White, Clark, Anderson On Olympic Charge

by The Editors on February 6, 2017

Last weekend, Mammoth Mountain, California hosted the first top on the 2017 US Grand Prix Snowboard Tour. It was the first qualifier for the 2018 PyeongChang, South Korea Winter Olympics (yes, it’s that time already). Shaun White and Kelly Clark braved high winds (just check out those flags) and weather delays to win the halfpipe. Shaun seemed pretty happy after his worst X Games performance ever.

“I’m feeling great,” he said.  “I got out here and the weather wasn’t good—we were waiting, waiting, waiting and it was tough to sit around thinking about what you want to do. I didn’t have the nicest contest at X (Games) so I was excited to come here and be the normal me—put some runs down.”

In Slopestyle (yes, it’s also in the Olympics) Red Gerard and Jamie Anderson came out on top. For all the details from the USSA, please follow the jump.

White and Clark Reign at Mammoth

MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CA (Feb. 5, 2017) – The American snowboarders were dominant at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe event on Sunday, sweeping the men’s podium and taking two of the top three spots for the ladies. Shaun White (Carlsbad, CA) won for the men, while Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT) took the win for the ladies. Ryan Wachendorfer (Edwards, CO) was second and Louie Vito (Bellefontaine, OH) was third for the men while Hannah Teter (South Lake Tahoe, CA) rounded out the ladies’ podium in third.

Weather made an impact on the 2017 event, with snow throughout the week and high winds canceling the men’s halfpipe qualifiers on Saturday. The full field of 29 men took two runs in the final on Sunday. The women were able to get their qualifiers off on Wednesday, but three of the six women were unable to stay for the final, including Americans Chloe Kim (Torrance, CA) and Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO), which was rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday. Another Sierra storm descended upon the riders as they competed in the final on Sunday, with conditions deteriorating throughout the comp.

Kelly Clark stood atop the podium with Hannah Teter in third. (U.S. Snowboarding)

It was a big win for both Clark and White, who are the two most dominant halfpipe riders in snowboarding history, but had not seen the podium yet this season. “I didn’t have the nicest contest at X (Games),” White said after his first run scored a 94.7, “so I was excited to come here and be the normal me—put some runs down.”

It was also a huge result for Wachendorfer, who scored his first major podium after finding success on the Toyota U.S. Revolution Tour. He’s also the reigning USASA national halfpipe champion. “I’m actually staying for Rev Tour,” he said when asked where he was headed next, “so I’ll be here for another week.”

Kelly Clark rides to the win at Mammoth. (U.S. Snowboarding)

HIGHLIGHTS

Shaun White won for the men. His first run scored 94.75: Backside air, frontside double 1080 mute, Cab double 1080 stalefish, frontside 540 stalefish, backside double 1260 Japan, frontside 900.
Kelly Clark won for the women. Her second run scored 92.25: frontside air, backside 540, frontside 1080, Cab 720, crippler, backside air.
Ryan Wachendorfer was second for the men. His second run scored 90.75: frontside 900 tailgrab, double Michalchuk, frontside double 1080, Cab 720, frontside 720, Cab double 1080.
Louie Vito was third for the men. His second run scored 83.25: frontside double 1080, Cab double 1080, backside 900, frontside 900, Michalchuk.
Hannah Teter was third for the women. Her first run scored 36.25: backside air, frontside 540, backside 540, frontside 720, Cab 360, frontside air, backside 900 crash. She fell hard on the backside 900, not taking a second pass.
QUOTES

Shaun White—First Place
I’m feeling great. I got out here and the weather wasn’t good—we were waiting, waiting, waiting and it was tough to sit around thinking about what you want to do. I didn’t have the nicest contest at X (Games) so I was excited to come here and be the normal me—put some runs down.

Kelly Clark—Second Place
I’m really happy to put down a run like I did today. I think regardless of the circumstances or how many people are in the event you want to do the run you came to do and that’s what I was able to put down today.

