HUNTSVILLE, Utah (ABC 4 Sports) - Men’s snowboard superpipe finals at the Toyota Championship in Snowbasin was nothing short of historic. Louie Vito accomplished his season goal, earning consecutive Dew Cups with a score of 98.00, the highest in Winter Dew Tour history. Iouri Podladtchikov led Vito by two points in the Tour standings before dropping into the pipe. The matchup didn't disappoint, as the two went run for run with their best tricks in the 615 foot long superpipe, thelongest ever built for competition, before finishing within a point of eachother. Vito’s run began with a double crippler, followed by a double Michalchuk, front double 1080, cab double 1080, and frontside 1080, ending with a cab 720.
After learning his score, Vito credited his competitors abilities with helping him reach that level. “I don’t pay attention to scores,” he said. “I’m just trying to put down the run that I’m happy with and have the riders around me push me.” Vito finished second at both the Nike Open in Breckenridge and Pantech Invitational in Killington before taking the top spot in Snowbasin. "I get tired of being second,” he said. “I’m stoked to be consistent but I wanted to at least get on top of the podium this year. I did and what better place than where I’m living now in Utah, at the Toyota Championships, to walk away with the Dew Cup."
The crowd at the women’s snowboard superpipe finals was held in suspense as Kelly Clark dropped in for her second run. Gretchen Bleiler was holding the top spot after scoring a 94.25 and looked to the top of the pipe as Clark dropped in and blasted out of the pipe with a huge frontside air, followed by a backside 540 and a frontside 1080 that made the crowd roar. She continued with a cab 720, frontside 540 and a stylish backside air, to score a 95.00 and edge out Bleiler for the win and the Dew Cup.
“I really had to stay focused on what I came up to do today,” said Clark after the close win. “Some of my favorite contests that I can remember are when Gretchen and I go head to head and run to run.” Third Dew Cup in hand, Clark said, “Dew Tour puts on some of the best venues that we go to. For me it’s all about the conditions of the halfpipe, and this is one of the best pipes I’ve ridden all year. I’m happy to do so well and to win the Dew Cup.”
Closing out the evening under the lights, it was time to switch gears to freeski finals at the record-setting pipe. David Wise landed a solid first run, scoring a 94.50 that could not be topped by anyone through the remainder of the contest. He started his run with a switch double cork 1080, followed by a rightside 900, a leftside 900, an alley oop 540 tailgrab, and a double cork1260. “I’m on a hot streak for sure,” said Wise after his win. “It’s fun to be out here enjoying the sport. Just being able to land runs and enjoy doing what I do has been awesome. And that’s honestly what’s made the difference for me.”
KevinRolland edged out Torin Yater-Wallace by a quarter of a point to land in second place, earning his second consecutive freeski superpipe Dew Cup. "This feels really great especially because I didn't win at the last Dew Tour stop,” said Rolland, after being awarded the Cup. “So there was a little bit of trouble in my mind. I tried to do my best and get the Dew Cup.”
Women’s freeski superpipe finals awarded the first women’s freeski Dew Cup to Devin Logan, after her aggressive run blew away the competition with a score of 90.00. Already holding the lead, she dropped into her second run down the pipe, starting with a japan grab to a 540 tail grab, followed by a flare, mute grab, alley-oop critical grab, 720 mute, ending with a switch alley-oop 540. Logan was able to land seven tricks due to the superpipe’s 615-foot length. “I’m so excited,” exclaimed Logan following her win. “I can’t describe my feelings right now. It’s hit, but not really. I’m just in amazement right now. I’m so happy with everyone skiing and myself.”
