[Editors’ Note: Today’s original story (which has now been updated) was gleaned entirely from the Twitter feeds of : @tbyrnes, @shayboarder, @burtonsnowboard. Say hello to remote control reporting. Please take a moment to follow them right now.]
Doing what he loves to do today at US Snowboarding Grand Prix at Copper Mountain, Colorado Shaun White dropped in on his first run in the finals and put down his perfect contest run with a front 9, back-to-back double corks, back to back 10’s and landed the highest score of the day a 47.
“It was great. It was a heavy competition. We’re doing tricks that have never been done before. I think today was the heaviest run I’ve ever done in a competition,” White said. “I’m just happy to get through it, get through the weather and be the leader here.” . . . “I’m just excited because now I get a little breathing room before the next event and I think you’re going to see a whole new rider by the time it comes around,” White said.
Aside from Louie Vito (who ended up second) and Greg Bretz, the rest of the men’s field struggled through the first run knowing White was coming up last. Many fell in the process. Ryoh Aono of Japan was taken from the pipe in a sled . “Okay seriously, three landed runs out of 13,” Tricia Byrnes tweeted at the time.
On the women’s side with Hannah Teter out with an injured shoulder Kelly Clark and Gretchen Bleiler were left to battle it out for the top spot. Clark got her first run down butBleiler fell on her first run, according to Shannon Johnson. The women switched up for the second run and Clark fell and Gretchen landed her run. Clark’s first run was enough to take the win with Bleiler in second.
“I liked having the Grand Prix at Copper. They did a great job today and I’m really excited,” Clark said. I was really happy with my first run. I’ve been working really hard on the fitness side of things and really preparing for this season mentally and physically every way I can. I feel like at this point in the season I’m riding better than I ever have.” . . . “Everything for me this season is leading up to Vancouver and every event I’m using as practice,” Clark said. “I’m pushing myself to do my most technical difficult run right now so it becomes a lot easier for me and a lot like second nature so I’m able to build and progress throughout the season. This is a great starting point.”
In the age of live online event streaming it seems almost a crime that the Olympic qualifying events of the US Snowboarding Grand Prix at Copper are not live on the web.
In spite of that, snowboard fans around the world are keeping up with the run-by-run details from an army of Tweeters who are on the scene.
Looks like Shaun White is keeping his 2010 Olympic program right on track by qualifying at the US Snowboard Grand Prix at Copper Mountain in the top spot and edging second place Louie Vito by .9 of a point. Both reportedly corked their double doubles so it is on.
“I’ve got a few different spins I’m going to mix up, but I just want to keep it consistent. I was already in, which was all I cared about,” Vito said. “I think Shaun felt the same way. It’s always practice and you’ve just got to step it up, take it up another notch and just get ready for tomorrow.”
Here’s the rest of the top 16 who will ride in the finals tomorrow:
3. Greg Bretz 45.7
4. Danny Davis 45.50
5. Dustin Craven 44.5
6. Scott Lago 44.30
7. Steve Fisher 43.3
8 JJ Thomas 43.2
9. Jack Mitrani 43.1
10. Ryoh Aono 42.9
11. Tore Holvik 42.9
12. Elijah Teter 42.6
13. Charles Reid 42.5
14. Nathan Johnston 42.4
15. Zachary Black 41.8
16. Matthew Ladley 41.6
The Gretchen Bleiler/Hannah Teter showdown we were kind of hoping for didn’t go down yesterday during women’s qualifiers as Hannah Teter pulled out of the US Grand Prix at Copper Mountain haflpipe due to an injury to her shoulder.
That didn’t stop Bleiler from dominating qualifiers edging Kelly Clark by 1.4 points.
“I had a really good run today. I’m feeling confident, I had a lot of fun and I am excited for finals on Saturday!” Bleiler said.
Today the men’s qualifiers are on. Follow the jump for the entire USSA press release. [click to continue…]
The DC Shoes website seems to be missing a few belts, wallets, and other accessories that featured the DC logo. And there appears to be what one friend called “a distinct lack of snowboards” on the DC Snowboarding website. Strange, no?
According to sources, Chanel, which makes a few belts, wallets, snowboards, and other sporting equipment of their own, has reportedly sent DC a cease and desist letter requesting that DC stop producing several items featuring the Chanel-like intertwined DC letters. From the looks of the DC websites it appears that Quiksilver legal is cooperating with the request and then some.
Those who follow along may remember a similar skirmish between the brands in the 90s when DC founders Ken Block and Damon Way reportedly made a deal suggesting that since DC was “just a small skateboard company” that Chanel would allow DC to use the logo on skate shoes and some apparel. Now that DC is part of a billion dollar fashion label it appears that Chanel is looking at their products a little more carefully and it would appear that at least a few logo changes may be on the horizon at DC.
Requests for comment to both Chanel and Quiksilver have not been returned.
In a six-page (get your clicking finger ready) story in Denver’s Westword writer Colin Bane dives deeply into the whole night-before-the-Olympics US Grand Prix scene using Steve Fisher as his muse.
Yes, that Steve Fisher: the amazingly talented rider who competes in a black balaclava that often leaves him looking more like a lost Minnesota hunter than one of the best pipe jocks in snowboarding. The guy who may forever live in the shadow of Shaun White’s pop-cultural zeitgeist.
But Bane doesn’t really mention any of that, or of the strange place less marketable athletes like Fisher occupy in the high-fashion world of advertising-driven board sports. Bane plays the story of Fisher’s Olympic hopes straight and the result is a lot like Steve Fisher himself: really good, but not all that intriguing.
Then again, snowboarding can probably use all the down-to-earthiness it can get before the five-ring hype storm rolls in off the coast.
Jeremy Jones discusses his idea behind Deeper, a snowboard film two years in the making. And yes, we’re sure seeing Deeper will make us feel a little less macho while making resort laps through the park. Luckily, the movie doesn’t come out until the fall of 2010 so we an entire season to nut up and ride like men.
Tomorrow (December 10, 2009), on the snowy slopes of the recently soldCopper Mountain Resort in the heart of Summit County Colorado, the big show kicks off with women’s halfpipe qualifiers.
As never before snowboarders are well aware (thank you Shaun White) of what the Olympics can mean for fame, fortune, and everything that goes with it. And for United States halfpipe riders there’s only one way to get into the rings: The US Snowboard Grand Prix.
Top halfpipe riders will get five chances to show their skills: one at Copper Mountain this weekend, two at Mammoth January 4-10, 2010, and the final two at Park City January 20-23, 2010 (click resort names for event info). Then the team is chosen and it’s on to Vancouver.
Follow the jump for the full schedule of Copper Mountain events: [click to continue…]
The Burton sponsored back-in-the-day snowboarding retrospective web series Power & Rails is back for season two on VBS.com.
The second season of “Powder & Rails” will features Tom Sims, Jamie Lynn, Shawn Farmer, Noah Salasnek, Chris Roach, Mike Ranquet, and Circe Wallace. Some repeat offenders from Season 1 (Shaun White, Damian Sanders, Jerry Dugan, Mike Hatchett, Tom Burt, Dave Seoane, and Jeff Brushie) will also be making appearances.
There’s nothing like look back to make us all feel old.
