Kazuhiro Kokubo (JPN) and Kelly Clark (USA) won the weekend's US Open halfpipe finals, where thousands of fans enjoyed some of the most progressive riding in halfpipe history. The contest marked a historic moment for Kelly Clark, who is now the only woman in US Open history to win four halfpipe titles. Kazu's win was also a landmark as it was his first time winning a US Open title. 

"It was so great to win here, especially because my good friends Mikkel Bang and Charles Reid also won titles, which made my win feel even better," said Kazuhiro Kokubo.

In addition to the coveted US Open halfpipe crowns, three major titles were also awarded today, including a new Volvo to top US Open male and female overall riders Ulrik Badertscher (NOR) and Jamie Anderson (USA). Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) was on the podium for three different awards, taking home a total of $103,250 in winnings today alone. He won the $3000 Kodak Best Trick award for his Cab 1080 double cork, the $50,000 men's Burton Global Open Series (BGOS) title, the $50,000 men's Swatch TTR World Tour Championship title, plus $250 for his 12th place halfpipe finish.

Fellow Finnish rider Enni Rukajärvi (FIN) won the women's 2010 BGOS championship title and a $50,000 check. And for the first time, second and third place BGOS ranked riders took home $30,000 and $20,000 respectively. 

"This is so special and overwhelming - I'm the first guy who has won both the BGOS and TTR titles twice," said 2010 Olympic silver medalist Peetu Piiroinen. "I've had an incredible season."

The women's halfpipe contest was dominated by the Americans, who swept the podium. Kelly Clark secured her fourth US Open halfpipe title with her first run, earning an unbeatable 94.17 with her signature style and huge airs. Her run started with a huge frontside air, a backside 540 mute grab, a frontside 720, and a Cab 720 mute, finishing with a frontside corked 900, which also earned her the $3,000 Totino's Highest Air Award. Coming in second place was Kaitlyn Farrington (USA) with a strong run that included back-to-back 720s. Ellery Hollingsworth (USA) rounded out the women's halfpipe podium with her third place finish and also earned the Kodak Best Trick for her Michalchuk.

"It's amazing that it's my fourth US Open halfpipe title," said Kelly Clark. "It's so great to come home after such a long season and win here."

Double corks were the trick of the day in the men's halfpipe competition, with podium winners throwing down double corks in every run. First Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) stepped it up with a mind-blowing run that included a backside 1260 double cork in the middle of his run. Then Louie Vito (USA) topped Iouri by nailing three double corks in his first run, taking the lead by a mere fraction of a point. But it was Kazuhiro Kokubo's signature smooth style that put him on the top spot of the US Open halfpipe podium for the first time, with a run that included a frontside 900 melon, his crowd-favorite McTwist Chicken Wing trick followed by three 1080s. 2010 Olympic bronze medalist Scotty Lago (USA) won the Totino's Highest Air award.

Be sure to watch the US Open on ABC on March 27 at 5:00 pm EST and 3:00 pm PST.

After the unusually hot Vermont sun set at Stratton, the Black & Night Jam was on. 25 men and 10 women had 90 minutes to get in as many runs as possible in the US Open's fourth ever rail jam. 

The BRITS, Laax, Switzerland, 21st - 28th March 2010 

With less than two weeks to go before the BRITS Snow and Music Festival returns to Laax in Switzerland, event organisers are excited to announce that Eristoff will be hosting this year's Après Sessions Stage.

Eristoff, the Vodka from the Land of the Wolf, will be hauling its Airstream bus into town, which, at the touch of a button, transforms into the Eristoff'Après Sessions' stage and will play host to great live acoustic and DJ sets throughout the week. The Godfather of British Hip Hop, Rodney P is rumoured to be taking to the stage to alight the dance floor along with the all-comers B-boy battle.

Eristoff is one of the leading vodka brands in Europe & launched last year in the UK as part of a global campaign.  It will be the official spirit for festival-goers and plans to make its Eristoff 'Icy Black' the signature drink of The Brits - Eristoff Black is the natural wild berry flavoured spirit that doesn't like to mix when poured over lemonade.

