VAIL, CO (March 8) – Olympian Taylor Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO) topped a hard-charging crew of young riders Saturday to claim his first victory at the Burton U.S. Open halfpipe final Saturday. Bluebird skies and a perfectly built halfpipe enabled a full-throttle competition with all the riders adding their own style to the sport’s progression, including Taku Hiraoka of Japan and David Habluetzel of Switzerland, who took the second and third spots on the podium. Highlights of the halfpipe final are set to air on Fox Sports 2 on Monday, Mar. 17th at 7:30 p.m. EST.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Olympian Taylor Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO) topped a hard-charging crew of young riders Saturday to claim his first victory at the Burton U.S. Open halfpipe final Saturday.
- Bluebird skies and a perfectly built halfpipe enabled a full-throttle competition with all the riders throwing down big, stylish tricks as well as some amazing methods throughout the day.
- Taku Hiraoka of Japan took second in the final with David Habluetzel of Switzerland third.
- Ben Ferguson (Bend, OR) landed just off the podium in fourth with his fourteen-year-old brother Gabe Ferguson (Bend, OR) in sixth.
- Local Vail rider Jack Pates put on a show for the crowd, finishing seventh, while veteran Louie Vito (Sandy, UT) end up eighth after he wasn’t able to clean up his run.
- Gold’s winning run: method, frontside 1260 tail, double Michalchuk melon, frontside double cork 1080 Indy, cab 1080 roastbeef and crippler chicken salad.
- The men’s halfpipe competition was the final event of the Burton U.S. Open and the last competition of the season for many athletes.
- Highlights of the halfpipe final are set to air on Fox Sports 2 on Monday, Mar. 17th at 7:30 p.m. EST.
QUOTES
Taylor Gold
My mind is blown. I can’t believe it. This was the best contest of the year just in terms of the venue and the crowd and everything, so just to do it here is unreal.
I was super stoked on my run. I was nervous coming in. You stand up there for so long. You’ve got to kind of hone in and focus, so I was just so stoked to put the first one down and get rid of those jitters.
We all rode well this summer and it kind of led into good finishes throughout all the events leading up to the Olympics. Now it’s just fun. So it’s awesome that there’s all these young guys ripping.
Ben Ferguson
It’s so much fun. We couldn’t ask for any better weather or better dudes to shred with. It’s been awesome. We worked our butts off just trying to get here. Now we’re here and I think we’re trying to stay for a while. So it feels good.
Jake Pates
It’s so awesome to be in the finals. I really can’t explain the feeling. It’s just so great to be here in Vail. It’s so beautiful here, and to have the U.S. Open here is amazing. It’s my hometown so I’m pumped. Riding with all these guys is amazing. I’m really pumped. I’m excited to be here and just living this life. It’s great.
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