Wednesday, December 26

Todd Richards Takes First Slopestyle Crown of the Season in Breckenridge, CO

By Deric Gunshor
EXPN.com

After a cold, cloudy day of qualifying, the slopestyle final on Thursday was welcomed with blue skies and warm weather. It was the inaugural slopestyle competition at the Vans Triple Crown of Snowboarding after a decision in the off-season to replace boardercross with slopestyle. There was more at stake than prize money and points in the Van series, as this competition was the last chance to qualify for slopestyle at the upcoming Winter X Games VI, January 17-20 in Aspen, CO.

Richards' winning run

Todd Richards, a semi-Breck local, was killing it, and leaving little chance for anyone to keep pace with him after hitting almost every feature on the course. He stuck everything with perfection including a jaw-dropping cab 270 rail slide. J.J. Thomas, who lives down the road in Golden, CO, was the top qualifier but slipped to third place in the money round with a fakie 360 off the first kicker to an inverted 540 on the second hit. Both Richards and Thomas felt at home on their local mountain giving them the advantage to take podium spots. Travis Rice, a Wyoming native, stole second place and one of the final spots in the Winter X Games as he continued to show the world what he is made of. Travis Williams won the other remaining position in the Winter X Games slopestyle competition with a fifth place finish.

Travis Rice stole an invitation to the X games with a second place finish.

Kim Bohnsack started the day with a solid run giving her enough confidence to go huge on her second run and take the women's field by storm. Technical tricks on the long rails, a huge judge pleaser, brought Bohnsack to the top as she stuck an amazing frontside 180 to switch boardslide on the flatbar. Top qualifier, Jessica Dalpiaz, slipped to fourth despite sticking a huge backside 540. Finishing second and third were Katrina Voutilainen and Sara Osterberg respectively. Katrina came all the way from being the last finisher on Wednesday to a second place finish that was teasingly close to first place. Luckily for Sara Osterberg both Katrina and Bohnsack have received invitations to compete in slopestyle at the Winter X Games. With Sara's third place finish she took home some extra cash and an invitation to the Winter X Games. Fifth place finisher Jaunita Platz will be the final woman to receive a spot in slopestyle at the Winter X Games.

Todd Richards with a backside slide.

The level of competition was amazing, especially for the first slopestyle contest of the season. Course designer, Chris Gunnarson, and his Snow Park Technologies crew had the course in amazing shape. Every season the features on slopestyle courses get better and better as the riders are able to master tricks that push the style of snowboarding. After a long day of qualifying on Wednesday Vans head honcho, Steve Van Doren, was grilling some burgers and dogs for all. He decided to throw down an extra $1000 bucks for a jibfest on a series of rails by the barbeque. After everyone was full, those brave enough put it on the line for a cheering crowd of friends and foes.

Richards with a huge method.

Colorado native Gretchen Bleiler and Olympic competitor Tommy Czeschin won the Superpipe contest. The Superpipe event provided the final chance for snowboarders to qualify at the Winter X Games. The two top finishing men without invitations to the Winter X Games Superpipe were Christopher Nelson and Andy Finch. Both Nelson and Finch will compete at next months Winter X Games. On the women's side Autumn Rose and Alisa Mokler finished second and fourth to claim the final invitations to the Winter X Games Superpipe competition.