Arielle Gold Leads USA Euro Open Sweep

LAAX, Switzerland (Feb. 8) - FIS World champion Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO) took a career first major tour victory leading a USA sweep at the Burton European Open in Laax. Olympic champion Kelly Clark (W. Dover, VT) was second with Ellery Hollingsworth (Stratton, VT) third. Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH) took third for the men as Japan's Ayumu Hiramu won. Low light and fog plagued the event forcing cancelation of women's slopestyle and reducation of men's to just semifinals.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO) took her first major tour win leading a USA sweep in halfpipe at the Burton European Open in Laax.
• Gold won by 2.7 points over Kelly Clark (W. Dover, VT) with a 77.73. Ellery Hollingsworth (Stratton, VT) was third and Elena Hight (S. Lake Tahoe, CA) fifth.
• Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH) was third with Luke Mitrani (Mammoth Lakes, CA) fourth.
• The win continued a stellar last month for Gold who won the FIS Snowboard World Championships halfpipe and was second in last weekend's Sprint U.S. Grand Prix at Park City Mountain Resort, winning the season series.