March 21, 2010
Clark wins U.S. Open halfpipe title
by PR Wire Report/
Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow, Vt.) threw down for the home crowd Saturday to take the win in halfpipe at the 2010 Burton U.S. Open at Stratton Mountain.
Clark put down a frontside air, backside five, frontside seven, cab seven and frontside nine to not only win the competition, but become the winningest woman in Open history.
"I've been coming to the Open for so many years, both as a spectator and competitor, and to come away with a win and to get the record for having the most wins by any woman, that's a pretty huge honor for me," Clark said.
Not only was Clark writing history at the Open, she was trying to break the barriers of normalcy for women's runs in halfpipe.
"I was able to land my first run in finals, which was what I wanted to do and it left some room for me to step it up. I had the opportunity to do that in my next two runs," Clark said in a U.S. Ski Team press release. "I was able to try my front 10 on my third run and I just barely sat it down. It was the closest I've been to landing it in a competition. For me having just learned that trick and wanting to put it in a contest run was really cool."
In the end, the hometown favorite was happy to win in front of all of her biggest supporters.
"It's so nice being home. I grew up 20 minutes from here. I think my entire family, extended family and dogs were here and everyone had a good time," Clarksaid. "All of Burton was here supporting me as well, it was a huge hometown crowd and I think all the Vermonters were happy today."
Clark led the way for what was a big day for the U.S. snowboarding halfpipers with Kaitlyn Farrington (Sun Valley, Idaho), just off her win at the inaugural European X Games, landing second and Ellery Hollingsworth (Stratton, Vt.) third. Hannah Teter (Belmont, Vt.) finished just off the podium in fourth.
On the men's side of the pipe Japan's Kazuhiro Kokubo was the winner, followed closely by Stratton Mountain School graduate Louie Vito (Sandy, Utah) in second. Switzerland's Iouri Podladtchikov finished third.
Vito landed a frontside doublecork 10, cab doublecork 10, double crippler, back nine, front 12, landing a run he had never been able to before for his second.
"I'm happy. I landed it. It's my birthday and I have a whole bunch of friends and family here," Vito said.
Scotty Lago (Seabrook, N.H.) finished sixth and Vermont’s Ross Powers was 10th.
