After a crash landing during a whiteout snow squall on his second slopestyle run, Canadian-born snowboarder Sebastien Toutant turned out a banger run on his third and last attempt here at Stratton Mountain, scoring a 92 and a top podium spot.
Classic New England weather (don’t like the weather? wait a minute.) swept over Stratton Mountain during the 2-hour slopestyle competition. The snow squall blew over quickly, revealing sunshine for all the competitors’ third runs.
Norwegian rider Ulrik Badertscher’s first run, under a growing pall of darkening clouds, ended up being his best, garnering enough points to take second. His double front flip off the cannon box at the end of the course arguably received the loudest reaction among fellow riders in the start tent.
The only Vermonter in the competition, Hans Mindnich from Stowe, briefly held first place after his stellar run in the first round. After several years competing in qualifying rounds at the US Open, this was his first time making it to the finals. He ended up in fourth place and will take $3 G’s in prize money back home to Stowe.
Seb Toots was able to bounce back after this crash in the second round to end up in first place.
Maxence Parrot from Canada ended up in 10th place.
Vermont's Hans Mindnich (left) greets Chas Guldemond at the top of the slopestyle course.
Vermont Kevin Pearce, who suffered a serious head injury in the lead up to the 2012 Winter Olympics, landed a seat in the announcer's booth for Red Bull's live webcasts of the US Open on Friday. Watch the action at Redbull.tv.
$29 won’t buy much these days. A meal for two at Chili’s. Maybe some