Sunday, March 16

2003 US Open Halfpipe Finals

By Glen Seelenbrandt
EXPN.com

In case you didn't know there is currently some major depth in the world of men's competitive halfpipe riding. If you don't believe me, just ask a few of the riders who didn't make the finals of the 21st US Open Snowboarding Championships. Riders like Danny Kass, JJ Thomas, Tommy Czechin, Keir Dillon, and Abe Teter - go ahead, ask them about it.

Keeping that in mind, the only question left is "Who are Steven Fisher and Kazuhiro Kokubo?" Well if you don't know jack then now you know a little bit more because they both made the finals amongst a field of snowboarding's who's who.

The newcomers' high rankings may also have had to do with this year's new head-to-head format, which proved challenging for all who competed. Not many were used to the hard line of only having two runs to score against another rider who was determined by a seeded initial round. But riders would get used to the format quickly, for better or worse, as a high score determined who was either in or out. There were two rounds in the finals with six riders each, and after one rider's elimination, three would go on for the loot.

Ross Powers and his winning style net him a 2nd US Open halfpipe title in front of the hometown crowd.

Round one of the finals saw Daniel Franck put together one of the best runs of his life taking out the red hot Shaun White. Also, Ross Powers was put to the test by Andy Finch, and Powers literally stepped up every one of the tricks in his second run to advance to the podium round. In the last of the elimination round the virtually unknown Steven Fisher from Minnesota took on the completely unknown Kazuhiro Kokubo from Japan.

Kokubo proved to have way too much amplitude for Fisher to compete with and found himself in the finals with two of snowboarding's halfpipe legends … oh, but wait, did I mention that Kokubo is only 14-years-old?

The final run order saw Franck drop in first. He started off solid but pulled out on his third hit with what looked like binding trouble. After that, his competitor Ross Powers was more than ready to step up to the mic.

Powers dropped in and took his stock run through its paces. In order; 22 ft backside air, 20 ft frontside air, McTwist, frontside 9, backside 3, switch McTwist, and a cab 7 to finish. When he is on, Ross is tough to beat. Kokubo was next and seemed to feel the pressure a bit. He dropped a hand on his final trick and finished with a score that reflected the slip.

How do you say "freakin' enormous" in Japan? Ask 14-year-old Kazuhiro Kokubo after he steps down from the second place podium spot.

Franck's woes continued in his final run. His bib flew up his face on his air to fakie and he went down … so sorry, come again.

Before his final run Ross knew that if Kokubo, who was still yet to drop, stuck everything clean, his own current top position was insecure. Again, Powers simply had more to offer on every hit. He added a solid 2ft to 3ft off every wall and an extra 180 to his cab 7 at the bottom. The run was flawless and probably one of the best this year from anyone.

With nothing to lose Kukobo pointed it in and did easily the 2 biggest airs of the day. He followed Ross with a 29ft plus McTwist, and a 15 ft 900. The crowd was on its feet and they knew it would be close in the end. The excitement faded as the scores went public -- Ross' experience held tough, pushing him to his 2nd US Open halfpipe title, and a big ol' check.

And that's fine with Kazuhiro Kukobo, because at 14 years of age, he knows there will be plenty of more chances for him to shine.

In the closest head-to-head match-up of today's competition Andy Finch gave the judges something to think about before eliminating him.

... And now for the Women:

You know how a good woman can brighten up your day? Well the proof was in the pudding when the sun came out just in time to see some of the best women's halfpipe riding ever to go down. It was amazing to witness the progression that's taken place since last year's winter Olympics, the women have really stepped things up in the last 12 months.

The finals started with six of the hottest riders in the soft and sweet girlie universe. In a head-to-head final the riders had 2 runs to knock out their competitors. Trish Byrnes faced off against the 15-year-old Hannah Teter in the first heat. Trish had a tight run, but Teter had the tech moves to advance.

In a battle of the legends Stine Brun Kjelldas faced off against 2 time Open winner Natasha Zurek. Natasha's style and rotations were just too much for Stine to handle and Zurek moved on easily.

In the most anticipated heat of the day, Olympic darling Kelly Clark met the hottest rider currently on tour -- Gretchen Bleiler. Clark threw her stock run with big airs, but Bleiler's combo stacked run was just too much for the Vermont native. Thus determining the podium round to be Teter, Zurek and Bleiler.

Second place Women's finisher, Natasza Zurek, held together a solid run during the finals ... but today nobody could touch the champion from Aspen.

Bleiler started things with a fiery barrage. Crippler 540, frontside 720, backside 720, cab 720, and another crippler were all part of her run, yep and she's a girl. It was going to take the run of a lifetime for any of the other women to catch her after that.

Zurek had a solid performance with some styled out airs, a McTwist, and a crippler 720, but it wasn't dynamic enough to take out Bleiler's scorcher. Hannah Teter put up a great fight with a run that included super smooth 540s, 720s and the only 900 in the finals.

Alas, it was just not enough to catch Bleiler. Of note, any one of the women's runs during the finals could have easily won any contest last year … including the Olympics. With this kind of pace it is awesome to imagine how far these ladies will take their riding.