DANNY KASS AND GRETCHEN BLEILER WIN US OPEN HALFPIPE
photo credit ©2005 Robb Farrington

Stratton Mountain, VT – Danny Kass made US Open and snowboarding history today, becoming the first rider in the event’s 23-year existence to win four halfpipe contest titles. Gretchen Bleiler, also no stranger to the US Open podium, took home her second US Open halfpipe title. Both riders are now $20,000 richer and also earned a Motorola phone.

“The Open is the oldest, most prestigious competition, and I’m amped to win,” says Danny. “It’s an honor to win it once or twice, but four times is amazing…there aren’t really words to describe it.”

Under a rare, Vermont blue bird sky with 20,000 screaming fans lining a perfectly soft pipe, 16 men and 8 women had three runs to try and podium. The women dropped in first, and Gretchen took the lead from the start. Even though she had already won the event, Gretchen topped her own score during her third run, dropping in with a frontside 9 for the first time ever and continuing on with a backside air, crippler 5, backside 5 and frontside 5. Torah Bright earned her first US Open podium spot, winning second place with a huge McTwist, frontside 5, air to fakie and polishing things off with a Cab 5. Torah’s impressive McTwist also scored her the Nintendo DS Best Trick Award and $5,000. Local favorite Hannah Teter, who was joined in the finals by her two brothers Abe and Elijah, took third place with a frontside 5, backside air, frontside 9 stale fish, backside air, frontside 3 ending with a Cab 7.

Gretchen was also very happy about her win. “I was hurt last season, and I’ve worked really hard to come back,” says Gretchen. “My hard work has paid off and I’m having a great season with this US Open win and also my wins at the X Games and Gravity Games.”

In the men’s contest, Danny Kass also dominated from the start, nailing a super impressive first run that started with an air to fakie, Cab 1080, frontside 1080, Cab 7 tail grab, alley oop to fakie ending with a switch alley oop rodeo. Steve Fisher, Antti Autti and Keir Dillon tried to oust Danny, but couldn’t top his score. Steve Fisher’s last run, starting with a frontside 10, Cab 7, frontside 9, backside 5, corked frontside 7 and Cab 9, bumped him up to second place. Antti Autti took third place with a huge backside air, frontside 1080 tail grab, Cab 1080 nose grab, alley oop 360, Cab 7 and a corked frontside 9. Local hero Abe Teter got big props from the crowd and earned the Nintendo DS Best Trick Award with his huge frontside inverted 9.

After the halfpipe finals, DJ Premier, half of the rap duo Gang Starr, put on a show and stoked out the already amped crowd.

EDDIE WALL AND LEANNE PELOSI DOMINATE US OPEN RAIL JAM FINALS >>

for more check usopen-snowboarding.com