US Open Update - Women's Halfpipe Pre-Qualifiers and Qualifiers

Mar 15 2007 / Stratton, VT The dreaded "R" word was uttered more than once, but the level of riding made it easy to ignore the wet weather. Visibility didn’t seem to be an issue either as riders made easy work of the 22-foot tall, 550-foot long monster - the largest halfpipe in the US Open’s 25-year history. Word on the streets is that it took some 20 days to construct - not counting the thousands of snowmaking hours that went into this man-made glacier.

The format was simple with 50 women in two combined heats. Each rider took two runs, with only their highest score counting.

In the pre-qualifiers, only the top 15 riders would advance to the qualifiers. Akiko Miwa (JPN) was riding smooth with lofty straight airs followed by a frontside 5, frontside 3 and Cab 3. Fellow Japanese powerhouse Yuki Furihata was also going bonsai with big ass McTwists - one of the only riders to get inverted on the first hit. Ursina Haller (SUI) earned bragging rights with some of the largest airs of the day. Fellow Swiss shredder Sina Candrian looked confident with a solid bag of spins and a McTwist mixed in. Canadian National Team rider Mercedes Nicoll had the first-hit backside 5 to frontside 5 on speed dial. Brooke Shaw (USA) was going space on her first and second hits, and stomping a frontside 5, backside 5 and frontside 7 in both her runs; while Elizabeth Beerman (USA) was one to watch with both amplitude and style on her side.

Right after pre-qualifiers, judges and announcers ran for a quick pee break before jumping straight into qualifiers. Only the top five riders here would advance to Saturday’s semi-finals. Beerman continued to kill it with overhead straight airs, including a floaty Brushie-esque crail, as well as some 5s and a frontside 7. Mercedes Nicoll linked back-to-back 5’s off the first and second hit, while cranking the radness with a flawless air-to-fakie to Cab 3 to frontside 3 combo. However, all the spins and style in the world couldn’t compete with Jacobellis. Going into the qualifiers atop the standings, Jacobellis elevated the awesomeness with three overhead straight airs into a frontside 5, backside 5, then two straight airs to a frontside 7 to Cab 5 melon. No wonder she’s got her own Visa commercial.

Results
1st - Lindsey Jacobellis (VISA) - 90.33
2nd - Elizabeth Beerman (GNU) - 86.66
3rd - Mercedes Nicoll (FLOW) - 79.33
4th - Sylvia Mittermuller (OAKLEY) - 75.33
5th - Ursina Haller (PALMER) - 66.33