Pearce takes the BEO9 halfpipe in Laax

Fri 16 January 09

The last rider in the last round, Kevin Pearce pulls a blinder and pushes Shaun White into 2nd Place. In the ladies halfpipe Kelly Clark wins with ease.

Kelly Clark (USA) and Kevin Pearce (USA) won the 10th Annual Burton European Open halfpipe finals for the second consecutive year. Each will take home $15,000 USD. Shaun White (USA) and Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas (NOR) earned second place and Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) and Paulina Ligocka (POL) took third place.

BEO09 Kelly Clark, Halfpipe winner
BEO09 Kelly Clark, Halfpipe winner
Photo: Stadler

Today, the Volvo XC 60s were also awarded to the best overall female and male BEO riders. Shaun White (USA) and Kjersti Buaas (NOR) are the lucky new drivers of the Volvo XC 60s after their strong performances in both the slopestyle and halfpipe events. Kjersti was so happy to win the car and said, “I’ve never won a car before, and my car is breaking down, so I’m super stoked to win the Volvo!“ Shaun followed up by saying, “I’ve had a great time in Switzerland. Thanks for the car, the chocolate and the champagne.“

Both Kelly and Kevin were thrilled to win the BEO halfpipe titles for the second year in a row. After her winning run, Kelly said, “I knew the judges wanted to see variety, so I switched up my runs everytime. And finally at the end of the contest, I got the run I wanted and landed back-to-back 7s. So I’m super happy to win the BEO again, it’s a great event, the level of riding was so high and I love being a part of the progression of women’s snowboarding.“

Kevin, who was trailing Shaun White throughout the competition, also pulled together his best run on his last run and was so happy with the results, “I knew I had to come out with something hot if I wanted to beat Shaun’s score, and I’m really glad it worked out.“ said Kevin. “Laax and the BEO have been good to me, I love it here – especially after having such good luck two years in a row.“

BEO09 Kevin Pearce, Halfpipe winner
BEO09 Kevin Pearce, Halfpipe winner
Photo: Lämmerhirt

Today’s competition was a great way to wrap up the BEO’s 10th birthday party, with classic riders like snowboarding’s first Olympic gold medalists Nicola Thost (GER) and Gian Simmen (SUI) gracing the halfpipe finals along with current halfpipe superstars Kevin Pearce (USA), Kelly Clark (USA), Shaun White (USA) and Danny Davis (USA). Perhaps the best birthday gift the 10th annual BEO could have received was the weather, which was nearly perfect for the entire week.

In the women’s finals, Kelly Clark took the lead with her first run and held on to it throughout the entire competition, giving the judges and the crowd just what they wanted – big amplitude, smooth style and a variety of trick combinations. On her final run, Kelly could have taken it easy since it was her victory lap. Instead, she put together the most technical run of the competition, starting out with a huge frontside 720 tail grab followed by a Cab 720, frontside 540, backside 540 ending with a lofty frontside air, topping her own winning score with an impressive 94.17 points. Kjersti was also riding strong, and her second run landed her on the podium, kicking things off with a frontside inverted 720, a Cab 360 melon, frontside 540 Melon, double grab, ending with a melon to fakie. Paulina was also throwing down progressive runs, like her third place run that included a frontside 540, backside air, frontside 720, Cab 360 melon, frontside air, McTwist, finishing things off with an alley oop tailgrab

BEO09 Mens halfpipe podium
BEO09 Mens halfpipe podium
Photo: Stadler

 

 

Just like yesterday’s slopestyle finals, it was the men’s third runs that determined the podium line-up. Shaun White’s second run took the lead and was loaded with his signature style and amplitude, including a huge stalefish, into a lofty McTwist followed by a frontside 720 Mute, a Cab 1080 tailgrab, ending with a backside alley oop rodeo 540. It was enough to hold onto the lead for the rest of the competition - that is until Kevin Pearce dropped in for the last run of the day. After a major fall at the end of his first run, Kevin went for broke during his last chance to win the contest. He started things off with an enormous Crail into an equally huge McTwist, followed by a frontside 1080 tailgrab, Cab 1080, Frontside 900, ending things with a styley frontside grab. Kevin was all smiles at the bottom of the pipe after a run that earned him the BEO halfpipe title for the second year in a row. Iouri Podladtchikov, who has competed in seven BEOs, earned a spot on the podium with a frontside 900 tailgrab, backside 900 melon, frontside 1080 tailgrab, Cab 720 mute grab, ending things with a backside alley oop 540 indy.

Competitors in today’s halfpipe finals also earned valuable points towards both the $100,000 Burton Global Opens Series title and the Swatch Ticket To Ride World Tour championship title. After today’s competition, Chas Guldemond (USA) and Jamie Anderson (USA) are still in the lead for the BGOS championship title and both continue to hold on to the No.1 spot in the Swatch TTR World ranking.

Tonight, the BEO birthday bash will end with a bang as The Streets perform live at the Riders’ Palace in Laax, Switzerland. Thanks to all the riders for coming out to celebrate the BEO’s 10th birthday with outstanding riding and exciting competitions.

In just two weeks, many of the world’s top riders will meet again at the first ever Canadian Open, the fourth event in this season’s Burton Global Open Series. Stay tuned for more information on the Canadian Open, taking place February 2-8 at the Calgary Olympic Development Association’s (CODA) Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta.

To re-live the action from the 10th Annual BEO, tune in to Go211.com to watch event replays.

Women’s Halfpipe Finals Results
1 Clark, Kelly (USA) BURTON 94.17
2 Oestgaard Buaas, Kjersti (NOR) ROXY 85.33
3 Ligocka, Paulina (POL) ROXY 81.17

Men’s Halfpipe Finals Results
1 Pearce, Kevin (USA) BURTON 95.50
2 White, Shaun (USA) BURTON 92.33
3 Podladtchikov, Iouri (SUI) VOLCOM 89.33

Women’s Slopestyle Finals Results
1 Wiik, Lisa (NOR) ROXY 75.83
2 Candrian, Sina (SUI) BURTON 75.67
3 Oestgaard Buaas, Kjersti (NOR) 72.67

Men’s Slopestyle Finals Results
1 Davis, Danny (USA) BURTON 91.17
2 Piiroinen, Peetu FIN BURTON 90.83
3 White, Shaun USA BURTON 90.33
 

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Burton European Open 2009
9-16 January 09

Its back at Laax for another year

Laax, Switzerland
Excellent snowsure resort with a good long season. The slopes are great for freestylers and freeriders alike, as well as suiting beginners. The resort can be slack at opening lifts and the off-piste gets tracked out within hours of a dump.
Freeriding: 80% - Trees & some good off-piste
Freestyle: 85% - 2 terrain parks & huge halfpipe
Pistes: 80% - Great condition & variety
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