Teter 4th, Hight 6th at U.S. Open halfpipe event

By Lindsey Sine, USSA

STRATTON MOUNTAIN, VT – Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow, VT) threw down for the home crowd Saturday, stomping some massive 9s to take the win in halfpipe at the 2010 Burton US Open at Stratton Mountain.

Clark put down a frontside air, backside five, frontside seven, cab seven, and frontside nine to not only win the competition, but become the winningest woman in Open history.

“I’ve been coming to the Open for so many years, both as a spectator and competitor, and to come away with a win and to get the record for having the most wins by any woman, that’s a pretty huge honor for me,” Clark said.

Not only was Clark writing history at the Open, she was trying to break the barriers of normalcy for women’s runs in halfpipe.

“I was able to land my first run in finals, which was what I wanted to do and it left some room for me to step it up. I had the opportunity to do that in my next two runs,” Clark said. “I was able to try my front 10 on my third run and I just barely sat it down. It was the closest I’ve been to landing it in a competition. For me having just learned that trick and wanting to put it in a contest run was really cool.”

In the end, the hometown girl was happy to win in front of all of her biggest supporters.

“It’s so nice being home. I grew up 20 minutes from here. I think my entire family, extended family and dogs were here and everyone had a good time,” Clark said. “All of Burton was here supporting me as well, it was a huge hometown crowd and I think all the Vermonters were happy today.”

Clark led the way for what was a killer day for the U.S. snowboarding halfpipers with Kaitlyn Farrington (Sun Valley, ID), just off her win at the inaugural European X Games, landing second and Ellery Hollingsworth (Stratton, VT) third.

Over on the men’s side of the pipe Japan’s Kazuhiro Kokubo was the victor, followed closely by birthday boy and Olympian Louie Vito (Sandy, UT) who was second. Switzerland’s Iouri Podladtchikov finished third.

2010 BURTON US OPEN Stratton Mountain, VT, March 20, Halfpipe

Men

1. Kazuhiro Kokubo, Japan, 97.17

2. Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 96.17

3. Iouri Podladtchikov, Switzerland, 96.00

4. Markus Malin, Finland, 93.83

5. Janne Korpi, Finland, 91.83

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6. Scotty Lago, Seabrook, NH, 90.17

10. Ross Powers, Reno, NV, 72.67

Women

1. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 94.17

2. Kaitlyn Farrington, Sun Valley, ID, 90.33

3. Ellery Hollingsworth, Stratton, VT, 86.33

4. Hannah Teter, South Lake Tahoe, 82.50

5. Rana Okada, Japan, 77.00

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6. Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 75.00

7. Kelly Marren, Hillsborough, CA, 53.67

8. Maddy Schaffrick, Steamboat Springs, CO, 40.83