ill23 Snowboarding

The final day of the US Open slopestyle competition is underway. While the rain and clouds of yesterday’s qualifying round have dispersed, in their wake is a mean, gusty and bone-chilling wind. In addition an arctic temperature drop followed yesterday’s warm rains appropriately icing over the US Open slopestyle course at Stratton. Alas, the boys at SPT were able to get the groomers to work to salvage a course on the brink of freezing beyond rideabiliy. In the end some familiar names and some surprises turned up in the finals.

Here’s a quick photo recap of what went down. I have to hurry this up and get out for the finals so stay tuned.

Finals start list:

Women:

1. Sina Candrian
2. Cheryl Maas
3. Mary Sallah
4. Jamie Anderson
5. Katie Williams
6. Jenny Jones
7. Faye Gulini
8. Kjersti Buaas

Men:

1. Stephan Maurer
2. Ian Thorley
3. Chris Soerman
4. Tim Humphreys
5. Matts Kulisek
6. Markku Koski
7. Risto Mattila
8. Peetuu Piiroinen
9. Chas Guldemond
10. Sami Saarenpaa
11. Sam Hulbert
12. Ville Uotila
13. Nate Sheehan
14. Scotty Lago
15. Charles Reid
16. Shaun White

Nate Sheehan gets ready to drop in.

All the boards and one puppy face.

A crazy wind gust almost blew the starting gate over.

Flow TM Andrew Mutty held on for dear life while Tricia Byrnes keeps her balance.

Mikkel Bang on the kink.

Shayne Pospysil on the flat box.

Scotty Lago.

Antti Autti 180 out.

The gleaming death cookies on the side of the course.

Kevin Pearce brought true style with this back 1.

Peetu Piiroinen is becoming one of the sport’s greats.

Shaun was in form and carried the lead into the finals.

Shaun White gives his thoughts on Stratton’s icy conditions.