Burton US Open

Jamie Anderson handles the rail segment during semi finals of the Burton US Open 2015 at Vail. Photo: Blotto

The 33rd Annual Burton US Open 2015 Snowboarding Championships presented by MINI kicked off yesterday at Vail Mountain with women’s slopestyle semi-finals. Men’s slopestyle, originally scheduled to follow women’s, was unfortunately cancelled due to an incoming weather system that brought in strong winds and snow.

With fair weather kicking off the morning, 14 women dropped into the freshly groomed slopestyle course, which consisted of three creative rail features and three massive jumps. 2014 US Open slopestyle winner Jamie Anderson (USA) effortlessly landed in first place on her first qualifying run, starting with a half Cab to 50-50 backside 180 out, to a switch boardslide to regular, into a tailslide 270 out on the upper rail section. Anderson pulled a huge backside 180 off the first jump, into a Cab 540 Mute, finishing with a frontside 720 Mute earning a score of 84.90.

Anderson described the course as “super creative and flowy” and said, “I was really stoked on riding today and just having fun.

Cheryl Maas (NED) took second place on her solid second qualifying run, followed by Spencer O’Brien (CAN) in third. Today’s top six women move on to Friday’s women’s slopestyle finals starting at 8:50am MST.

With the men’s slopestyle semi-finals cancelled today due to weather, all 31 registered men’s slopestyle riders, including Mark McMorris (CAN), Stale Sandbech (NOR) and Maxence Parrot (CAN) will now compete in the rescheduled men’s semi-finals on Friday starting at 11:00am MST, with the live webcast on Burton.com/USO beginning at 10:40am MST. The best of two qualifying runs will determine which 10 riders will progress. Men’s slopestyle finals will start at 2:00pm MST to determine the 2015 US Open slopestyle champion.

Women’s Slopestyle Semi-Final Results:

1. Jamie Anderson (USA), OAKLEY 84.90
2. Cheryl Maas (NED), ROCKSTAR, 76.80
3. Spencer O’Brien (CAN), NIKE, 74.95
4. Anna Gasser (AUT), BURTON, 71.75
5. Sina Candrian (SUI), LAAX, 67.80
6. Enni Rukajärvi (FIN), BURTON, 61.20

On Thursday, March 5th, don’t miss day two of the Burton US Open with halfpipe semi-finals starting at 10:00am MST, with live coverage on Burton.com/USO. Attendees are invited to check out the Sponsor Village in Golden Peak to enjoy free product sampling, demos and giveaways as well as Après All Day events throughout Vail Village and much more!