Snowboarding

Kim Leads Historic American Sweep

by
USSA
2016-02-06 15:19
 

PARK CITY, UT (February 6, 2016) – The U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix at Park City featured an historical halfpipe competition for the ladies. The American women swept the podium, with Chloe Kim (La Palma, CA) winning the top spot, Maddie Mastro (Wrightwood, CA) earning second and Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT) rounding out the podium in third. Kim also made history by becoming the first woman ever to land back-to-back 1080s and a perfect 100 score.

Kim, Clark

Chloe Kim celebrates her victory with third-place finisher Kelly Clark at the 2016 U.S Snowboarding Park City Grand Prix Saturday in Park City, Utah. (Getty Images-Tom Pennington)

Kim was the top qualifier coming in, which meant she was the last one to drop in the final. Already sitting in first when she dropped into her third and final run, Kim used her victory lap to make history, landing a frontside 1080 to Cab 1080 - no woman has ever landed back-to-back 1080s before. She was awarded a perfect score of 100 for the run, another first for women’s snowboarding. With the Park City win, Kim was also named the U.S. National Halfpipe Champion.

Chloe Kim takes a historic victory lap, earning a perfect 100.

“I got (the back-to-back 1080s) once at X Games practice,” Kim said of her groundbreaking combination. “Today was so perfect, I just saw the opportunity and just really wanted to go for it. I didn’t practice it at all when I was here; that second run was the first time I did it this trip so I was really surprised when I brought it to my feet third run. I’m just so stoked I was able to put that down in such an amazing place and it’s going to give me a huge confidence boost going into Euro X.”

Kim
Chloe Kim scored a historic perfect 100 at the 2016 U.S Snowboarding Park City Grand Prix Saturday. (Getty Images-Tom Pennington)

Mastro, who is a member of the U.S. Snowboarding rookie halfpipe team, has been improving with every competition in the 2016 season and she had a career-best second-place finish. Mastro’s run featured a beautiful Haakon flip and plenty of amplitude. It was only her second podium at an elite-level competition; she finished third at the Mammoth Mountain stop of the Grand Prix.

“Everyone is riding so well,” Mastro said after the competition. “I’m just happy to find my way onto the podium.”  

Maddie
Maddie Mastro rides to second place finish. (Getty Images-Tom Pennington)

Clark used solid riding and her signature frontside 1080 to finish third and complete the American podium sweep. Clark, who won the U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain earlier this season, said, “For me you have to be happy with your riding more so than where you place, and in the big picture it’s right where it needs to be to build.”

Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO) finished sixth.

The U.S. Grand Prix at Park City is a test event for the 2019 World Championship in Park City. The U.S. Grand Prix tour will continue February 10-12 with a groundbreaking event: the Polartec Big Air at Fenway, a scaffolding big air event situated in the center of one of America’s most iconic baseball venues: Boston’s Fenway Park. Never before has the U.S. Grand Prix featured a big air-only event, and never before has freeskiing and snowboarding been presented in such an historic American venue. Tickets to the Polartec Big Air at Fenway are on sale now.

Maddie Mastro rides to her best-ever result - second place.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Chloe Kim won. Her third run scored a perfect 100: Method, frontside 1080 tail, Cab 1080, frontside 540.
  • Maddie Mastro was second. Her second run scored a 92.00: frontside 720, Haakon flip, crippler 540, backside 540, frontside 540, seatbelt straight air.
  • Kelly Clark was third. Her second run scored an 89.25: Frontside air, backside 540, frontside 1080, Cab 720, crippler 540, backside air.
  • The World Cup circuit heads to Boston now where this season's first big air event will take place in Fenway Park on February 11, 2016.

 

Kelly Clark took third, completing the USA podium sweep.

QUOTES

Chloe Kim
I got (the back-to-back 1080s) once at X Games practice. Today was so perfect, I just saw the opportunity and just really wanted to go for it. I didn’t practice it at all when I was here; that second run was the first time I did it this trip so I was really surprised when I brought it to my feet third run. I’m just so stoked I was able to put that down in such an amazing place and it’s going to give me a huge confidence boost going into Euro X.

I’m appreciative of the hype but I know that run wasn’t 100 - I had four hits. I don’t really care about the score at this point. I was just happy to put that down. It’s crazy because I know that Kelly was definitely going for the back-to-back 1080s but I’m stoked I was able to come out here and feel confident on my Cab 1080 and just be able to throw it down on my third run. When I fell on my second run Kelly was there to help me out and even coaching me; she’s just such an amazing mentor.

Maddie Mastro
I’m still speechless; I’m shaking right now. I’m so happy with how today went. Everyone was just pushing and working off of each other; it was amazing to see. After years of working it’s just coming together, which is really nice to have happen. Everyone is riding so well. I’m just happy to find my way onto the podium.

Kelly Clark
The pipe was great today - you couldn’t ask for a better halfpipe day. I put down some good runs and I was happy to finally get to that point in the season. It’s been a slow start for me, so I’m really happy with where my snowboarding’s at and I’m really excited and motivated to progress from here.

For me you have to be happy with your riding more so than where you place, and in the big picture it’s right where it needs to be to build.

Live Extra TV Schedule (times EST)
Feb. 13, 4:00 p.m. – Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix halfpipe, Park City – NBC
Feb. 14, 1:30 p.m. – U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix halfpipe, Park City – NBC
Feb. 17, 12:30 a.m. – Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix halfpipe, Park City – NBCSN
Feb. 17, 1:30 a.m. – U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix halfpipe, Park City – NBCSN

RESULTS
Women’s halfpipe final

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