The world’s best snowboarders came together in Vail, Colorado from March 3-8, 2014, to partake in the longest running, premier snowboarding event, the Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships presented by MINI.
Kelly Clark (USA) and Taylor Gold (USA) became 2014 halfpipe champions and went away $45,000 dollars at the 32nd annual Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships at Vail Mountain today—the 2nd time the event has been hosted at Vail. Unlike many professional competitions in action sports, the prize money won by the top male and female riders is the same.
2014 Olympic bronze medalist Kelly Clark solidified her 7th Burton US Open halfpipe title 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 4th World Snowboard Tour halfpipe title today too.
“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.”
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.
“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.
Slopestyle gained a lot of attention this year also as it finally debuted in the Olympics in Sochi just weeks before. In slopestyle, the men’s winners were Mark McMorris for the gold, Stale Sandbech the silver, and Maxence Parrot the bronze. Women’s slopestyle winners were Jamie Anderson who also just won the Olympic gold in Sochi and now her 4th gold at the US Open, Spencer O’Brien, the silver and Isabel Derungs the bronze.
During the final night of the 2014 Burton US Open, there was a rider awards ceremony 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.
Sponsors this year included: 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.
