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US Open Pipe Finals
Stratton Mountain, Vermont
Photos: Nick Hamilton
Words: Joel Muzzey
All of a sudden style matters at contests—at least at this one. All season (one of the most contest-heavy seasons ever), through Grand Prix’s, World Cups, and Dew Tour, we’ve counted up rotations as twirling, double-cork combos have added up to reveal the podium order and yet this weekend, it seems style is what matters. Why the change? What does it mean? Well, that’s up for debate. But today in the pipe—as Iouri Podladtchikov stomped a few of Shaun White’s hammer trick, the backside double McTwist along with huge Cab ten doubles and Louie Vito stomped Cab ten doubles, double crippler, and a giant, last hit twelve, the crowd seemed more than a little surprised at the final outcome. That’s how it goes, though, right? Apparently.
The big winner was Kazuhiro Kokubo. When you watch him, you see finesse, flow, power. His run: Front nine, McTwist, front ten, Cab ten, front ten double. All of it real clean and stylish. A pleasure to watch.
When the massive crowd started booing as Louie Vito’s score posted to the board, it took away a bit of the magic of the moment. But hopped up on Amp energy drink and hot Tweets, the crowd was quickly distracted. Scotty Lago and the Mitrani bros held it down for the Frends crew—they have fun and it shows, they were cruising around and hyping up the crowd. Luke went for the Double-chuk but didnt quite nail it and Lago went bigger than anyone. Scotty took home an extra three grand in pizza roll dollars for the Highest Air award. TTR Superhero Peetu Piiroinen took home a check for 50 grand for his BGOS tour title and also a little extra jing for his trick of the day, a monstrous Cab ten double.
For the ladies, Kelly Clark took home her fourth USO pipe title with a few stomped, lofty runs and she even tried to put down the front ten. Didn’t quite stick that, but whatevs, she has done it and will dial-it in the future. Kelly is gnar, period; she also snapped the highest air of the day for the ladies. Behind her, Kaitlyn Farrington snagged second with back-to-back sevens and an alley-oop five. Young Ellery Hollingsworth got third. She also nabbed that pepperoni pizza loot with a hefty Michalchuk on the first hit. Extra three grand for that one—a banger.
Nobody seemed to notice the absence of Olympic heroes Torah Bright or the Flying Tomato. Actually, there was one mention of Shaun—when a call from Danny Davis and Kevin Pearce was patched in over the PA system and Davis said Shaun should “quit being a pussy” and come ride the pipe. Aside from that friendly jab, the crowd seemed totally entertained by I-pod, Vito, Kaitlyn, Kelly, Peetu and Kazu who were in the zone and putting on one hell of a show.
So, is the contest season over? Pretty much, sorta, almost, we think.
Video by Steve Schultz
Men’s Results
1.
Kokubo Kazuhiro
2.
Vito Louie
3.
Podladtchikov Iouri
4.
Malin Markus
5.
Korpi Janne
6.
Lago Scotty
7.
Holvik Tore
8.
Haller Christian
9.
Pietropoli Manuel
10.
Baker Ross
11.
Esser Brett
12.
Piiroinen Peetu
13.
Watts Ben
14.
Mitrani Luke
15.
Pike Scotty
Women’s Results
| 1. | Kelly Clark | |
| 2. | Kaitlyn Farrington | |
| 3. | Ellery Hollingsworth | |
| 4. | Hannah Teter | |
| 5. | Rana Okada | |
| 6. | Elena Hight | |
| 7. | Kelly Marren | |
| 8. | Madeline Schaffrick |
Kazus run was nasty no doubt but he should have gotten third… Louie got robbed his first run was EPIC!!!!! And ipods double mctwist12 is definantly cleaner than shauns
Kazu goes huge, clean, and has tons of style.
Vito sketched the landing and was petting the snow… a no-no in contests and automatic deduction. Even getting close is bad.
Vito just doesn't stand up as well to the other Americans (White, KP & DD), but it's good he's doing ok when they're absent.
Except Louie beat KP in Copper, and beat DD 2 out of the 3 contests Danny did this year. Even after Danny won the Mammoth GP. I RIDE FOR KP AND DD.
I think Louie got robbed, judges just don't show him any love. The three different back-to back-to back doubles were totally next level and he had style. He won today in my mind.
Also, judging was really weird, three guys over 96.00 should not happen.
I totally agree im pretty sure backcountry didnt even watch the contest because vitos first run had just as much amplitude and style as kazus more double corks and he stomped every hit
It was the same as the gymnastics and only the difficulty had sports to snowboard trivial without being able the fight if Kazu was 3rd place this time. would
The style is very important.
Some guys like lots of spins and some like going big with lots of style.
