Tuesday, 15 December 2009 00:08

Three former USASA riders, one from our very own Rocky Mountain Series the show at the 1st stop of the US Grand Prix.  Snowboarding megastar Shaun White cruised to victory, scoring a 47.0 after a run in which he landed halfpipe's hottest trick — the double cork — twice in a row. Louie Vito, 2005 USASA Open Class Pipe Champ also landed two straight double corks in his second run to finish second with 45.6 points. He was followed by local snowboarding star Zack Black, who earned a 44.1.

On the women's side, former Olympic gold medallist Kelly Clark won with 44.5, while Torino 2006 silver medal winner Gretchen Bleiler finished second with a 42.6. Japan's Soko Yamaoka scored 40.2 to grab third place — the only international snowboarder to crack the podium.  Team Paul alumnist Maddie Schaffrick took 6th, while Claire Bidez was 8th.

2010 Copper Grand Prix Halfpipe Results
Copper Mountain, CO – Dec 12, 2009
Men:
1. Shaun White, Carlsbad, CA,
2. Louie Vito, Sandy, UT,
3. Zack Black, Breckenridge, CO,
4. Fredrik Austbo, Norway,
5. JJ Thomas, Golden, CO,
6. Greg Bretz, Mammoth Lakes, CA,
7. Steve Fisher, Breckenridge, CO,
8. Tore-V Holvik, Norway,
9. Ryo Aono, Japan,
10. Jack Mitrani, Mammoth, CA,

Women:
1. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT,
2. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO,
3. Soko Yamaoka, Japan,
4. Quera Castellet, Spain,
5. Ellery Hollingsworth, Stratton, VT,
6. Madeline Schaffrick, Steamboat Springs, Co,
7. Holly Crawford, Australia,
8. Clair Bidez, Minturn, CO,