By USSA

PARK CITY — Two weeks after locking down their Olympic spots, Shaun White (Carlsbad, CA) perfected his double McTwist 12 and Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow, VT) bested the women’s field Friday night during the Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix victory at Park City Mountain Resort

“It was just the run of my life, I don’t know how to say it,” White said. “I’ve basically been practicing this trick for as long as I can remember, and I don’t think I’ve crashed as much (as I have) in the last couple years I’ve been learning it.”

White stole the show with a historic second run where he dropped double cork, double cork, 540 into double McTwist 12.

His reward for going so big on the 22-foot megapipe? An astronomical score of 49.

“I’m just going to keep dialing it in and keep practicing,” White said. “You know there’s always room for improvement. The judges are looking for big air and style tricks, that’s why I keep the 540 in there as a break in the spin madness.”

But the new tricks are what distinguish White from the rest of the world’s best, and painful memories didn’t stop him from pushing himself to his limits.

“The wild part about that trick is, the way I’m spinning the double cork hasn’t really been done before by anyone except myself,” White said. “Kevin Pearce (Norwich, VT) was the only one trying something similar in a way, he was doing a double front flip – which is like a 900 but just spinning that way is really difficult.”

Pearce is still in a Salt Lake City hospital recovering from a severe head injury sustained in training three weeks ago.

“I mean, it’s just tough,” White said. “You have to think about your friends, obviously, and it’s just unfortunate. He’s one of our best friends, it’s just strange not to see him here, so when you see the banners, you see the stickers and it feels like he is still around. It’s good. I’m hoping to visit after this event.”

Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH) went huge on his second run, proving that he can continue to be consistent while throwing monster tricks as he finished second. Greg Bretz (Mammoth, CA) landed two perfect double corks on his way to third.

“Words can’t describe this,” Lago said after readying himself to challenge for an Olympic spot. “It has been a goal of mine for the last two years, and it’s been a dream of mine. I’ve got the chills all over, I’m pretty excited.”

Clark edged U.S. teammate Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT) for the win, falling in her first run before making up the ground in a solid final performance.

“I’ve always loved competing in Park City,” said Clark, who won Olympic gold in the same pipe in 2002, “They build amazing halfpipes, and it’s always fun for me to come back to get to compete and do well.

“I think I will need a tougher run than tonight in Vancouver. I’m definitely working my way up to it.”

Teter entered competition with a second and a third, putting her strong position to contend for the U.S. Team, which Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO) will certainly belong to after fourth place Friday to accompany a victory and two second-place results.

“It feels really good,” Teter said. “I want to go and represent the U.S. in the biggest contest in the world.”

Not to be forgotten in the Olympic picture, Ellery Hollingsworth (Stratton, VT) was third under the lights.

“I’m really excited I landed the run I wanted to land,” Hollingsworth said. “I wanted to bring my 9s into my run, and all week I’ve been trying to do it, and I landed it in practice, then in my run. So I’m really happy.”

Saturday night’s race marks the final chance for U.S. halfpipe athletes to make the 2010 Olympic Team, starting at 6:30pm.

After the halfpipe, 30 Seconds To Mars will play a concert before three men and three women are announced as members of the 2010 Olympic Team. The full Olympic roster will be announced Jan. 25.

Park City, Jan. 22, Halfpipe

Men

1. Shaun White, Carlsbad, CA, 49.00

2. Scotty Lago, Seabrook, NH, 47.70

3. Greg Bretz, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 46.70

4. Elijah Teter, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 44.00

5. Luke Mitrani, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 44.00

6. Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 43.30

7. JJ Thomas, Golden, CO, 43.00

8. Danny Kass, Portand, OR, 42.70

9. Steve Fisher, Breckenridge, CO, 42.00

10. Dylan Bidez, Minturn, CO, 41.30

Women

1. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 45.20

2. Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT, 44.80

3. Ellery Hollingsworth, Stratton, VT, 43.60

4. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 42.50

5. Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 40.00

6. Kaitlyn Farrington, Sun Valley, ID, 39.20

7. Maddy Schaffrick, Steamboat Springs, CO, 31.40

8. Kelly Marren, Hillsborough, CA, 29.40

9. Clair Bidez, Minturn, CO, 19.30

Overall Standings

Men

1. Shaun White, Carlsbad, CA, 1000

2. Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 800

3. Scotty Lago, Seabrook, NH, 700

4. JJ Thomas, Golden, CO, 550

5. Greg Bretz, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 525

6. Zack Black, Breckenridge, CO, 525

7. Elijah Teter, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 475

8. Luke Mitrani, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 475

9. Steve Fisher, Breckenridge, CO, 400

10. Jack Mitrani, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 340

Women

1. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 1000

2. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 900

3. Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT, 800

4. Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 650

5. Ellery Hollingsworth, Stratton, VT, 600

6. Maddy Schaffrick, Steamboat Springs, CO, 475

7. Clair Bidez, Minturn, CO, 425

8. Kaitlyn Farrington, Sun Valley, ID, 400

9. Kelly Marren, Hillsborough, CA, 305