Clark and Kim 1-2 in Burton Euro Open

LAAX, Switzerland (Feb. 1, 2015)- Kelly Clark (Mammoth Lakes, CA) and and Chloe Kim (Torrance, CA) continued their battle for queen of the hill at the Burton European Open, in Laax, Switzerland this weekend taking first and second respectively in women’s halfpipe – flipping the results from X Games a week ago. 

 

Heavy snowfall had been a factor for the entire week, causing cancelled practices and challenging competition conditions. “It pretty much hasn’t stopped snowing since we got to Switzerland” Clark explained, “I knew it was going to be challenging conditions and that I needed to be smart and put down a solid run first”. 

 

Which is exactly what she did, putting down a run with a crippler and backside 540 along with back-to-back 720s, a conservative run for Clark who’s known for landing the only 1080 in the business. “Today was more about smart snowboarding than progressive snowboarding. It was just one of those days, and my experience paid off”. 

 

Kim, 16 years Clark’s junior and last weekend’s X Games gold medalist, opted for a more progressive route putting together a run that included a switch straight air and and a switch backside 540. Switzerland’s Nadja Purtschert finished third.

 

On the men’s side Olympic gold and silver medalist, Iouri Padladtchikov of Switzerland and Ayumu Hirano of Japan had a repeat showing finishing first and second with David Habluetzel of Switzerland taking third. Taylor Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO) and rookie U.S. Snowboarding team rider, Jake Pates (Eagle, CO), were the sole American’s in finals and struggled to land their runs, finishing eighth and tenth respectively.

 

Competition continues Feb.4-7 at the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain, CA.

 

It pretty much hasn’t stopped snowing since we got to Switzerland. I knew it was going to be challenging conditions. I knew I needed to be smart and put down a solid first run. Today was more about smart snowboarding then progressive snowboarding. It was changing every single run, you just didn’t know what you were getting. I just knew I need  to  try to go as big as possible. My experience paid off today, it was just one of thoses days

 

Clark’s Winning Run: Frontside air, backside 540, frontside 720, Cab 720, Crippler 540, backside air.