One hundred and forty nine halfpipe athletes and 194 slopestyle athletes made their way to Copper from over 37 countries to compete in the first North American Olympic Qualifier of the season and the first North American 5Star event on the World Snowboard Tour calender. Many athletes expressed their excitement that, for the first time, an event would gain them FIS points and World Snowboard Tour points at the same time, possibly easing the schedules of today's extremely busy professional snowboarders.

Athletes like Seppe Smits seemed no less than thrilled with the development, “You can gain all your points for whatever you want to do, the Olympics, or to get a good ranking with TTR, you can combine both here.” he explained. “It’s a perfect opportunity and I hope there will be more contests like this”

Despite the unfavorable weather the slopestyle event ran as scheduled and the 16 slopestyle finalists overcame conditions to impress the judges for the top spot, but only three would make the cut.

For the men, those three were Chas Guldemond (USA) in first with an incredible 92.5 points followed by Roope Tonteri (FIN) with an 80.2, and rounding out the podium was Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) with 78.2. Guldemond’s run consisted of Frontside 270 to Frontside Boardslide on the down rail and a stylish Blunt 450 out on the pole jam feature. For the jump line, he did a switch backside 720 mute on the first jump, a cab double cork 1260 melon grab on the second and capped his run off with a massive backside double cork 1260 mute on the third and final jump.
Roope claimed his second place finish with a cab 270 to frontside boardslide on the downrail into an underflip mute out of the pole-jam feature. On the jumps he started out with a frontside 720 melon, into a huge backside 12 mute and finished off with a stylish cab 10 indy. 

Peetu boosted onto the course with a switch hard way 270 to frontside boardside on the down rail followed up with a switch boardslide to 270 out on the pole-jam and a switch backside 720 mute on the first jump. The more technical jump came out on the bottom of the course where he stomped a cab double 900 into a giant backside 1080 mute on the last jump.

“It was an amazing event” said Chas about his win. “What made it cool was the World snowboard tour 5 star event is now also a FIS world cup, so there were a lot of new, fresh faces. The usual top 30 riders were still there but then you had all the other people from Russia, Yugoslavia, and every other country you could think of. And to win it was simply amazing!”

The three Women who made the podium were equally as pleased to have been a part of the history making event.   Jaime Anderson (USA) was the clear leader with 83 Points, 8.8 points ahead of Kjersti Buaas (NOR) who came second place with an impressive 74.2.  Isabel Derungs (SUI) claimed the third place spot with a respectable 71.5.  Anderson achieved her score with a near flawless run consisting of a backside tailslide on the down rail and a 50/50 on the bus stop feature. She did a frontside 360 mute on the first jump, a backside 540 mute on the second and a switch backside 180 indy on the third.

Buaas did a backside noseslide on the downrail and a 50/50 backside 180 off the pole jam feature. Buaas took to the smaller jump in the course and did a switch backside 180 indy on the first, a frontside 360 stalefish on the second and a very clean backside 540 on the last jump.

Derungs did a backside lipslide on the down rail a 50/50 frontside 180 on the pole jam and a switch backside 180 on the first jump. She did a backside 360 on the second and backside rodeo 5 on the last. 

Jamie Anderson was the 2010/2011 overall Women’s tour champion, when asked about her run and her experience at this event she said “it has all been unreal, I feel so lucky, I am so grateful to be here”
 
Men's Snowboard Slopestyle Results:
1. Chas Guldemond (USA) 92.5
2. Roope Tonteri (FIN) 80.2
3. Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) 78.2
4. Seppe Smits (BEL) 74.0
5. Billy Morgan (GBR) 72.7
6. Maxence Parrot (CAN) 72.5
7. Sven Thorgren (SWE) 72.0
8. Jordan Phillips (CAN) 68.5
9. Takahiro Ishida (JPN) 54.5
10. Gjermund Braaten (NOR) 41.5

Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Results:
1. Jamie Anderson (USA) 83.0
2. Kjersti Buaas (NOR) 74.2
3. Isabel Derungs (SUI) 71.5
4. Elena Koenz (SUI) 65.2
5. Urska Pribosic (SLO) 50.2
6. Sarka Pancochova (CZE) 50.0
7. Stefi Luxton (NZL) 30.2
8. Spencer O'Brien (CAN) 23.2

Saturday’s halfpipe finals brought a close to the 5Star event. The sun was out in full force making the halfpipe a prime location for the finalists to throw down their most technical tricks.

