Kelly Clark won her fifth Burton European Open and 16th halfpipe event since December 2010 in the finals at Laax, Switzerland on Saturday, March 3, 2012. She did it with a frontside 900, backside 540, a massive frontside 1080 finishing off with a Cab 720 Mute. Not bad at all. Gretchen Bleiler apparently completed a run and finished second followed by Japan’s Yuki Furihata.
On the men’s side Iouri Podladtchikov put down a nice series of tricker treats: frontside 900 Tail Grab, a backside 900 Mute Grab, a frontside Double Cork 1080 frontside grab ending a cab Double Cork 1080 Mute Grab to take the event with his second run. His first run was reportedly very bad. Danny “back in the saddle” Davis finished second followed by Japan’s Ryo Aono.
Wish we could say more, but we missed the whole contest. Luckily, we can watch it all in replay mode right here and so can you.
For the official word from Burton follow the jump.KELLY CLARK & IOURI PODLADTCHIKOV WIN HALFPIPE TITLES AT THE BURTON EUROPEAN OPEN 2012
LAAX/SUI (March 3, 2012) – The Burton European Open 2012 presented by MINI wrapped up today with the highlight of the week, the Halfpipe finals up on Crap Sogn Gion. The largest BEO Halfpipe crowd ever witnessed an amazing show with TTR Halfpipe World Champions Kelly Clark (USA) and Iouri Podladtchikov both claiming the Halfpipe titles by a significant margin after their second runs; giving them, and the crowd, the pleasure of 3rd run victory laps.
Kelly added yet another international title to her incredible list of 16 wins since December 2010 and took home her 5th Burton European Open Halfpipe title. No other rider in BEO history can claim so many titles. Kelly had this to say: “The contest here is really good, I like the pipe in Laax so much!”
Kelly’s winning streak continued today taking the lead after the first run. Never one to take it easy, she stepped up her game in her second run and smashed her own score with a 91.45. Her winning run included a frontside 900 frontside Grab, backside 540, a massive frontside 1080 finishing off with a Cab 720 Mute. Her fellow riders were also charging throughout the contest with Gretchen Bleiler– a first time BEO participant – sitting in 2nd going for the biggest back to back 900’s that women’s snowboarding has ever seen however she unfortunately couldn’t stomp the backside 9. Yuki Furihata(JPN), earned her 2nd podium spot at the BEO in a row, ending up 3rd.
On the men’s side it was Swiss Iouri Podladtchikov’s big day, who has made it many times to the BEO Men’s podium but never on top. Today Iouri claimed his 1st BEO title since he won the Junior Halfipe event in 2005, the first BEO in LAAX. “It’s an incredible feeling,” Iouri said. “I grew up here and have been riding this pipe since I was 11. To stand on top knowing I already won, was the best ever! Big thanks to the crowd here!”
Iouri had to dig deep after a heavy slam in the first run but came out firing in the second taking over the lead with an insane run going bigger then everyone else starting with a frontside 900 Tail Grab, a backside 900 Mute Grab, a frontside Double Cork 1080 frontside grab ending a cab Double Cork 1080 Mute Grab. None of the riders – who were all charging it – were able to take the lead from Iouri in the third run. Danny Davis (USA) is back on the podium here in Laax after winning the BEO Slopestyle in 2009. His runs were typical of Danny, huge and stylish and included a huge Cab 1080 Indy Grab and a super stylish Switch Alley Oop Backside Rodeo 540. No one was happier to see him coming in 2nd than his “frend” Kevin Pearce who was cheering for him down at the bottom of the pipe. Danny said: “I’m so stoked, it’s the first time on the podium since two years. Switzerland is always great, I like the fondue an the Swiss cheese!” In 3rd Ryo Aono from Japan with very technical runs.
The MINI Creative Use of Space Award for the most creative tricks in today’s finals go to Cilka Sadar (SLO) for her stylish backside Alley-Oop and Christian Haller (SUI) for an incredible Alley-Oop Seatbelt. Those tricks earned them $ 5.000 as well as 25 extra points towards the BGOS ranking.
After today’s event Iouri Podladtchikov is leading the Men’s HP Burton Global Open Series Standings, with Ryo Aono and Markus Malin in 2nd and 3rd. Kelly Clark, Gretchen Bleiler and Queralt Castellet are the top 3 ladies in the BGOS HP Standings before heading to the US Open where BGOS winners will be decided next week.
There was some shifting in the TTR rankings with the Burton European Open now wrapped up. In the Women’s Halfpipe Rankings Gretchen Bleiler moved up to second position, pushing Queralt Castellet in third. Swiss Ursina Haller made it into the top five with her result today.Men’s TTR Halfpipe ranking still has Ryo Aono in the lead, followed by Christian Haller moving from fifth to second position with Iouri Podladtchikov moving up from thirteenth place to third.The Women’s Overall Rankings sees Jamie Anderson now leading, pushing Cilka Sadar down to the second position, followed by Kjersti Ostgaard-Buaas.The Overall TTR Rankings will remain thrilling till the end in the men’s competition, with Stale Sandbech still leading, but with Peetu Piiroinen now close on his heels in second place. Janne Korpi and Christian Haller move up in third and fourth and still have chances to take the lead from Stale at the Burton US Open coming up.
That’s it for the 2012 Burton European Open presented by MINI. 8 action-packed days with beautiful weather, spring temperatures, a nerve-racking Slopestyle finals on the new course on Ils Plaun and sick Halfpipe finals to wrap up the event today. Without a doubt this was the best Burton European Open ever and Burton & LAAX can’t wait to come together again from February 2 – 9, 2013 to celebrate the 14th annual Burton European Open Snowboarding Championships next year. Riders are now moving on to Stratton/VT for the 30th annual US Open taking place next week.
Women’s Halfpipe Final Results
1. Kelly Clark (USA), Burton, 91.45
2. Gretchen Bleiler (USA), Oakley, 82.33
3. Yuki Furihata (JPN), Burton, 72.63
4. Cilka Sadar (SLO), Burton, 70.50
5. Ursina Haller (SUI), K2, 68.10
6. Soko Yamaoka (JPN), November, 67.35
7. Sophie Rodriguez (FRA), Oxbow, 59.35
8. Queralt Castellet (ESP), Yonex, 37.53
Men’s Halfpipe Final Results
1. Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI), Quiksilver, 88.90
2. Danny Davis (USA), Burton, 83.75
3. Ryo Aono (JAP), Yonex, 83.08
4. Christian Haller (SUI), Burton, 80.43
5. Markus Malin (FIN), Kissmark, 80.20
6. Stale Sandbech (NOR), Oakley, 73.55
7. Nathan Johnstone (AUS), Ripcurl, 72.90
8. Tore Holvik(NOR), Sweet, 72.28
9. Jan Scherer (SUI), Nike, 71.95
10. Fredrik Austbo (NOR), Quiksilver, 71.80
11. Hiroki Suwa (JPN), Smith, 69,73
12. Tim-Kevin Ravnjak (SLO), Burton, 67.88
13. Janne Korpi (FIN), Kissmark, 67.68
14. Manuel Pietropoli (ITA), DC Shoe Co USA, 61.20
15. Shuhei Osanai (JPN), Kissmark, 56.15
16. Peetu Piiroinen (FIN), Nike – Burton, 9.93
If you have missed all the action here at the BEO, webcasts will be available immediately for on demand viewing on www.redbull.com/snowboarding-live.
