Mammoth Grand Prix

My favorite contest is always one in my backyard. The only thing that could be better then that is seeing some of the best riding ever in a pipe. With the 2nd and 3rd US snowboard qualification taking place at Mammoth Mountain all of the best athletes showed up. It didn’t take long to see that the level of riding from the last contest has been pushed to the next level.

The 1st event started a little slow with only one full day of practice, but finish with a bang. All the favorites were stomping runs but two set themselves apart Shaun White and Danny Davis. Both riders landed their first run and were one and two. Then it was time for the second run and Danny Davis laid down one of the most eletricfying run in the history of snowboarding. Danny was the first guy to land three” yes I said three” double corks in a run. Everyonw was in shock after seeing what was laid down. With Shaun White left to go even a 49.2 isn’t safe. Shaun dropped and was laying down a run that rivaled Danny’s until he fell on his last hit trying a Double Mc Twist. Danny took the win and helped get himself a little closer to the Olympics.

On the womens side there was a little shack up on the podium. Swix athlete Kelly Clark locked up her trip to Vancouver by landing a massive run. She was followed by Hannah Teter who missed the first event due to an injury and to finish up the podium was Holly Crawford from Aus. Who laid down a huge run.

The 2nd event was very similar to the first stop in Copper with Shaun White taking first and Louis Vito landing in second after stopping back to back double. Coming in third was 2002 bronze medalist JJ Thomas who throw a tech run with great amplitude.

For the 2nd womens event the shake up continued. Kelly Clark fell in her first run, while Grechen Bleiler stomped a great run with a crippler 7 and a huge nine to get the top stop. She was followed by Elana Height who had a nice tech run landing back to back 9’s. Ellory Hollingsworth finished the podium.

Wax Report.
Air Temp 40-43f
Snow Temp -8 – -4
Humidity 80%+
Wax Recommdation
HF7BW Super Cera

Athletes on Swix wax
Shaun White 1st & 2nd
Kelly Clark 1st & 2nd
Danny Davis 1st
JJ Thomas 3rd

Grand Prix Copper Mountain

The official push for the Olympics has started. Most of the worlds best halfpipe riders showed up to Copper Mountain see where they stand leading up to Vancouver. The pipe was by far the best pipe that anyone has seen this early in the season. This made it super easy for all the athletes to get right into riding with out having to figure the pipe out.

Even though the tempreture were close to zero most of the week the riders didn’t hold back anything. The level of riding is by far the highest that most have ever seen. With Shaun White and Louis Vito throwing back to back doubles corks. After a qualifier that seemed more like a final with the level of riding it was time for the finals. Conditions weren’t the best, with fresh snow in the flat bottom and a pretty mean cross wind. Some of the riders had a hard time with the conditions while other were able to battle through and land their runs.

Temps
Air -8
Snow -12
Humidity Air
55%
Snow Type
Fresh/Manmade

Wax Call.
HF6BW Base
FC7 overlay.

Resualts
Women Wax Used
1. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 44.50?2. Swix
2. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 42.60? Swix
3. Soko Yamaoka, Japan, 40.20?

Results?
Men Wax Used
?1. Shaun White, Carlsbad, CA, 47.00 Swix
?2. Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 45.60 Swix
?3. Zack Black, Breckenridge, CO, 44.10 Swix