Eddie Wall, Leanne Pelosi, Danny Kass, Gretchen Bleiler, Risto Mattila and Janna Meyen all earn championship titles
STRATTON MOUNTAIN, Vt.--(COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Mar 21, 2005--The world`s longest-standing snowboarding event ended yesterday with Janna Meyen and Risto Mattila winning the slopestyle finals and young rippers Ellery Hollingsworth and Matthew Ladley earning junior jam titles.
This year`s US Open will definitely leave its mark on the snowboarding history books. Danny Kass became the first rider ever to win four US Open halfpipe titles. It was Tricia Byrnes` 16th consecutive year competing at the Open. Janna Meyen won her first US Open title since she won the women`s halfpipe contest in 1991. And for the first time ever, three siblings - Abe, Elijah and Hannah Teter - all made it to the halfpipe finals. The weather also made its own history with bluebird skies and mild temperatures for all three days of final competitions - a landmark event in itself for late March in Southern Vermont.
The moment all the competitors were waiting for � the announcement of the male and female Volvo winners � was the grand finale of the Open. Risto Mattila won the men`s Volvo Best Performance Award for his sixth place standing in the men�s halfpipe finals and his victory in the slopestyle contest. And Leanne Pelosi won the Volvo for the ladies after her first place win in the rail jam, competing in the halfpipe semifinals and placing second in the slopestyle contest. Both riders won the keys to a new Volvo V50 Sports Wagon. Up-and-coming riders Danny Davis and Spencer O`Brien earned a new Ski-Doo Summit Adrenaline 600 snowmobile after clinching the Ski-Doo Outstanding Rookie Award.
''This is the biggest thing that has ever happened to me,'' said Risto. ''$20,000 and a car � I can`t believe it. I had high hopes when I came here, but I never thought I would win it ... it`s just insane.'' Leanne was also super stoked on her win. ''It`s amazing to win the most prestigious event of the year. I just wanted to come here and do my best. My mom was here watching me, so she`s my good luck charm now.''
In yesterday`s final contest, the ladies kicked off the slopestyle event and each had two runs to try and win the title and $20,000. Most of the women struggled a bit in their first runs, but made up for it in their second runs. Slopestyle super star Janna Meyen stomped an impressive second run to take the title with a frontside 5, backside 5, Cab 3 and Cab 7. Her Cab 7 on the fourth hit also earned her the $5000 Tylenol Best Trick award, increasing her paycheck to $25,000 for the day. US Open rail jam champion Leanne Pelosi took second place and Natasza Zurek rounded out the slopestyle podium with a third place ranking.
With a fully loaded lineup of seasoned pros and up-and-coming young riders, the men`s slopestyle contest featured some of the best riding of the season. Finnish rider Risto Mattila stole the show with his switch backside 7, Cab 9, frontside 9, Cab 5 and a frontside boardslide on the flat ledge. Jussi Oksanen earned the second place spot on the podium as well as the $5000 Tylenol Best Trick Award with his switch backside 9 to Lein. And Andreas Wiig earned third place with a super solid second run that included a Cab 7, switch backside 9, backside 7 and frontside 5.
While the big guns were competing in slopestyle, the future stars of snowboarding were throwing down in junior jam. Mini rippers who were thirteen-years-old and younger competed in the full-size US Open superpipe for a US Open title. This year�s champions were Matthew Ladley and Ellery Hollingsworth.
2005 US OPEN FINAL RESULTS
WOMEN`S RAIL JAM
SoBe Sick Trick Award - $2,500 and a Motorola phone - Alexis Waite
1st � Leanne Pelosi - $10,000
2nd � Hana Beaman - $5,000
3rd � Spencer O�Brien - $2,000
4th � Marie-France Roy - $1,000
MEN`S RAIL JAM
SoBe Sick Trick Award - $2,500 and a Motorola phone - Chris Rotax
1st � Eddie Wall - $10,000
2nd � Yale Cousino - $5,000
3rd � Jed Anderson - $2,000
4th � Sylvain Beauchesne - $1,000
WOMEN`S HALFPIPE RESULTS
Nintendo DS Best Trick Award - $5000 and a Motorola phone - Torah Bright
1st � Gretchen Bleiler - $20,000
2nd �Torah Bright - $10,000
3rd � Hannah Teter - $5,000
4th � Tricia Byrnes - $2,000
5th � Junko Asazuma - $1,500
MEN`S HALFPIPE RESULTS
Nintendo DS Best Trick Award - $5000 and a Motorola phone - Abe Teter
1st � Danny Kass - $20,000
2nd � Steve Fisher - $10,000
3rd � Antti Autti - $5,000
4th � Keir Dillon - $2,000
5th � Danny Davis - $1,500
WOMEN`S SLOPESTYLE RESULTS
Tylenol Best Trick Award - $5000 and a Motorola phone - Janna Meyen
1st � Janna Meyen - $20,000
2nd � Leanne Pelosi - $10,000
3rd � Natasza Zurek - $5,000
4th � Jamie Macleod - $2,000
5th � Marie-France Roy - $1,500
MEN`S SLOPESTYLE RESULTS
Tylenol Best Trick Award - $5000 and a Motorola phone � Jussi Oksanen
1st � Risto Mattila - $20,000
2nd � Jussi Oksanen - $10,000
3rd � Andreas Wiig - $5,000
4th � Scott Lago - $2,000
5th � Matt Dano - $1,500
GIRLS` JUNIOR JAM RESULTS
1st � Ellery Hollingsworth
2nd � Melina Shaw
3rd � Brook Shaw
BOYS` JUNIOR JAM RESULTS
1st � Matthew Ladley
2nd � Spencer Shaw
3rd � Broc Waring
VOLVO BEST PERFORMANCE AWARDS
Risto Mattila �Volvo V50 Sports Wagon
Leanne Pelosi � Volvo V50 Sports Wagon
SKI-DOO OUTSTANDING ROOKIE AWARDS
Danny Davis � Ski-Doo Summit Adrenaline 600 snowmobile
Spencer O�Brien - Ski-Doo Summit Adrenalhttps:// snowmobile
To download print-quality photos from the event, visit:
http://www.usopen-snowboarding.com/usopen05/Media.aspx and click on the `Photos for Publishing` link. Enter the following to access hi-res images:
username: usopen05 password: strattonmountain
For more information on the US Open Snowboarding Championships, visit www.opensnowboarding.com or contact:
Nancy Carlson (949) 789-1814
[email protected]
Caroline Andrew (212) 528-1691
[email protected]
The Open Snowboarding Championships are the pinnacle snowboarding events of the season. Founded by Jake Burton, the Opens have grown from grassroots events to global spectacles attracting tens of thousands of spectators and riders from around the world. Since the beginning, the Opens have been driven by riders, for riders evolving with snowboarding and riders` needs over the years. The Opens welcome all riders to compete, giving locals, amateurs and pros an equal shot at a world-class title. With events held in Europe, Japan, the United States and New Zealand, the Opens set the standard for snowboarding events around the globe. Thanks to 2005 sponsors Burton Snowboards, Stratton Mountain, Motorola, Volvo, SoBe Beverages, Nintendo, GORE-TEX(R), FHM and Paul Mitchell for helping make the Open snowboarding`s most anticipated event.
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