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Louie Vito didn’t bust a move on Dancing With The Stars for you. He didn’t nude up in ESPN’s Body Issue for the ladies. And he didn’t win the halfpipe at the 2012 US Snowboarding Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain on March 3, 2012 for us. Like the monster roast beef that kicked off his first final run (see above) he did this for himself. That with a pair of doubles (front and cab) mid-pipe put Vito in the lead.
Vito stayed in the lead until Mammoth’s hometown tallboy Greg Bretz put down his second run and blasted past Vito’s by nearly three points with a 95. But Bretz wasn’t safe with his lead.
“Oh, I knew it was coming,” Bretz said. “I know Louie. He and I ride a lot together. He’s like my older brother. So I’m stoked for the kid. I just had to give him a little pressure.”
Last Run Louie must have felt the pressure because he triple up on the doubles with a run that included a double crippler, back five, front double, cab double and another monster roast beef served up right in the judges face. The upgrade did not go unnoticed as they rewarded Vito with a massive 98.2 giving him the win and the overall 2012 US Snowboarding Halfpipe Title.
“I am super stoked on winning the overall,” Vito said. “But riding with Greg and Luke today and watching them throw down some good runs really pushed me to ride better and for me that is what it is all about. The sun is out, the pipe is good and I walked away with a win so I can’t complain.”
On the women’s side Elena Hight (right) didn’t let any recent news stories hold her down in Mammoth’s perfect superpipe. She busted larger than any of the girls from the monster method on her first hit and rocked it to the finish. Hight had the whole thing wrapped up on her first run with a 88.6, but that didn’t stop her from going harder on her victory lap and raising her first score by 3.4 points to a 92.
“I am super stoked on today,” Hight said. “It was really beautiful and I got to come out and do qualifiers early this morning. I qualified first which I am really happy about and enjoy this California sunshine with my friends. It really doesn’t get any better than this.
Kaitlyn Farrington finished in second, followed by Ellery Hollingsworth with her first podium finish of the year.
In the $10,000 Maloof Best Trick Farrington won with a backside 900 and Luke Mitrani padded his wallet with a double Michalchuck.
Follow the jump for the complete results or click here for a complete photo gallery. [click to continue…]
