MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CA (Jan. 21, 2016) – Hometown boy Brandon Davis led a U.S. sweep in slopestyle at the first U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix of the 2016 season Thursday at Mammoth Mountain.
Davis (Mammoth Lakes, CA) topped the field with a pair of 1260s, as Eric Willett (Breckenridge, CO) was second and Chas Guldemond (Reno, NV) was third. Thursday was originally slated for just slopestyle qualifications, but due to an incoming storm the qualifications and finals were held all in one day.
Brandon Davis competes in Thursday’s slopestyle at the first U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix of the 2016 season at Mammoth Mountain. (U.S. Snowboarding-Melanie Harding)
“It means the world to me,” Davis said of the win in front of a hometown crowd. “I just felt so comfortable being here at home surrounded by all my friends and family and I just couldn’t have asked for it to go a better way.”
Brandon Davis threw down for the win on Thursday.
The American women also fared well, with two U.S. team members earning spots on the podium: Jessika Jenson (Rigby, ID) was second and Karly Shorr (Milford, MI) was third. Anna Gyarmati of Hungary took the victory.
Jenson rode with solid style, stomping back-to-back 540s on the jumps to earn the second spot on the podium.
Jessika Jenson (Rigby, ID) finished second at the first U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix of the 2016 season at Mammoth Mountain. (U.S. Snowboarding-Melanie Harding)
Other top-finishing Americans: Ryan Stassel (Anchorage, AK), fifth; Chandler Hunt (Park City, UT), sixth; Nik Baden (Steamboat Springs, CO), seventh; Chris Corning (Arvada, CO), eighth; Eric Beauchemin (Grand Blanc, MI), ninth; Hailey Langland (San Clemente, CA), fourth; Hailee Mattingley (Sandy, UT), fifth; Kirra Kotsenburg (Park City, UT), sixth; Ty Walker (Stowe, VT), eighth.
Jessika Jenson stomped a second place run at the Grand Prix.
The U.S. Grand Prix snowboard action continues at Mammoth Mountain on Friday, January 22 with men’s and women’s halfpipe qualifiers. Check the U.S. Snowboarding website for an updated schedule.
HIGHLIGHTS
- U.S. team member Brandon Davis won the men’s slopestyle. It was his first World Cup win. His third run scored a 97.00: Gap switch backside lipslide, Cab 270 to 270 out, 50-50 to backside 180 method, Cab 1260, frontside 1080, backside 1260
- U.S. team member Eric Willett was second in men’s slopestyle. His third run scored a 92.50: 50-50 to boardslide to 270 out, frontside boardslide 270 out, bluntslide 270 out, backside 900, switch backside 1260, frontside double 1080.
- U.S. team member Chaz Guldemond was third in men’s slopestyle. His first run scored a 91.00: Cab 270 on 270 off, frontside lipslide 270 off, 5-0 backside 180 off, switch backside 1080, Cab double 1260, backside double 1080.
- U.S. team member Jessika Jenson was second in women’s slopestyle. Her first run scored a 78.50: Disaster, frontside lipslide, boardslide to backside 180, Cab 540, backside 540
- U.S. team member Karly Shorr was third in women’s slopestyle. Her first run scored a 75.00: Switch front lipslide, boardslide, 50-50, backside 540, Cab 540
- The event at Mammoth Mountain is also the freestyle snowboarders’ first World Cup competition since the Cardrona, New Zealand event in August.
QUOTES
Brandon Davis
It was kind of a weird day. I just barely snuck into finals, wasn't really having the best practice, didn't have the best first run, but then everything just ended up working out and here I am.
I just feel comfortable being in these mountains. Whenever I'm home I'm up here riding this chairlift and hitting these jumps and rails with my friends; that just makes everything so much easier.
[On the win] It means the world to me. I just felt so comfortable being here at home surrounded by all my friends and family and I just couldn’t have asked for it to go a better way.
Eric Willett grabbed second place.
Eric Willett
I squeaked through the qualification round than then the run that I landed in finals, that was the only time I landed that run all day, so I was pretty stoked on it. I was kind of blown away by myself.
I get put in those stressful situations and I do better under pressure. I’m just really stoked with how it ended.
Chas Guldemond took third.
Chas Guldemond
Today was just a wonderful day. It started off with gorgeous weather and super positive vibes. Then I landed four out of five runs, so that was a positive, and I did some tricks that I haven’t done in a long time so I’m happy with that. Third place isn’t too bad.
Jessika Jenson
I was really stoked on the sun today and the course was on point - I had so much fun riding it.
Karly Shorr took home third place.
Karly Shorr
Practice went super well, I felt really comfortable. The first time spinning the second jump switch was in my run - I just sent it and luckily I landed. Mammoth is one of my favorite places to compete; I’ve had a lot of success here and I’m stoked to represent my country.
RESULTS
Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle Results
Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle Results
EVENT SCHEDULE
Jan. 22, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. – U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix - Halfpipe Qualifiers
Jan. 22, 8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. – Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix - Slopestyle Qualifiers
Jan. 23, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. – Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix - Halfpipe Finals
Jan. 23, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. – U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix - Slopestyle Finals
Jan. 24, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. – U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix - Halfpipe Finals
Jan. 24, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. – Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix - Slopestyle Finals
U.S. GRAND PRIX TELEVISION SCHEDULE (all times EST)
Jan. 24, 2:00 p.m. – NBCSN – U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix - Slopestyle Finals
Jan. 24, 3:00 p.m. – NBC – Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix - Halfpipe Finals
Jan. 27, 1:00 a.m. – NBCSN – Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix - Slopestyle Finals
Jan. 30, 3:00 p.m. – NBC – U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix - Halfpipe Finals
Feb. 6, 8:00 p.m. – NBCSN – U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix - Slopestyle Finals (reair)
Feb. 7, 5:00 p.m. – NBCSN – Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix - Slopestyle Finals
U.S. GRAND PRIX LIVE STREAMING SCHEDULE (all times EST)
Jan. 23, 2:20 p.m. – Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix - Halfpipe Finals
Jan. 23, 3:50 p.m. - U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix - Slopestyle Finals
Jan. 24, 2:20 p.m. – U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix - Halfpipe Finals
Jan. 24, 3:50 p.m. - Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix - Slopestyle Finals
