Friday, April 13

SAAB U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships

freezeonline.com

Aspen's Aaron Estrada and Whistler's Jennifer Ashton held onto their leads from yesterday to take the men's and women's titles and $6,500 cash each at the 10th Annual SAAB U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships presented by Magna Bloc.

Today's final round was in Spellbound and Phoenix Bowls, a 1,600-foot long vertical run in Crested Butte's in-bounds, backcountry-style Extreme Limits area.

As if the length and 50-plus degree steepness weren't extreme enough, the top lines of the day were made even more so by some of its more rocky and densely forested sections -- "no-fall" zones called Dead End Chutes and Body Bag Glades.

Crested Butte's Willy Mushen, 1.6 points out of the lead after yesterday's two runs, charged at his line through these harried sections and posted the highest score of the day at 44.2 points. But it wasn't enough to stop Estrada, whose solid top to bottom romp garnered another high 44 points with the judges, totaling 130.2 for all three runs and securing his lead over Mushen who finished at 128.8.

Mushen's aggressive performance landed him in second place ahead of Sun Valley skier Brett Deuter. Deuter, who sat in a tie for fifth place after yesterday's two runs, launched into third with monstrous airs and solid landings in other technical sections known as East L.A. and Rabbit Ears.

Frontrunner Jennifer Ashton held on to her .2 lead over Olympic Valley skier Ingrid Backstrom with another strong performance today. Ashton's mock speed and fluidity throughout the event put her atop the women's field with a three-day total of 111.4 points. Backstrom finished in second with 111 points, and Jenna Funston, from Bozeman, MT, moved into third with 103.6.

ESPN will broadcast coverage of the entire event on April 23 at 4:30 p.m. EST and again on espn2, on April 30, at 6 p.m. EST.

More than 160 competitors entered the 10th Annual SAAB U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships and Swiss Army Skiercross presented by Magna Bloc which concluded today. This 10th anniversary celebration recognized its founders and visionaries and paid special tribute to Bob Gillen, former V.P. of Marketing Communications at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, a luminary and mentor to many.

The 2001 SAAB U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships and Swiss Army Skiercross was sanctioned by the IFSA (International Freeskiers Association). Sponsors included Paul Mitchell Systems, JSPtv, HardCorps Sports, Nutrilite, Gore-Tex, Optic Nerve, Club Med, Miller Beer, Evian, Jose Cuervo, Coca-Cola, Freeze Magazine, Clif Bar, Carrera, Boeri, Starbucks Coffee, Wigwam and Bula.

Day 3 - FINAL RESULTS (three-run totals)

MEN

1. Aaron Estrada, Aspen, CO, 130.2 pts.
2. Willy Mushen, Crested Butte, CO, 128.8 pts.
3. Brett Deuter, Ketchum, ID, 121.2 pts.
4. Ben Furimski, Crested Butte, CO, 120.4 pts.
5. Jamey Parks, Salt Lake City, UT, 118.2 pts.
6. Rex Wehrman, Keystone, CO, 117.6 pts.
7. Darren Glick, Crested Butte, CO, 113.8 pts.
7. Rob Tonnsen, Red Lodge, MT, 113.8 pts.
9. Eric Schmitz, Park City, UT, 113.6 pts.
10. Chuck Loeffler, Alta, UT, 113.2 pts.
11. Pete Sowar, Crested Butte, CO, 112.8 pts.
12. Matt Belleville, Breckenridge, CO, 112.2 pts.
13. Frankie Alisuag, Crested Butte, CO, 110.2 pts.
14. Mike Tierney, Jackson, WY, 108.6 pts.
15. John Jasper, Crested Butte, CO, 108.4 pts.
16. Jon Johnston, Crested Butte, CO, 106.6 pts.
16. Seth Morrison, Breckenridge, CO, 106.6 pts.
18. James Lozeau, Crested Butte, CO, 104.8 pts.
18. Frank Konsella, Crested Butte, CO, 104.8 pts.
20. Jack Hannan, Crested Butte, CO, 82.4 pts.

WOMEN

1. Jennifer Ashton, Whistler, BC, 111.4 pts.
2. Ingrid Backstrom, Olympic Valley, CA, 111 pts.
3. Jenna Funston, Bozeman, MT, 103.6 pts.
4. Tina Fraccola, Dillon, CO, 103.2 pts.
4. Megan Oster, Red Mountain, BC, 103.2 pts.
6. Aleisha Cline, Sun Peaks, BC, 101 pts.
7. Susan Medville, Crested Butte, CO, 100.4 pts.

MASTERS

1. Scott Kennett, Telluride, CO, 106.2 pts.