Kelly Clark and Ryo Aono win halfpipe finals at 2011 Burton New Zealand Open
America’s Kelly Clark and Japan’s Ryo Aono clinched victory in the 2011 Burton New Zealand Open halfpipe competition that went down at the Cardrona Alpine Resort in Wanaka, New Zealand, on August 13. It was the first 5-Star halfpipe competition of the 2011-12
Ticket to Ride (TTR) World Tour season.
In the women’s field, America’s Hannah Teter came up with an impressive run to secure runner-up place, while Spain’s Queralt Castellet finished in third place to round out the podium.
The men’s field saw America’s Louie Vito finish in second place, while Switzerland’s Iouri Podladtchikov rounded out the third position to complete the podium.
The first 5-Star event of the latest TTR World Tour season had attracted exceptional talent from all around to the world to compete for a slice of the prize money and coveted TTR Ranking points on offer.
The format for the halfpipe final was similar to that of Slopestyle, with each rider getting three runs with the best one getting counted.
Pitted against a line-up comprising of extremely skilled riders in the women’s final, the 28-year-old Clark got off to a shaky start. However, she managed to bounce back with an exceptional second run, which featured a front-side 720, Cab 720, back-side
540 and front-side 900. The run remained unbeatable till the end and eventually carried her off to her 10th straight halfpipe victory, allowing her to take home the winner’s prize cheque of $ 7,000 NZD, along with the 850 TTR Ranking points.
“It was a really great day,” said Clark during her post-final interview. “The level of riding from the women was amazing. I am happy to be a part of the progression of the sport and happy to come out on top.”
Teter finished in second place with a run that included a Method Air, front-side 900 lien, back-side 540, front-side 540 and Cab 360. Queralt managed to get on the podium after throwing a run which comprised of a back-side 900, front-side 540, back-side
540 and front-side 900.
In the men’s field, the battle for top honours turned out to be quite intense, with the leader shifting after every run. However, the 21-year-old Aono eventually sealed the fate of the contest in his favour by throwing down a run that consisted of a front-side
1080 into a Cab 1080, front-side 900, back-side 900 and front-side 1080 Double Cork.
Talking to a reporter after the results were announced, Aono said, “I have competed three or four times before with not the best results and am very happy to be on the podium this time around. During practice, I worked on a special run that I ended up hitting
perfectly in competition. I am very happy!”
Vito, who had looked good throughout the competition, eventually took runner-up place with a run that included a Crippler, back-side 540 Mute, front-side 1080 Double Cork, Cab 1080 Double Cork Truck-driver and front-side 1080.
Podladtchikov completed the podium after finishing in third place with a run which featured a cab 1080, Crippler, back-side 1260 Double McTwist and front-side 1080.
With the conclusion of the 2011 Burton New Zealand Open, both Clark and Aono sit in top at the Halfpipe World Tour rankings.
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