The eight Women finalists battled it out in the two run format leaving only three to stand atop the podium. Australia’s Torah Bright came in first place with 85.75 points. In 06/07 Torah was the Women’s overall tour champion. Her run on Saturday consisted of a backside air, air to fakie tailgrab and a cab 720 indy grab. She finished her first place run with frontside air to backside 540 mute and backside rodeo 540 alley-oop melon grab. Kelly Clark (USA) who is currently ranked 2nd in Women’s Halfpipe was close behind Bright with 82 points. Clark started off with a huge frontside 900, followed by a backside 540 mute, a frontside 720 with an Indy grab then she finished her run off with a Cab 720 and a finally a frontside 540.

Queralt Castellet (SPA) scored an 85.75 for a front straight air, a backside method followed by a frontside 540 tailgrab, a backside 540 mute then a stylish frontside 720 with an Indy grab. Bright was pleased to have began her qualification for the Olympics with this event and to get her Tour ranking points. “I am so happy to have been able to put down a run and to have won, I have got my Olympic qualification underway.”

Australia was again on top with Nathan Johnstone taking the win for the Men with an impressive 94.75. Johnstone did a massive backside air, a front double corked 1080 followed by a cab 1080. His last hits consisted of a Cab 1080 Taipan grab, a frontside 900 with a mute grab and to wrap it up a backside 900 with a melon grab.

“It feels unreal, I didn’t expect this result coming into this event! I am over the moon right now”, Johnstone said about his first place win. “Its great to combine the two together (FIS and Tour Points), every great Halfpipe rider in the world was here today and to compete with all the people I have looked up to for so many years is really special to me” he added. Luke Mitrani (USA)made it into second place with a 92.75. His first hit was a huge double michaelchuck, then a front 900 tail grab, a backside air, a frontside 1080 then finally a Cab double corked 1080. In third place was Louie Vito (USA) with 86.75. Vito put down a double crippler on his first hit then a backside 540 with a mute grab followed by back to back double corked 1080s then a front side 1080 tail grab.

Women’s Halfpipe Results:
1. Torah Bright (AUS) 85.75
2. Kelly Clark (USA) 82.00
3. Queralt Castellet (SPA) 80.75
4. Arielle Gold (USA) 75.00
5. Kaitlyn Farrington (USA) 69.50
6. Ellery Hollingsworth (USA) 57.00
7. Elena Hight (USA) 42.75
8. Haruna Matsumoto (JPN) 31.75

Men’s Halfpipe Results:
1. Nathan Johnstone (AUS) 94.75
2. Luke Mitrani (USA) 92.75
3. Louie Vito (USA) 86.75
4. Arthur Longo (FRA) 83.25
5. Zach Black (USA) 81.00
6. Greg Bretz (USA) 80.25
7. Benji Farrow (USA) 79.25
8. Chase Josey (USA) 75.00
9. Kent Callister (AUS)74.25
10. David Habluetzel (SUI) 70.75

As Copper calms down after the world’s eyes have been set upon it this last week to see who would be taking home the World Snowboard Tour points and FIS points, the contest season moves forward with the 6Star O’Neill Evolution happening on January 14th to 19th in Switzerland; also make sure to check out the Red Bull Nanshan Open on January 16th to the 22nd. This is the only 5Star event to happen in China this season, with an impressive mix of Male and Female riders it will not disappoint.

For more information visit worldsnowboardtour.com