourth.
"It's amazing. I mean - Gretchen Bleiler is standing next to me! To be at the same competition level riding I can't believe it. Just being in the same pipe as them is amazing," Schaffrick said.
"She made the final her first time at the Grand Prix and really all we wanted her to do was land a run, but really our goal was way more than accomplished. We're so proud of her," Freestyle Development Coach Bud Keene said.
Rookie Kaitlyn Farrington (Bellevue, ID) finished seventh in the women's halfpipe, and Broc Waring (Edwards, CO) and Ross Baker (Squaw valley, CA) finished 17th and 19th respectively.
"Broc put down a good one and he's only 16 years old, so not bad. Ross is also on fire. He didn't put his runs down today but he will," Keene said.
The Grand Prix at Copper Mountain concludes Saturday evening with the Paul Mitchell Progression Session slopestyle event.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2009 U.S. SNOWBOARDING GRAND PRIX - PRESENTED BY SPRINT
Copper Mountain, CO - Dec. 13, 2008
Men's Halfpipe
1. Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 47.20
2. Steve Fisher, Breckenridge, CO, 44.00
3. Antti Autti, Finland, 43.60
4. Daniel Friberg, Switzerland, 43.40
5. Dustin Craven, Canada, 42.00
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6. Andy Finch, Truckee, CA, 41.60
15. JJ Thomas, Golden, CO, 33.70
17. Broc Waring, Edwards, CO, 31.50
18. Danny Davis, Highland, MI, 28.30
19. Ross Baker, Squaw Valley, CA, 20.30
Women's Halfpipe
1. Kelly Clark, West Dover, VT, 43.20
2. Soko Yamaoka, Japan, 37.60
3. Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT, 37.50
4. Madeline Schaffrick, Steamboat Springs, CO, 36.60
5. Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 32.30
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6. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 29.30
7. Kaitlyn Farrington, Bellevue, ID, 24.20
8. Clair Bidez, Minturn, CO, 17.70
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Copper Grand Prix men's podium. (Tom Zikas)
Copper Grand Prix Women's Podium. (Tom Zikas)
