Chloe Kim & Ayumu Hirano Win 2018 Burton U.S. Open Halfpipe Titles<\/strong><\/p>\nVail, CO (March 10, 2018) \u2014 Chloe Kim (USA) and Ayumu Hirano (JPN) earned the U.S. Open halfpipe titles at the 36th annual Burton U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships adding their names to the legendary list of winners. It was an incredible day of halfpipe riding as the field of 10 men and six women competed in Vail Mountain\u2019s 22-foot halfpipe in a best of three-run finals format.<\/p>\n
Two-time Olympic Halfpipe silver medalist Ayumu Hirano took the win in a heated men\u2019s finals field. This is Ayumu\u2019s first win at the Burton U.S. Open, but not his first time on the podium\u2014he previously placed second in 2013 behind Shaun White and third in 2015. Ayumu blasted through the pipe landing high on the tranny and absolutely charging into each trick\u2014starting off with a huge Indy, into a frontside double cork 1440 Indy, switch frontside double cork 1080 Indy, frontside double cork 1260 Indy, ending with a backside double cork 1260 mute for a score of 89.62.<\/p>\n
Ayumu says, \u201cThe Burton U.S. Open is one of the first international contests I\u2019ve ever come to, so I have a lot of feelings toward this contest. And coming back from last year\u2019s injury it\u2019s definitely a big win for me here. I\u2019m stoked.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raibu Katayama (JPN) landed in second place with an 86.75 and Scotty James (AUS) took third with a 83.62.<\/p>\n
In the women\u2019s field, Chloe Kim successfully defended her title for a third year in a row following her incredible gold medal win at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Kim kept the crowd on their toes, strategically revising her tricks to nail her final run linking up a huge backside air, into a frontside 1080 tail, switch frontside 720 Indy, frontside 900 tail, ending with a McTwist Indy for a top score of 85.87.<\/p>\n
Kim says, \u201cI feel like I was really pushing myself today. I had the best practice, landing solid back-to-back 10s. I was hoping I could put it down here in the contest, but I had to take a step back and play it a little safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coming off her huge win in PyeongChang and the ensuing media appearances, Kim was excited at the opportunity to defend her Burton U.S. Open title, she said, \u201cI love this contest. There\u2019s just so many smiles on everyone\u2019s faces here. It\u2019s always the most fun contest of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maddie Mastro (USA) took second place with a score of 82.99, kicking off her run with a massive frontside 900 Indy, and Haruna Matsumoto (JPN) landed in third with a score of 78.25. Not only did Matsumoto land her first 1080 in competition today, she also takes the honor of becoming the first female Japanese rider to stand on the podium at the Burton U.S. Open.<\/p>\n
Clif Bar awarded the Clif \u2018Raise the Bar\u2019 Awards rewarding creativity and style by spotlighting the best throwback trick in the halfpipe. Benjamin Ferguson (USA) won the men\u2019s award with his Indy air-to-fakie on the first hit of the pipe. Kelly Clark (USA) won the award for the women with her stylish tuck knee frontside air.<\/p>\n
The Burton U.S. Open party culminates tonight starting at 6:00pm MST with the Halfpipe Awards on the Solaris Concert Stage, followed by the free Burton Concert Series featuring Grammy award winning performer Damian \u201cJr. Gong\u201d Marley. The Late Night Live Music lineup features Brothers Keeper w\/ Special Guest Dean Ween at 10:00pm MST at Shakedown Bar.<\/p>\n
The night continues with the After Party at Dobson Ice Arena featuring DJ Hedspin, Deejay Theory and DJ Cre8 from 9:30pm \u2013 1:00am MST. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are available at the Burton Pop-Up store and flagship stores in Vail Village and Lionshead.<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s Halfpipe Finals Results<\/strong>
\n1. Chloe Kim (USA), BURTON, 85.87
\n2. Maddie Mastro (USA), BILLABONG, 82.99
\n3. Haruna Matsumoto (JPN), ROXY, 78.75
\n4. Xuetong Cai (CHN), AUDI, 78.25
\n5. Kelly Clark (USA), BURTON, 75.25
\n6. Jiayu Liu (CHN), NIKE, 30.37<\/p>\nMen\u2019s Halfpipe Finals Results<\/strong>
\n1. Ayumu Hirano (JPN), NIKE, 89.62
\n2. Raibu Katayama (JPN), BURTON, 86.75
\n3. Scotty James (AUS), RED BULL, 83.62
\n4. Ben Ferguson (USA), BURTON, 83.24
\n5. Pat Burgener (SUI), SAMSUNG, 82.62
\n6. Jake Pates (USA), ROCKSTAR, 74.62
\n7. Derek Livingston, (CAN), 686, 67.99
\n8. Naito Ando, (JPN), KISSMARK, 66.50
\n9. Chase Josey (USA), ROCKSTAR, 39.00
\n10. Jan Scherrer (SUI), NITRO, 31.87<\/p>\n<hr><\/p>\n
Mark McMorris and Jamie Anderson Win 2018 Burton U.S. Open Slopestyle Titles<\/strong><\/p>\nVail, Colo. (March 9, 2018) \u2014 Slopestyle finals came down to a nail biter on many fronts today at the 36th annual Burton U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships. Defending champion Mark McMorris (CAN) earned the top score on the final run of the three-run finals, while the women\u2019s field made the difficult decision to cancel the competition due to challenging winds. Results from the women\u2019s semi-finals stood as the final results with Jamie Anderson (USA) earning her seventh Burton U.S. Open title.<\/p>\n
