A “Winning” Weekend for Guldemond, Anderson, Clark, Ladley, and Vito

By:  Jonnel Janewicz-Leggette
Photos by Jonnel
cjzphotography.com

The 2011 Sprint US Snowboarding Grand Prix kicked off its final event of the season this past weekend at Mammoth Mountain, California, where riders arrived to Mammoth’s Main Park to “Play Big.”  Everyone had front row seats on Friday as The Paul Mitchell Progression Session Slopestyle course was designed right under Chair 6.  Riders went huge as the name of the game was landing a clean run.  For the ladies, big jump rider and recent Oakley Artic Challenge Queen herself, Jamie Anderson had no problem dominating the field as she earned a score of a 28.00 to win.  Second place finisher, Danielle Adams scored a 17.20 and third place rider Jamie Madrid received a 15.70.  In the men’s competition, Spencer Shaw from the Stratton Mountain School in Vermont was the stand out until the recent King of The Oakley Artic Challenge took his last run.  In the twilight hours, Chas Guldemond matched his Queen’s score of a 28.00 to win the men’s competition.  Spencer Shaw earned second with a 26.10 as third went to Brett Esser with a 24.40.

For the Halfpipe on Saturday, tension was mounting for all the riders as who could take home a win seemed unpredictable.  For the ladies, Gretchen Bleiler was stomping her solid 900 and her massive Crippler earning high scores until Kelly Clark dropped in.  After already landing a winning run, Ms Clark stomped the largest air of the day with her breathtaking 1080 on a “victory lap” which became the “tweet” of the competition.  For the men, spins and corks were being landed, and the $14,000.00 check for first place was open to the final field.  With wind blowing hard and banners falling in the pipe, Matt Ladley landed on top with a score of 45.40.  Mammoth local and 2010 Olympian, Greg Bretz squeezed in a second place with a score of a 43.90 right next to the former Dancing with the Stars contestant, Louis Vito who landed a 43.00 for third.  With Mammoth being the final US Snowboarding Grand Prix event of the season, Vito and Clark earned their “Green Coats” as they both became crowned the 2011 Overall Title winners.  For the Todd Harris and Todd Richards play-by-play of the 2011 Sprint US Snowboarding Grand Prix event at Mammoth Mountain, tune into NBC on Saturday March 12th.