Ryan Wachendorfer—Second Place
Glad we got this contest off—I’ve been anxious all week. It’s a little windy, not as bad as it has been. The light got a little better for practice. I’m actually staying for Rev Tour, so I’ll be here for another week.

Louie Vito—Third Place
I had to tone it down, it was just hard to keep speed—it was dumping out, so it was definitely hard.

RESULTS
Men’s Halfpipe
Women’s Halfpipe

Americans Sweep Slope Podiums in Mammoth

MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CA (Feb. 5, 2017) – The American snowboarders turned in a stellar performance at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix slopestyle event on Sunday, sweeping both men’s and women’s podiums. Up-and-comer Red Gerard (Silverthorne, CO) topped the field to take the win for the men, while Jamie Anderson (South Lake Tahoe, CA) continued her global domination with a win for the ladies. Kyle Mack (West Bloomfield, MI) and Hailey Langland (San Clemente, CA) each took second while Dylan Thomas (Kingsley, PA) and Julia Marino (Westport, CT) were third.

It was Gerard’s first major victory, but he has been warming up to the top spot all season with a third-place finish at the Kreischberg World Cup and fourth-place finish at the LAAX Open in January. The 16-year-old Coloradan battled the competition as well as the weather to take the top spot. “It turned out to be fine,” he said after his first run. “Just trust your landing and trust your skills and you’re good to go.”

The U.S. women swept the podium. (U.S. Snowboarding)

Anderson is more than familiar with the top of the podium, including winning the inaugural Olympic snowboard slopestyle gold medal at Sochi in 2014. It was her third major win for the season after taking the big air win at the Copper Mountain Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and the Dew Tour championship in December.

Sunday’s slopestyle was the first Olympic qualifying event for the PyeongChang Olympics in 2018.

Other Americans who made the final: Judd Henkes (La Jolla, CA) was fourth; Brock Crouch (Mammoth Mountain, CA) was sixth; Eric Willett (Breckenridge, CO) was 10th.

Red Gerard takes his first U.S. Grand Prix win. (U.S. Snowboarding)

HIGHLIGHTS

Red Gerard won for the men. His first run scored 87.95: 270 to frontside boardslide, crippler stalefish, boardslide, air to fakie, Cab boardslide, backflip, frontside 900, switch backside 1260 tailgrab, frontside 1080 indy.
Jamie Anderson won for the women. Her second run scored 80.25: frontside 180 switch 50-50 to 180 off, boardslide 270 out, handplant, transfer over rail, backside air, frontside 540, Cab underflip, backside rodeo 540.
Kyle Mack was second for the men. His first run scored 77.05: switch backside lipslide to pretzel, boardslide to switch bluntslide, 50-50 to 360 out, boardslide to pretzel out, frontside 540, switch backside 900, frontside 1080 tailgrab, backside 1080 melon.
Hailey Langland was second for the women. Her first run scored 77.40: boardslide, boardslide 270 off, transfer from quarterpipe, method, backside 540, switch backside 540, frontside 360.
Dylan Thomas was third for the men. His first run scored 83.25: switch backside 270, boardslide 270 out, half Cab to 50-50, 360, frontside 180 to switch 50-50, switch backside 900, frontside 1080 tailgrab, backside double cork 1080 nosegrab.
Julia Marino was third for the women. Her first run scored 71.85: switch boardslide, 50-50, tailgrab, indy, backside 270 mute, frontside 540 mute, Cab double underflip indy.
QUOTES

Red Gerard—First Place
It’s definitely pretty flat light—when I was in the rail section I was like, ‘this jump section is going to be gnarly, I’m terrified right now!’ It turned out to be fine—just trust your landing and trust your skills and you’re good to go.

Kyle Mack—Second Place
It felt great to land the first run. (The weather) is not too bad so the course is running pretty nice.

Dylan Thomas—Third Place
I’m so stoked—it’s so sick to put down a first run, that’s all that matters. I got a little injured in practice so I’m kind of nursing a calf injury but I’m so stoked to put that first one down. Thanks to U.S. Snowboarding for putting on this event—it’s sick.

RESULTS
Men’s Slopestyle
Women’s Slopestyle

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