Clark & Gold Win 2014 US Open Halfpipe finals
Kelly Clark (USA) and Taylor Gold (USA) became 2014 halfpipe champions and went away $45,000 dollars richer at the 32nd annual Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships presented by MINI at Vail Mountain today
Kelly Clark (USA) and Taylor Gold (USA) became 2014 halfpipe champions and went away $45,000 dollars richer at the 32nd annual Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships presented by MINI at Vail Mountain today. On a classic bluebird afternoon, the fourth and final day of the legendary event was perfection.
2014 Olympic bronze medalist Kelly Clark solidified her seventh Burton US Open halfpipe title this afternoon with a run that included a frontside 1080 indy, Cab 720 mute grab, indy to mute grab, backside 540 tail grab, frontside 900 indy, and a backside air, scoring an 89.33. 30-year-old Clark holds the honor of the most wins in US Open history. In other achievements, Clark picked up her fourth World Snowboard Tour halfpipe title today too.
Womens 2014 US Open Halfpipe winner Kelly Clark
Photo: Blotto
“The US Open means a ton to me,” said Clark. “I grew up nine miles away from the US Open. It really holds a near and dear place in my heart. If I could pick a contest to win, it would be this one. I'm really happy I was able to put down my run today.”
2014 US Open Womens Halfpipe Podium
Photo: Blotto
Taking second place honors behind Clark was 2014 Olympian Queralt Castellet (ESP) followed by Chloe Kim (USA), who landed her first podium at the US Open. At just 13 years old, Kim became the youngest World Snowboard Tour Overall Champion with her win today. Her results towards the overall title are impressive. In addition to achieving extraordinary halfpipe results for her age, including a silver medal at X Games, she managed to land two slopestyle results this season— fifth place at the US Rev Tour and 11th in USASA Nationals.
After the women, the top 10 men put on an incredible performance for the packed house. 2014 Olympian Taylor Gold (USA) won his first US Open halfpipe title today. 20-year-old Gold took a victory lap after stomping the best run of the day complete with a massive method air, frontside 1260 tail grab, double Michalchuk melon grab, frontside double cork 1080 indy, Cab 1080 roastbeef, and a crippler chickensalad, scoring an 87.63.
Mens 2014 US Open Halfpipe winner Taylor Gold
Photo: Blotto
“Coming into the event, I wasn’t really putting a lot of expectations on myself,” said Gold. “It was a relief to have the Olympic cycle over with. Just having fun here was my main goal, so walking away with this is beyond anything I expected.”
In second place for the men was 2014 Olympic bronze medalist Taku Hiraoka (JPN) and 17-year-old David Habluetzel (SUI) finished third. The World Snowboard Halfpipe Title also went to Hiraoka, for his great season.
The Sicktrix.com best trick award presented went to Chloe Kim for her switch method and Ben Ferguson for his double crippler. Each rider walked away with $5,000.
To celebrate the final night of the 2014 Burton US Open, there will be a rider awards ceremony starting at 6:30pm MST at the Solaris Stage followed by a free concert with Capital Cities and the official US Open closing party at Dobson Ice Arena featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff and A Tribe Called Red.
That's a wrap for the 32nd annual Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships at Vail Mountain. For anyone who missed the live webcast, check out highlights of winning runs, full webcast replays and contest recaps at www.Burton.com/USO. Also check your local listings to watch US Open re-airs, the US Open Lifestyle show, and men’s and women’s slopestyle and halfpipe highlight shows on FOX Sports 2.
Follow all Burton US Open happenings at facebook.com/burtonsnowboards, @burtonsnowboard on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #BurtonUSOpen.
A big thanks to the following partners for their support of the 32nd annual Burton US Open: MINI, Vail Mountain, Mountain Dew®, Town of Vail, Garmin, Nokia, Paul Mitchell, 3M™ Thinsulate™ Insulation, G-SHOCK, Pacifico, Bear Naked® granola, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Shiseido, Clif Bar & Company, CHILL, anon, Analog and the World Snowboard Tour.
Women’s Halfpipe Final Results:
1. Kelly Clark (USA), BURTON, 89.33
2. Queralt Castellet (ESP), YONEX, 85.73
3. Chloe Kim (USA), BURTON, 83.95
4. Hannah Teter (USA), BURTON, 75.03
5. Rana Okada (JPN), BURTON, 67.15
6. Sophie Rodriguez (FRA), OAKLEY, 59.80
Men’s Halfpipe Final Results:
1. Taylor Gold (USA), BURTON, 87.63
2. Taku Hiraoka (JPN), BURTON, 86.88
3. David Habluetzel (SUI), BURTON, 83.23
4. Ben Ferguson (USA), BURTON, 77.93
5. Kent Callister (AUS), LIB TECH, 77.58
6. Gabe Ferguson (USA), BURTON, 73.10
7. Jake Pates (USA), BURTON, 73.00
8. Louie Vito (USA), VIVE, 68.28
9. Christian Haller (SUI), BURTON, 67.38
10. Yiwei Zhang (CHN), MINI, 62.03