Demo sponsors K2, Ride, DC, Salomon, Lib Tech and GNU snowboards along with Line, Volkl and K2 skis will also be displaying a range of their 2011 hardware with free trials in the Après Sessions Arena for all Brits wristband holders. Their teams of UK pros will also be on hand to answer questions and to offer insider tips.

If you'd like to be a part of the ultimate alpine gathering and enjoy the Eristoff Après Sessions at the this year's BRITS, then packages start from as little as £230 (GBP - CHF equivalent may vary with exchange rate) and include - seven nights accommodation, seven day lift passes, event pack and the all important Brits festival wristband. For more information go to: www.brits10.com 

The second annual Burton Canadian Open (CANO) has come to a close and Brett Esser (USA) and Enni Rukajärvi (FIN) have come out on top, winning the men's and women's slopestyle competition today at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta. After seeing optimal conditions during the week with bluebird skies, the weather took a turn for the worse with low visibility and frigid temps making for challenging riding during finals.

After finishing first in Friday's slopestyle semis, Jordie Karlinski wasn't able to pull out a winning run in finals, allowing European Open slopestyle champion, Enni Rukajärvi to ride away with first. Rukajärvi blew away the competition, scoring a whopping 96.17, nearly 20 points ahead second place finisher, Lisa Wiik (NOR) and third place Sina Candrian (SUI). Rukajärvi's winning run featured a Cab-on to boardslide, followed by a gap to 50/50, into a frontside 360, a 50/50 on the downrail, followed by a 50/50 to indy along the wallride, nailing a smooth frontside 360 tailgrab, into a backside 540 indy, finishing with a big Cab 720 mute.

"This is my first time in Canada and it was cool to win here right after the BEO win," said Enni. "The course took a little time to get used to as I am not as strong on the rails but I am very happy about this win and will be back next year."

Canadians Jon Versteeg and Robby Balharry took home second and third respectively but it was Brett Esser, the second place finisher from semis, who stepped up his game to take home the win. Esser put down a run that started off with a Cab-on to back 180 off, followed by a switch 50/50, into a frontside boardslide through the kink, followed by a backflip, to a 180-on to switch backside 180 out, followed by a boardslide to fakie along the wallride. Esser then dropped into the jump line pulling a switch backside 900 mute, followed by a backside 720 tailgrab over the channel, finishing with a massive frontside 1080 tailgrab.

"I'm feeling good, this is my first Open win since the US Open junior jam when I was 13, I will for sure be coming back to the Canadian Open," said Esser of his win. "It was a super good course, the weather didn't help but the course held up great."

Results Slopestyle Women     

1 Enni Rukajärvi             FIN       ROXY

2 Lisa Wiik                    NOR     ROXY

3 Sina Candrian             SUI       BURTON

Results Slopestyle Men

1 Brett Esser                 USA     OMATIC

2 Jon Versteeg              CAN     NOMIS

3 Robby Balharry           CAN       WESTBEACH

Now that the Canadian Open is over, it's on to the US Open, taking place from March 16 - 21, 2010 at Stratton Mountain Resort in Vermont, where an overall male and female Burton Global Open Series Champion will be crowned. The top three men and women will take home equal prize money, with first place winning $50,000, second place $30,000 and third place taking home $20,000.

With her second place finish in today's slopestyle competition, Lisa Wiik has now moved in to the World No. 1 spot on the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour bumping Sarka Pancochova (CZE) to World No. 2. Sina Candrian now sits in World No. 3 closely followed by Enni Rukajärvi who has climbed the TTR world ranking list steadily over the last few months thanks to her unparalleled performance in all of the major women's slopestyle competitions on the TTR Tour. On the men's side, Marko Grilc (SLO) jumped back into third on the world ranking list right in front of Markus Malin (FIN).

If you didn't make it to Canada Olympic Park to catch the action live, webcasts and highlights of the competitions will be available for on-demand viewing at Go211.com. The 2010 Canadian Open halfpipe and slopestyle action can be seen on The Score on February 28 at 4:00 p.m. EST.