The top three qualifiers from Wednesday\u2019s men\u2019s semi-finals stayed at the top in today\u2019s finals, with Mark McMorris confirming his place at the top of the slopestyle field in a gripping final run to earn the top score of 88.10. McMorris soundly put together his winning run, skating through the upper rail section with technical combinations, including a wild switch boardslide cork 630 Indy out, into the trio of jumps, nailing a switch backside 1260 melon, followed by a frontside triple cork 1440 mute into a backside triple cork 1440 Indy in front of the roaring crowd.<\/p>\n
McMorris, who spent the last year coming back from a life-threatening injury said, \u201cWith everything I\u2019ve been through, today makes it worthwhile 100-percent. This is my life and this is what makes me most happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Colorado local Chris Corning (USA), improved his ranking, bumping up a spot from semi-finals into second. He earned his top score of 87.95 on the final run, linking up back-to-back 1440s and adding in a trick that he had just learned in practice\u2014a frontside 1440 stalemasky into a backside triple cork 1440 melon. Marcus Kleveland (NOR) also put on an incredible performance sending it huge, pairing a switch frontside double cork 1620 mute into a backside 1440 mute for third place with a score of 87.20.<\/p>\n
Due to high winds and a vote from competitors, the women\u2019s slopestyle finals were cancelled today. The Burton U.S. Open has always been a rider-driven event, and as such, the safety of the riders is top priority. So, when the riders voted to cancel today\u2019s women\u2019s slopestyle event, the results from Wednesday\u2019s semi-finals stood, making Jamie Anderson (USA) the 2018 champion based on Wednesday\u2019s semi-final results. Defending U.S. Open champ Anna Gasser (AUT) took second and Julia Marino (USA) landed in third.<\/p>\n
This is the seventh Burton U.S. Open title for Anderson since earning her first slopestyle title in 2007. The ladies were disappointed that the weather did not cooperate for today\u2019s slopestyle finals, but thankful to have the option to cancel.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was cool that the Burton U.S. Open was down to let everyone have a discussion, because sometimes we don\u2019t get to have a voice,\u201d said Anderson. \u201cIt was nice to get to congregate today and make a call for what\u2019s best for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anderson is looking forward to unveiling new technical rail tricks that she dialed in at U.S. Open practice in the future. Gasser also shared that she\u2019s been working on incorporating her big air tricks like her Olympic gold medal winning Cab double cork 1080 into her slopestyle run. But these tricks will have to wait for future competitions.<\/p>\n
Additionally, Clif Bar awarded the Clif \u2018Raise the Bar\u2019 Awards rewarding creativity and style by spotlighting the most innovative slopestyle trick on any feature. Up-and-coming rider Kokomo Murase (JPN) earned the women\u2019s award for her boardslide 270 Indy out on the second rail feature. Nik Baden (USA) earned the men\u2019s award with a stylish frontside 1080 Indy.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s Burton U.S. Open fun continues into the night starting at 6:00 pm MST with the Slopestyle Awards on the Solaris Concert Stage, followed by the free Burton Concert Series featuring B\u00d8RNS and Madaila. The Late Night Live Music lineup features The Medallions at 10:00pm at Shakedown Bar.<\/p>\n
The Burton U.S. Open competition culminates tomorrow, Saturday, March 10th with the men\u2019s and women\u2019s halfpipe finals on Vail\u2019s Golden Peak with first place qualifiers Maddie Maestro (USA) and two-time Olympic halfpipe silver medalist Ayumu Hirano (JPN). The heated fields include Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim (USA), 2017 X Games gold medalist Scotty James (AUS), Chase Josey (USA), Ben Ferguson (USA) and Xuetong Cai (CHN) among others competing to earn the coveted Burton U.S. Open halfpipe title.<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s Slopestyle Finals Results (Carried over from Wednesday, March 7 Semi-Finals)<\/strong>
\n1. Jamie Anderson (USA), OAKLEY, 83.75
\n2. Anna Gasser (AUT), BURTON, 80.95
\n3. Julia Marino (USA), MOUNTAIN DEW, 75.85
\n4. Kokomo Murase (JPN), BURTON, 75.30
\n5. Klaudia Medlova (SVK), GIRO, 75.00
\n6. Silje Norendal (NOR), ROCKSTAR, 74.75<\/p>\nMen\u2019s Slopestyle Finals Results<\/strong>
\n1. Mark McMorris (CAN), BURTON, 88.10
\n2. Chris Corning (USA), ROCKSTAR, 87.95
\n3. Marcus Kleveland (NOR), RED BULL, 87.20
\n4. Tyler Nicholson (CAN), ROCKSTAR, 84.60
\n5. Staale Sandbech (NOR), OAKLEY, 80.40
\n6. Roope Tonteri (FIN), BURTON, 77.75
\n7. Yuki Kadono (JPN), RIDE, 77.30
\n8. Takeru Otsuka (JPN), BURTON, 73.20
\n9. Nikolas Baden (USA), ADIDAS, 41.55
\n10. Fridtjof Tischendorf (NOR), LOBSTER, 40.80<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It was as everyone expected at Burton’s 36th Annual US Open of Snowboarding in Vail, Colorado March 5-10, 2018. Mark McMorris and Jamie Anderson took the slopestyle event (the women’s final was cancelled due to high winds) and Ayumu Hirtano (pictured above) and Chloe Kim won the halfpipe. Dean Ween and some other bands played and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52580"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=52580"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52591,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52580\/revisions\/52591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=52580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=52580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=52580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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