Some are stoked on pipe jocks and some are stoked on backcountry madmen.
To each their own -
Everybody has a different idea of what is cool in snowboarding or what snowboarding should be…
Where was Shaun? Too busy doing CNN or Oprah? How can you not ride in your own sponsor's biggest event of the year??
I watched the contest and they said shaun "wasnt feeling good", wether or not that was the case only he knows
shaun white decked out during practice and droped out of the comp
what a pussy!
Yea shaun couldn't land his run in practice so he dropped out cuz he was afraid to lose. He then gave a statement later saying he was "exhausted". I guess those sled rides up during practice must have really tired him out while we were all hiking. pu*sy…… oh this was the day after Yale sprayed him and he called ski patrol because he was too much of a pu*sy. Props to Danny for calling Shaun out over the mic in front of the whole open crowd. EPIC.
Shaun was there and made an appearance, though…
Shaun white is so gay that he takes donkey dicks on the old in out for days on end. and he slurps up horse sperm when hes being to much of a pussy to ride the open. EAT DICK WHITE..
Kazu is a boss. I would.
Good to see that the judges are awarding style. Kazu is setting the bar for erryone else in that category.
does anyone know what danny davis and kp talked about when they called in? I'm happy that they both seem to be doing good.
Danny said he was hanging with KP and relaxing on the couch, watching the live stream. Then Danny called out Shaun for being a pussy and not doing the event for the fans.
Danny was just talking about how he couldn't walk. then he called out Shaun white for not competing, calling him a pussy. Then he said KP was with him in a snuggie watching the finals from Colorado.
whats up with the one guys hucked switch double mctwist…….. ugly, but super hard go out and throw that one people and see what happens
Kazu definitely won.
iPod Sketched HARD on that first double.
Louie is freaking dope, don't get me wrong and I definitely feel like he got robbed at more than a few contests this year. But just because you spin the most doesn't mean you win, he held the grab for MAYBE 360 of that 12, why even do it if you aren't gonna grab most of the time. I haven't seen him hold a grab on a twelve all year.
Why shouldn't their be three runs over 96. I'd say they were all damn near what would be considered the forefront of pipe riding.
Kazu has so much style its not even funny, dude literally could share some with a few people and still look nasty when he rides.
Really could have gone any way, but glad to see Kazu getting some props.
so boring to watch haha
BEN WATTS fuck ya
Kazu just goes huge, is super clean, and stylish. Vito’s run was impressive, but puts a hand down at the end.
Kazu makes 10’s look like 7’s - soooo big and smooth. Deserved winner. Ipod should have been 2rd and Vito 3rd (at best). Both shetched (Ipod 2nd hit, Vito 4th), but Ipod’s run was way bigger with heaps more style - Vito’s 12 looks horrible and hucked. Ipods Mc12 is heaps nicer than Shauns (and mid-run not last hit), but both need to smooth out the last 180…
kazu may be dope to watch but regarding style he doesn't hold A THING to Danny Davis and especially to Scotty Lago!
"kazu, that was a stylish run can you break it down for us?"
"yeah…what? -no."
classic!
Ipod 1st kazu 2nd…ipod's run is soooo hard to do…vito repeats same double flip less 180 and weak backside 900
glad to see the judges are awarding style, kelly clark was sooooo buttery! smooooooooth
no video for this? i wanna see some of the sickness
nevermind
why cant you make the pictures a slideshow or something it refreshes the whole page and takes forever to look through the pictures
Ipod's mc12 is waayyy sicker than shauns , louie's 12 is just gross but he had a pretty sick run, and kazu did have some clean style. i think they were definitely the top 3 could have gone in any order
the girls are very hard to watch
Shaun white… QUIT BEIN A PUSSY! haha. davis nos whats up
watching all these double cork(for example 3-4 in one run)is so funny =D
All you guys need to stop calling out Shaun White. I'm not a big fan of the guy, but if he doesn't want to compete in the Open, then that's his own choice. He has won everything there is to win and more. The FRENDS like to hate because they all wish the can achieve the success and fame that Shaun has. So while all you hate, Shaun's banging hot babes and sleeping on piles of money. He could care less about what you guys think.
No way man. He dropped out of semis cuz he was "exhausted" even though he was getting a sled ride up while everyone was hiking. And he called ski patrol to get Yale's pass pulled because Yale sprayed him. The Frends hate him cuz he's all about himself man. Thats why Shaun white got a private pipe in silverton and said no one could ride it with him and KP got a pipe at mammoth or whereever and invited mad people. Homies ride together man. He shreds but he's got a machine style. Nothings unique it all looks the same. Plus he's a pus*y.
dolf just laid it down
no truth to your take on what went down this weekend what so ever.
