In what proved to be a case of serious Deja Vu, Mark McMorris topped the Burton US Open slopestyle podium for the second year running in Vail, CO. Despite stormy conditions, 10 of the world’s top slopestyle riders put on one heck of a good show, upping the ante run-over-run in the fight for first.

The 2014 Burton US Open men's slope podium: Mark McMorris, Stale Sandbech & Maxence Parrot | P: @burtonsnowboard
The 2014 Burton US Open men’s slope podium: Mark McMorris, Stale Sandbech & Maxence Parrot | P: @burtonsnowboard

In the end, however, none were able to best McMorris, who stomped a mean backside triplecork 1440 on the final jump of his second run, earning the 87.50 that would stand as the top score of the day. Stale Sandbech followed McMorris’ trick with a hammer triple of his own, but came short of overtaking the champ by just 3/10th of a point, ending his day with an 87.20. When it came down to it, Sandbech had one run left to edge McMorris out of the top spot, but an unsteady hit on the first rail left him stuck in second.

Also see:
Kelly Clark wins the 2014 Burton US Open women’s halfpipe, earns her 7th US Open title
2014 Burton US Open halfpipe results: Taylor Gold takes first, Taku Hiraoka swoops second
Jamie Anderson tops 2014 Burton US Open women’s slopestyle podium

Sandbech had quite the consolation prize, however, as his performance earned him the title of 2013/14 TTR World Snowboard Tour Slopestyle Champ.

Sandbech qualified first into slope finals, finishing the weekend in 2nd | P: Blotto / Burton
Sandbech qualified first into slope finals, finishing the weekend in 2nd | P: Blotto / Burton

McMorris, who qualified 8th into finals, was simply happy to have found himself back on top. After spending the last few months plagued by injuries— McMorris broke his ribs right before flying to compete in Sochi— he noted that he was happy to have landed the run he planned, despite the tough conditions. He was especially happy to have finished his season at the Open, saying, “to end it at an event by snowboarders, for snowboarders, with a first place win… I was like thank you, lord, that this season is over and I’m going to go do methods…” His winning run consisted of a switch boardslide to frontside boardslide, 50-50 to backflip out, frontside boardslide 450 out on the top rail section, Cab 1260 mute grab, frontside double cork 1080 mute grab, finished off by that very impressive backside triple cork 1440 mute grab.

Fellow Canadian Maxence Parrot rounded out the top three, putting down a run that was strikingly similar to McMorris’, hammering a triplecork backside 1440 on the final jump of his third run. Parrot has been giving McMorris a run for his money this season, beating out his fellow Canuck to double down on 2014 X Games gold, winning both Slopestyle and Big Air.

Now, however, it’s off to the beach for McMorris, while Sandbech makes moves to ride powder in Japan, as one crazy season of snowboarding begins to come to a close.

Men’s Slopesyle Finals Results:
1. Mark McMorris (CAN), BURTON, 87.50
2. Stale Sandbech (NOR), OAKLEY, 87.20
3. Maxence Parrot (CAN), ONEILL, 84.30
4. Sebastien Toutant (CAN), ONEILL, 83.35
5. Roope Tonteri (FIN), BURTON, 81.70
6. Darcy Sharpe (CAN), MONSTER ENERGY, 78.05
7. Tyler Nicholson (CAN), LIB TECH, 72.60
8. Emil Ulsletten (NOR), NITRO, 60.95
9. Brandon Davis (USA), NEFF, 38.55
10. Kyle Mack (USA), BURTON, DNS