Third time was a charm for Sebastien Toutant as he finally pulled it all together and landed his run on his last chance at the Burton US Open of Snowboarding at Stratton Mountain, Vermont on March 9, 2012. His run included a Cab hard way 270 on, Cab double cork 1260 melon, frontside double cork 1080 mute, frontside wall ride 270 out and 50-50 to backside rodeo out. Ulrik Badertscher nailed his first run and then watched as everyone tried to beat him. Luckily, Toutant was the only one who did and Seppe Smits ended up in third.
Slopestyle slayer Jamie Anderson only needed two runs to handle her business and win the event, the Burton Open Series Title, and the TTR Slopestyle Title. What was her business? Oh, you know, a frontside board slide to fake, Cab 720 nose grab, switch backside 540 mute grab, tail slide 270 out and ending things with a 50-50 backside 180 out. Kjersti Ostgaard-Buaas and Enni Rukajarvi finished in second and third.
“I can’t believe I’m walking off the podium with three trophies,” Anderson said. “It’s enough to just win the US Open slope style title, which I haven’t won since 2007. But to also go home with the BGOS and TTR Championship titles is a huge honor.”
One thing of note (if you didn’t catch the live webcast today): the cable cam used in the live broadcast made the Burton US Open the best slopestyle we’ve ever seen. It’s worth check out in replay mode if you’re up for it. Click here to watch the whole show over, or follow the jump for the official word from Burton.Jamie Anderson & Sebastien Toutant Sweep All Slopestyle Titles at the 30th Burton US Open
Stratton Mountain, VT (March 9, 2012) The slope style finals at the 30th anniversary of the US Open are now history, with Jamie Anderson (USA) and Sebastien Toutant (CAN) claiming all three major titles on the line today, including the 2012 US Open Slopestyle title (worth $25,000), the 2012 Burton Global Open Series Slopestyle Championship title (worth $25,000) and the TTR Slopestyle World Tour Championship title.
“I can’t believe I’m walking off the podium with three trophies,” said Jamie Anderson. “It’s enough to just win the US Open slope style title, which I haven’t won since 2007. But to also go home with the BGOS and TTR Championship titles is a huge honor.”
The ladies competed first and immediately put it into high gear. From the start, the level of riding was impressive, with some of the women earning their best scores on their first runs. But no one could catchJamie Anderson, who put together a super smooth second run that was packed with her signature, unbeatable style. Jamie’s winning run included a frontside board slide to fake, Cab 720 nose grab, switch backside 540 mute grab, tail slide 270 out and ending things with a 50-50 backside 180 out. Kjersti Ostgaard-Buaas also impressed the judges and the crowd with her legendary style, earning second place with a score of 78.4. Enni Rukajarvi (FIN) rounded out the podium with a third place score of 74.6.
By the time the men dropped in on slope style finals, the weather was a bit variable with passing snow squalls one second and sun the next. For the men, it took a few runs to get things rolling, with almost every competitor struggling with low scores. But by the third run, they got down to business and nailed some solid tricks. Sebastien Toutant (CAN) earned his first US Open win ever with a Cab hard way 270 on, Cab double cork 1260 melon, frontside double cork 1080 mute, frontside wall ride 270 out and 50-50 to backside rodeo out. Ulrik Badertscher (NOR) was one of the few riders who stomped his first run, but it wasn’t a high enough score in the end to unseat Sebastien. Seppe Smits (BEL) was also on the US Open podium for the first time after his third place finish in today’s slope style finals.
Sebastien had this to say about his first US Open win, “I’ve gotten second and third in the past, but I’ve never won, and winning here means so much. It’s one of the biggest events of the season. I had no idea I was in the running for the 2012 BGOS and TTR Slopestyle titles as well, so that’s a huge bonus for sure.”
MINI, the presenting partner of the US Open, also awarded three Creative Use of Space (CUOS) awards. Enni Rukajarvi won the $5000 women’s CUOS award for her Cab 540 mute on the MINI slope style feature, which was built to resemble a driveway with a garage and a MINI parked out front. For the men, Seppe Smits (BEL) won the $5000 CUOS award for his Cab 900 shifty on the MINI CUOS feature. And finally, the crew at LAAX, where the Burton European Opentakes place, was awarded $5000 for building the most Creative CUOS feature across all four 2011/2012 BGOS events.
Tonight at the US Open, the legends from back in the day will compete old-school style in the ‘Washed Up Cup’, a timed event that ties in freestyle elements with a gated, GS-style course (no hard boots or alpine race equipment allowed). In honor of the 30th anniversary of the US Open, the ‘Washed Up Cup’ will take place on the original Suntanner run, giving everyone a taste of what the original Opens were like.
If you can’t make it to Stratton to experience the 30th anniversary of the US Open in person, then there are two places to watch the finals live. For live webcasts, head to Redbull.tv. And to watch the men’s and women’s finals live on TV, tune in to Universal Sports on Saturday March 10. After the event is over, highlights of winning runs and full webcasts will also be available for on-demand viewing at www.redbull.com/snowboarding-live
For classic US Open photos, event highlights, quotes from the legends, and the boards beneath the riders, be sure to download the US Open History iPad App on iTunes.
2012 US Open Competition & Entertainment Schedule
Friday, March 9 – 6:00 pm – The Washed Up Cup, under the lights in the main base area of Stratton
Saturday, March 10 – 9:45 am – Halfpipe Finals & FREE performance by ‘Method Man and Redman’
Saturday, March 10 – 7:00 pm – The Night Jam, under the lights in the main base area
Sunday, March 11 – Junior Jam
Men’s Slopestyle Final Results
1. Sebastien Toutant (CAN) 92.0 – $25,000
2. Ulrik Badertscher (NOR) 81.9 – $14,000
3. Seppe Smits (BEL) 79.05 – $6,000
Women’s Slopestyle Final Results
1. Jamie Anderson (USA) 90.10 – $25,000
2. Kjersti Ostgaard Buaas (NOR) 78.40 – $14,000
3. Enni Rukajarvi (FIN) 74.60 – $6,000
Burton Global Open Series Slopestyle Champions
Men: Sebastien Toutant (CAN) $25,000
Women: Jamie Anderson (USA) $25,000
2012 TTR Slopestyle World Tour Champions
Men: Sebastien Toutant (CAN)
Women: Jamie Anderson (USA)
