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Roxy Chicken Jam closes the ladies 09 TTR series

Tue 31 March 09

Jana Mayen-Wetherby takes the slopestyle contest with Brit star Jenny Jones coming 2nd. Kelly Clark won the halfpipe and takes the overall TTR series title.

Roxy Chicken Jam closes the ladies 09 TTR series © Photo: Mark Welsh

It was an awe-inspiring finale today at the Tour defining 6Star Roxy Chicken Jam Slopestyle as Kelly Clark (USA) locked in the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour Champion Title. Kelly was up against a stacked field of Slopestyle riders but was able to bump herself up to World No.1 with a 21st place finish today. Jana Mayen-Wetherby (USA) took out the 6Star Slopestyle Title with her ‘all or nothing’ riding style, Jenny Jones (GBR) took second and Lisa Wiik (NOR) third, giving her a TTR World No. 2 finish.

After some intense wind yesterday that put the contest on hold, the weather cleared and it was a perfect sunny day for the Slopestyle competition. The course consisted of a hip jump to start things off, a double jib option, into a three hit kicker line and ended with a wallride or box option. Things kicked off in the morning with a 37 rider semi-final session, which narrowed the field down for a 12 competitors.

Slopestyle veteran Jana Mayen-Wetherby (USA) was in a class of her own today, stomping a huge stylish run that amazed both the judges and onlookers at Mammoth. Her winning run consisted of a Japan air on the hip, a 50-50 on the rail, Backside 540, Cab 720 Mute, Cab 540 Mute and a 50-50 on the box. Jenny Jones was one to watch and locked down second place when she busted out a Frontside Air, 50-50 to 180 off, Cab 360, Cab 540, Frontside 720 and a 50-50 to finish of her run.

Lisa Wiik also had a great day stomping a Method, 50-50 to Backside Lipslide, Frontside 360 Stalefish, Backside 360 Indy, Backside 540 Indy and a 50-50. Her third place finish today allowed her to lock-in the World No. 2 position and a $15,000 USD cheque for her outstanding Swatch TTR season.

After placing first in Saturday’s Halfpipe Finals and moving into World No.3, the pressure was on as all eyes focused on Kelly to see if she could collect the score required to bring home the TTR Title. Kelly did not qualify for finals, but her 21st place finish was enough for her to take the Swatch TTR Champion Title.

“It’s amazing, it was really a long shot for me heading into this weekend and to end up on top, it’s really the icing on the cake to a great season” said Kelly about her Title win. “It’s really great to win the TTR Title.”

Halfpipe results

Set at the main base area at Mammoth Mountain, the pipe had a nice shape and softened up in the sun allowing the ladies to put together some great runs throughout the day. A field of 24 women dropped into the pipe for a morning semi-finals session that was narrowed down to 12 riders for finals in the afternoon. The finals session was a jam format, so riders were hustling to put together some big progressive runs. The Mammoth winds kicked up halfway through the finals giving the ladies a bit of an added challenge.

Kelly lived up to her reputation today as ‘Queen of the Halfpipe’ and took home her second consecutive Roxy Chicken Jam 6Star win. This puts her in excellent position to go after her first Swatch TTR World Title in tomorrow’s Slopestyle competition. “The title would be an amazing bonus to a really great season to me right now” said Kelly Clark setting her eyes on the prize. “It would just be like icing on the cake.”

Kelly took full ownership of the pipe with her signature amplitude and smooth style. Definitely going the largest of the day, Kelly put up a Frontside Air, Backside 540 Mute, Frontside 540, Method, Frontside 720 and a Cab 720 to claim the top spot on the podium.

The supportive crowd saw Mercedes Nicoll (CAN) giving it her all with a run that consisted of a Frontside Air, Backside 540, Frontside 720, Cab 360 and a Backside 720. And, Sarah Conrad (CAN) was able to lock in third place with a great run throwing down a Method, Frontside 540, Backside 540, Air-to-Fakie, Cab 540 and finished with a Switch Alley-Oop 540.

Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas (NOR), another favorite for the Tour Title, did not qualify for the halfpipe finals session and remains in the World No. 7 position. Lisa Wiik (NOR) had a good day finishing in fifth place and will hold on to her World No. 2 spot. It will be a battle on the slopestyle course tomorrow as Kelly and Kjersti duke it out for the Title and Cheryl Maas (NED) enters the race for a Top 3 finish. Although Jamie Anderson will not be competing this weekend, she still has a chance to finish the season in the TTR Top 3 depending on the outcome tomorrow.
 

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