Burr Ridge, Ill. – January 18, 2011 – In its first weekend of the 2011 season, the Gatorade Free Flow Tour returned to Mountain High and Vail Ski Resort for snowboard slopestyle and superpipe contests. The Mt. High event in Wrightwood, Calif. saw Mark Reininga take the men’s top spot and Jamie Madrid win the women’s division. With a full field of competitors, Vail winners Matty Kirchgasler and Jessika Jenson (slopestyle) and Kyle Mack and Natalie Geer (superpipe) had to fight for their spot on the top of the podium.

Under sunny skies at Mt. High, twenty-year-old Reininga earned the victory over a field of 35 amateurs, throwing down a stacked run that included a switch backside cork 540, backside 720, frontside 900, and a 180 to 50-50 to frontflip out. The California native fended off tough competition from runner up Spencer Whiting and third place finisher Brandon Davis.

“The Finals last year were so fun,” said Reininga. “I can’t wait to get to Utah!”

Madrid took her first win on the Gatorade Free Flow Tour, topping the women’s field and earning her trip to the Finals with a backside 360, frontside 360 tailgrab, and a cab 180 to 50-50 to 180 out.

“I’m so psyched to have won,” said Madrid. “Today was awesome, and I can’t wait for the Finals!”
Over in Vail, Colo., a full field of snowboarders took to the park, the first contest in the Tour’s history that sold out in pre-registration. Saturday’s slopestyle contests were evidence to the progression that amateurs are making in the sport, and showcasing his top moves to earn the top spot in the men’s division was Kirchgasler. His switch back 5 to back 7 nosegrab, front nine tailgrab, and tech use of the rails made for “a simple run” for the Finalist, but clinched his spot atop the podium. Close behind were second and third place finishers Wylie Adams and Alexander Kondo respectively.

“Gatorade really pulled it together,” said Kirchgasler. “It was a really fun contest, and I was never thirsty, thanks to all the drinks they provided.”

On the women’s side, Jenson made the most of the course, using her back one, cab five, and back three to top the tough field of female amateurs. Her closest competitors were second place finisher Mikaela Casey and third place finisher Danielle Adams.

“Thanks to Gatorade for putting on the event, it was super fun,” Jenson said. “It was really fun to ride with all the other athletes; they really pushed me a lot, and they threw down.”

Sunday’s pipe contest brought out the top riders, with Mack’s left frontside 10, frontside nine to back seven earning him a trip to the Finals. Coming in second place was Alexander Kondo, and in third place was Lord Andrew Szortyka.

“It’s a really good feeling winning this stop,” said Mack. “It was a lot of fun and I’m super stoked to go to Utah for the Finals.”

Geer won her first Gatorade Free Flow Tour contest, beating out riders who came from as far as Australia. Her textbook straight airs, front five, front seven, and a front three pushed her to the top of the pack. Second place went to Arielle Gold, and third place to Amber Arazny.

“This was really exciting for me. I’ve never rode the Gatorade Free Flow Tour before,” Geer said. “This is a great step for progressing into the professional levels, and I’m really looking forward to the finals – hopefully I’ll have some new tricks for it. I’m excited!”

With their wins, all six earn an automatic bid into the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals that will take place at the Winter Dew Tour’s Toyota Championship, February 10-13, 2011 at Snowbasin Resort in Utah.

Saturday, January 15, 2011
Wrightwood, Calif.

Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle
1. Mark Reininga, Mammoth Lakes, Calif. 2. Spencer Whiting, San Diego, Calif. 3. Brandon Davis, Mammoth Lakes, Calif. 4. Nathaniel Kennedy, Redlands, Calif. 5. Garrett Weinert, Mammoth Lakes, Calif.

Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle
1. Jamie Madrid, Fontana, Calif. 2. Erika Vikander, Park City, Utah 3. Nirvana Ortanez, Mammtoh Lakes, Calif. 4. Daniell Brodrick, Mammoth Lakes, Calif. 5. Kimberly Kirch, San Diego, Calif.

Saturday and Sunday, January 15-16, 2011
Vail, Colo.

Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle
1. Matty Kirchgasler, Prior Lake, Minn. 2. Wylie Adams, Carbondale, Colo. 3. Alexander Kondo, Malone, Wis. 4. Tim Laidlaw, Australia 5. Madison Bailey, Carbondale, Colo.

Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle
1. Jessika Jenson, Rigby, Idaho 2. Mikaela Casey, Mound, Minn. 3. Danielle Adams, Evergreen, Colo. 4. Jasmin Gallop, Australia 5. Alexandra Fitch, Australia

Men’s Snowboard Superpipe
1. Kyle Mack, West Brookfield, Wis. 2. Alexander Kondo, Malone, Wis. 3. Lord Andrew Szortyka, Camels Port, Colo. 4. Davis Elm, 5. Kyser Parrott

Women’s Snowboard Superpipe
1. Natalie Geer, Steamboat Springs, Colo. 2. Arielle Gold, Steamboat Springs, Colo. 3. Amber Arazny, Australia 4. Mikaela Casey, Mound, Minn.5. Haille Soderholm

The winners in each of the 54 contests (30 slopestyle and 24 superpipe) will be flown to the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals, taking place in conjunction with the Winter Dew Tour’s Toyota Championship, February 10-13 at Snowbasin Resort in Utah. Encompassing the “Flow to Pro” theme that is the cornerstone of the Gatorade Free Flow Tour, the two overall snowboard superpipe and slopestyle champions and the overall freeski superpipe and slopestyle champions will earn a spot to compete against the pros at the first stop of the 2011-12 Winter Dew Tour the following season.

2011 REGISTRATION
All competitions are open to both male and female amateur competitors 21 and younger for all freeski and snowboard disciplines. There is a $20 entry fee, and all participants under the age of 18 must bring a parent or guardian to the event to sign a liability waiver. Contest registration forms, waivers and detailed information are available ahead of time at www.gatoradefreeflowtour.com.