1. redbull paid big money for that pipe in C.O. so that he could train for the Olympics. they are the ones that make that call. I'm sure there isn't anyone out there that would would want to ride a pipe like that without their friends.
2. shaun white, as famous as he is DOES NOT have the power to have a pass pulled at any event because he got sprayed. that is 100 % fact.
3. can you really call someone a pussy that throws down like that. I don't care what you think of someone that wins everything or why they do. show some respect to someone with alot of personal drive and natural talent. It's only fair.
4. you would be exhausted too if you had to travel that much and had that many obligations. I have traveled alot and it gets old fast and it is extremely taxing no matter who you are. I can only imagine how bad it must be when you can't go any where without being mobbed by the general public and it's gotta be worse as a human being doing what we all love and then look at all the garbage people talk on this site.
SO SHUT THE FUCK UP IF YOU DON"T HAVE DOUBLES AND SHOW SOME RESPECT WHERE IT'S DUE.
Yeah your definantly not a big fan your just his boyfriend. and your name is the "situation" which insults your level of intellect more than i ever could so please break your computer and castrate yourself. kthanksbye
BURTON sucks balls. plain and simple. of course a dude with a "B" on his board was gonna win. iPod got screwed.
wisen up fool, if it werent for burton snowboards wouldnt be what they are now, give respect where its due burton has pioneered much of the technology you buy today from other companies. kazu's run was way cleaner, better, and bigger that ipods or vito's, thats why he won not cuz he rides for burton. danny kass has won the open several times, never on a burton.
yeah Burton is mad legit. and totally core thats why during the slopestyle semis and finals they rolled the womens rounds into one because it was warmer than expected and ground was gnarly ass slush and getting worse as the day went on and they listened to the riders
girls halfpipe snowboarding is painful to watch…
Kazu easily had THE best style. Vito didnt grab his 12, he bearly touched the board.
I-pod had a sick run, but sketched on his first hit. fair judging I would say.
Kazu = style and amplitude
Vito = progression, but needs more amplitude and a bit more style
I-pod = needs one more hit, and he is in there
Vito has the best dubs in halfpipe hands down. Sayin he needs style. HA!
Louie has the best style in the biz this side of Kass! THREE double corks - thats f%#ing SICK!!!! Plus Kazu hand dragged.
Goose I back what you are saying there….but even 4 hits, Ipod wins…USOpen is landmark for snowboard's evolution and Ipod showed best how snowboarding is nowadays..Going huge with good grabs and doing hardest tricks at the moment including bs1260 double.
stop bitching out Shaun White, yeah i would be tired after 2 years of training harder tricks than anyone else and those tricks are way higher than davis's or ipod's, give him a break he won two golds and everyother event when he was 18 and up
shaun white won every event when he was 18 and older? thats not true at all lolol. get your facts straight and get off his dick
Kelly Clark, the ugliest man in snowboarding
ROFL!!!!
Kelly Clark!!! O that dumb bitch, remind me again is she the grunt snowboarder that’s uglyer then a ugly dog. Get paid more then playmate for barley tweaking methods. Do something diffrent you burnt out dog.
tell the interviewer to not be so awkward.
louri and vito got robbed
well done kazu!
not a fan of the ride ad before every vid at the moment…
ride ad is very beat… n
kazu deserved this one.. puttin down stylish runs everytime
kazu- man of many words
Kaz kokubo landing is stylish and beautiful.
It is great that such acting is evaluated.
Big tricks out troops in gymnastics just is only.
Louie himself said Kazu won fair and square. Style+Smooth in between hits+ double cork= 1st place. Contest season is officially over and went out with the best fucking Open ever. Ask any of the riders in the finals, they all had a fuckin blast.
KAZU deserved first and yes vito n ipod did "double corked" runs with low amplitude n sketchy style but hey this isnt gymnastics nor the f-in olympics. its the us open where real snowboarding happens.
whats the name of this zeppelin song?
heartbreaker
Vito got robbed!!! Louie has the best style this side of Kass! THREE double corks - thats f%#ing SICK!!!! Plus Kazu hand dragged on 2nd hit. Oh, I forgot … Kazu rides for Burton!?!?!?! hmmmmmmm
so funny to hear people actually rag on someone's run that was that epic. none of you pansys are up there doing it. you guys probably cant even get out of the pipe. or perhaps your dick cant make it out of your zipper when you need to take a piss.
if i was a judge it would have gone to vito. then ipod then kazu. just my opinion. but they all rip. dont rag on progression bitches.
shaun should have won what is he doing …. way to fall off ….. like the olympic pipe was even that big…… he would have got beat in this years can opener