Welcome to the 02-03 season snow sliders. Of course many of you have been shreding already but the Breck Triple Crown was the first A-list, big money contest this year. To add to the hype, nine riders qualified for Winter X Games VII. New riders and underdogs stomped the comp in round one. Sure, plenty of Olympic medalists and past contest champs were in attendance, and some of their performances were hot, but all seemed a bit inconsistent. Some of the rippers that got on the podium were newcomers while others are approaching the twilight of their careers. In any case the riders were ready to throw down and demo tricks learned at Mt. Hood this summer. Plus, most of 'em were healthy since they haven't had the chance to wreck themselves yet. Breck has had big early season snow and several inches fell right before the events, shaka.
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| Jimi Scott made the pipe finals and Danny Kass did not. Jimi Scott roller-skated in the 80's and Danny Kass is a rockstar... so here is a pic of Kass instead. |
Slopestyle Fun
- The slopestlye course had a choice of rails up top, three big kickers (the riders could choose the right or left side forming kind of a rhythm section) with two rail sections to end the course. It was a fun course for the riders but there wasn't a place for the fans to watch except at the bottom. Note to all slopestyle course promoters/designers, please leave a space for fans so they can watch. Rider Bounus - All the yelling fans on the side pump up the athletes.
- Olympic medalist
Fabienne Reuteler qualified first in her first slopestyle contest, but she cleared the landing and ate it bad. Fabienne was ok but was out for the weekend.
Katrina Voutilainen also hucked beyond the tranny on the same jump, possibly blowing out her knees. Jennifer Jones took first and Jamie Macleod got second by riding consistent. Jennifer Jones and 3rd place finisher,
Anne Molin Kongsgaard qualified for Slopestyle at Winter X Games VII.
- A Relatively unknown Etienne Gilbert spun, slid and hucked his way to first in Slopestyle. Danny Kass qualified first but finished 10th. All the slopestyle competitors were nuts! Etienne and second place finisher,
Josh Dirksen qualified for Winter X Games VII in Aspen.
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| Kelly blasted out of the pipe but inconsistency kept her and the other US Olympians off the podium, 8th. |
The Pipe
- On Friday the pipe was a sorry piece of crap, crumbly and kicking riders away from the lip. Frank Wells fixed it up nice though for Sunday's finals. According to winner
Luke Wynen "Pipe was a lot fun today, the improvement from when I showed up to today is nothing short of a miracle"
- Norway's Kjersti Buass Oestgaard powered to first in women's pipe but took a serious slam on the last hit of her last run, she was taken away in a toboggan. Three women qualified for the X Games Superpipe; Molly Aguirre, Anne Molin Kongsgaard and Hannah Teter.
- Luke Wynen took time away from his condo-managing job to do some 5's and 7's - corking and blasting his way to win men's pipe. Steve Fisher is a name to remember, he took second. Kinger took third;
Rob Kingwill is old and rad, great to see him on the podium. Mr. Wynen and Steve are both going to Aspen.
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| On a night sesh, Ryan Lougee set up to do a sick 48 rail. It was all setup, when security started up the stairs. Breck security vs Lougee, Lougee lost. |
Overall the contest that marks the start of the season went down smooth, with the possible exception of the three lovely female riders that went down hard. A couple of snowboard careers got a shot in the arm and more riders were added to the Winter X roster. Round 2 of the Triple Crown is coming up at Mammoth January 23-26 and Round 3 is at Big Bear Resort March 6-9. Be sure to check the good riding in Aspen during the X Games Jan 30 - Feb 2 or at least watch them on TV with all your pals. See you in Mammoth, Aspen, Big Bear or wherever it's snowing, kiddies.
Triple Crown Full Results:
Women's Slopestyle
1. Jennifer Jones $8,000
2. Jaime MacLeod $5,000
3.
Anne Molin Kongsgaard $2,250
4.
Juanita Platz $1,500
5. Pilar Peterson $1250
6.
Dresden Howell $1,050
7. Macy Price $800
8. Natassa Zurek $700
9. Hannah Tetet $600
10.
Leslee Olson $500
11.
Sara Osterberg
12. Maribeth Swetkoff
13. Jonnel Janewicz
14.
Katrina Voutilainen
15.
Fabienne Reuteler
X Games qualifiers for Women's Slopestyle
Jennifer Jones
Anne Molin Kongsgaard
Men's Slopestyle
1. Etienne Gilbert $12,000
2.
Josh Dirksen $8,000
3. George Oakley $5,000
4. Darrell Mathes $3,500
5. Nate Sheehan $2,500
6. Drew Fuller $1,500
7.
Erik Leines $800
8. Chris Coulter $700
9. Eric Shaw $600
10. Danny Kass $500
11. Doran Laybourn $300
12. Eddie Wall $300
13. Andrew Hardingham $300
14. Matthew Peterson $300
15. Justin Lamoureux $300
16. Colin Langlois $200
17. Chad Otterstom $200
18. Ryan Thompson $200
19. Josh Malay $200
20. Mark Reilly $200
21. JP Tomich
22. Lane Knaack
23. Preston Strout
24. Jeff Nelson
25. Robbie Sell
26.
Jeff Anderson
27. Devin Schutter
28. Ryan Paris
29.
Todd Richards
X Games qualifiers for Men's Slopestyle
Etienne Gilbert
Josh Dirksen
Rail Jam
1. Aaron Keene
2. Travis Robison
3. Jake Meyers
S-rail
1. CJ Marsh
Women's Pipe
1. Kjersti Buass Oestgaard $8,000
2. Dorian Vidal $5,000
3. Anne Molin Kongsgaard $2,250
4. Hannah Teter $1,500
5. Molly Aguirre $1,250
6.
Gretchen Bleiler $1,050
7. Tricia Byrnes $800
8.
Kelly Clark $700
9. Cecile Alzina $600
10.
Autumn Rose $500
11.
Barrett Christy
12. Stine Brun Kjeldas
13. Kim Stacey
14.
Amy Johnson
15. Kimberly Fasani
16.
Megan Pischke
17. Joanie Anderson
18.
Jana Manfredi
19. Torah Bright
20. Fabienne Reutler
X Games qualifiers for Women's Superpipe
Molly Aguirre
Anne Molin Kongsgaard
Hannah Teter
Mens Pipe
1.
Luke Wynen $12,000
2. Steve Fisher $8,000
3. Rob Kingwell $5,000
4. Chad Otterstrom $3,500
5. Mason Aguire $2,500
6. Elijah Teter $1,500
7. J.J. Thomas $800
8. Kyle Clancy $700
9. Jon Mamele $600
10. Justin Lamoureux $500
11.
Abram Teter $300
12. Nate Farrell $300
13. Lane Knaack $300
14. Danny Garrity $300
15. Andrew Hardingham $300
16. Colter Dupree $200
17. Grnt Glenn $200
18. Andy Finch $200
19. Luke Mitrani $200
20. Dave Brumm $200
21. Matthew Nerdahl
22. Lucas DeBari
23. Jimi Scott
24. Nik Batco
25. Rob Bak
X Games qualifiers for Men's Superpipe
Steve Fisher
Luke Wynen
Related Photos:
Triple Crown - Breckenridge
