Anderson Takes Slope Opener in Cardrona

CARDRONA, New Zealand (Aug. 19) - X Games champion Jamie Anderson (South Lake Tahoe, CA) persevered through fog and a nine-hour comp day to pickup a season opening slopestyle victory at the FIS Snowboard World Cup in Cardrona, part of the New Zealand Audi Quattro Games. Anderson, who also won the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix World Cup at Copper Mountain last January, scored a huge 94.75 on her first of two runs and was able to take a victory lap for the win. Weather forced cancelation of the men's competition after U.S. Snowboarding's Eric Willett (Breckenridge, CO) won his heat with the second highest score. Slopestyle snowboarding will make its Olympic debut in Sochi.

HIGHLIGHTS

• X Games champion Jamie Anderson (S. Lake Tahoe, CA) rode to a 94.75 on her first run to win the FIS Snowboard World Cup opening slopestyle at Cardrona, New Zealand.
• Anderson was the only American in the finals on Sunday. Continual postponements of women's qualifying heats and finals pushed the event until late afternoon Monday.
• Her win was vital in the USA's quest to maximize quota spots for the Olympic debut of slopestyle snowboarding in Sochi.
• Due to the weather conditions, the third kicker of the course had to be closed out - course: wall ride, rail set, pole jam, two-kicker line
• The men's competition was canceled after wind and fog plagued the event all weekend. U.S. Snowboarding's Eric Willett (Breckenridge, CO) won his qualifying heat on Sunday.
• Action resumes next weekend with the opening halfpipe event of the FIS Snowboard World Cup.

Jamie Anderson Run - 94.75
Backside tail tap (wall ride), backside tailslide (down rail), 50/50 to backside out (pole jam), switch backside 540 indy, backside 540 mute (kicker line)

QUOTES
Jamie Anderson
Today has been just wonderful. I’m so thankful it worked out and that everyone was patient with the earth – it’s just a part of the journey. I just wanted to land a run and do well but I wasn’t totally obsessed with winning. All of us had to deal with the weather which was quite challenging but we all rode really well and I’m so proud of all the girls and I’m really happy with myself.

RESULTS
Official Results