Kelly Clark dominate Pipe at US Open

It was a perfect bluebird day at Mammoth Mountain, California, USA, with Kelly Clark (USA) pulling ahead of the rest of the pack to claim first place at the 6Star Roxy Chicken Jam Halfpipe competition

KELLY CLARK DOMINATES IN THE HALFPIPE AHEAD OF TOMORROW’S ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN

Mammoth, California, USA – March 28th, 2009: It was a perfect bluebird day at Mammoth Mountain, California, USA, with Kelly Clark (USA) pulling ahead of the rest of the pack to claim first place at the 6Star Roxy Chicken Jam Halfpipe competition. Her win confirmed her status as one of the world’s premiere women snowboarders and moved her into World No. 3, ready to make a move for the 08/09 Women’s Swatch TTR Champion Title. Mercedes Nicoll (CAN) put down a smooth run to claim second place and Sarah Conrad (CAN) took the third spot on the podium.

Set at the main base area at Mammoth Mountain, the pipe had a nice shape and softened up in the sun allowing the ladies to put together some great runs throughout the day. A field of 24 women dropped into the pipe for a morning semi-finals session that was narrowed down to 12 riders for finals in the afternoon. The finals session was a jam format, so riders were hustling to put together some big progressive runs. The Mammoth winds kicked up halfway through the finals giving the ladies a bit of an added challenge.

Kelly lived up to her reputation today as ‘Queen of the Halfpipe’ and took home her second consecutive Roxy Chicken Jam 6Star win. This puts her in excellent position to go after her first Swatch TTR World Title in tomorrow’s Slopestyle competition. “The title would be an amazing bonus to a really great season to me right now” said Kelly Clark setting her eyes on the prize. “It would just be like icing on the cake.”

Kelly took full ownership of the pipe with her signature amplitude and smooth style. Definitely going the largest of the day, Kelly put up a Frontside Air, Backside 540 Mute, Frontside 540, Method, Frontside 720 and a Cab 720 to claim the top spot on the podium.

The supportive crowd saw Mercedes Nicoll (CAN) giving it her all with a run that consisted of a Frontside Air, Backside 540, Frontside 720, Cab 360 and a Backside 720. And, Sarah Conrad (CAN) was able to lock in third place with a great run throwing down a Method, Frontside 540, Backside 540, Air-to-Fakie, Cab 540 and finished with a Switch Alley-Oop 540.

Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas (NOR), another favorite for the Tour Title, did not qualify for the halfpipe finals session and remains in the World No. 7 position. Lisa Wiik (NOR) had a good day finishing in fifth place and will hold on to her World No. 2 spot. It will be a battle on the slopestyle course tomorrow as Kelly and Kjersti duke it out for the Title and Cheryl Maas (NED) enters the race for a Top 3 finish. Although Jamie Anderson will not be competing this weekend, she still has a chance to finish the season in the TTR Top 3 depending on the outcome tomorrow.

The Swatch TTR Ranking was significantly shaken up today as riders clamber to climb into the top 3. Fat portions of the