Ty Wheelan and his crew have been droppin' some of the best edits for the Evolve Chile crew this 2009 season. Sometimes it's tough to go out and get the shots you want on the days you want. It can be a stressful process, but it's pure love at the end of the day. Shot entirely at Loon Mountain, NH. Riders include: Mark Pomykato, Mike Stack, Mike Gallant, Ty Whelan, Kyle Dezi, and Kirsten Nelson. Additional filming by Mike Gallant.

Snow Blog sponsored by: EvolveChile.com - Ride With Style

That's right, 100k each! I see Chas at Northstar-at-Tahoe all the time -- who thinks he should loan me some dolla bills? Just kidding Chas, every penny is WELL deserved, congratulations on the largest single payout in snowboarding history.

Chas Guldemond and Kjersti Buaas Win US Open Slopestyle Competition
Chas Guldemond and Jamie Anderson Claim $100,000 BGOS Championship Titles

STRATTON, VT (March 22, 2009) - The last day of the US Open proved to be the busiest with junior jam finals, men's and women's slopestyle finals and three major titles being awarded. Chas Guldemond (USA) and Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas (NOR) won slopestyle finals and $20,000 each. Chas Guldemond and Jamie Anderson (USA) are the new Burton Global Open Series Champions, each taking home $100,000, currently the largest single payout in the sport. Scotty Lago (USA) and Kjersti Buaas will be driving new Volvo XC60s after winning the Volvo Most Valuable Rider Awards. And last but not least, Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) was crowned the new Men's Swatch TTR World Tour Champion, claiming $50,000 for his amazing efforts throughout the 2008/2009 TTR season.

Chas rode home with $145,000 today, he had this to say of his win, "I really wanted to do good on the Global Open Series, but I never planned on this. I really appreciate the people above that took care of me, and everyone along the way. This is such a great day." At the beginning of slopestyle finals, the variable weather conditions constantly switched between sun, clouds, snow and wind. The women got caught in a snow squall during their first runs, but after about 20 minutes, the clouds magically parted and the sun came out. After a sticky snowfall, riders struggled to make it through the course. Jenny Jones put together a solid run, holding on to first place for a while. But it was Kjersti Buaas who took the top spot on the US Open podium for the second time this weekend with a run that included a nosepress on the box, 50/50 to frontside 180, cab 540 indy, backside 360 indy, frontside 360 stalefish ending with a frontside 720 mute. Kjersti had a very successful weekend at the US Open, earning $13,000 for a win and Amp Best Trick in the quarterpipe competition, $2,000 in the halfpipe competition, $20,000 for winning slopestyle and scoring keys to her second Volvo XC60 of the year after winning the Volvo Most Valuable Rider award at both the Burton European Open and the US Open. Chanelle Sladics earned third place and the Emergen-C Best Trick award for her front boardslide 270 out on the down rail. "Being the best overall rider meant a lot to me because I strive to be good in the pipe and slope," said Kjersti. "I was trying all season to be good in both disciplines, it makes me so excited. Now people can't just define me as a pipe rider, and that means the most to me."

In the men's finals, the slow course didn't bother Chas Guldemond, who dropped in knowing that he had the $100,000 BGOS title in the bag. While the other riders struggled to gain enough speed to make it through the entire course, Chas won the competition with his first run. His winning run included a frontside boardslide 270 out to a 50-50 backside 180 followed by a switch backside 900, backside 1260, Cab 900 ending with a backside rodeo on the jumps. Sebastien Toutant (CAN) put together a solid run earning second place. And Scotty Lago, who won the US Open quarterpipe competition, earned third place and clinched the keys to a new Volvo XC60. Peetu Piiroinen earned the Emergen-C Best Trick award for his backside rodeo 720. Chas had the biggest payday of any US Open competitor this weekend, earning $100,000 for the BGOS title, $20,000 for the slopestyle title and $25,000 for earning the Swatch TTR World No. 2 position. Scotty Lago was at a loss for words when he learned of winning his Volvo, "Words can't describe how I'm feeling. I am so pumped being the best overall rider at a contest with so much history. Today is the best day I've ever had in snowboarding for sure."

Earlier in the day, snowboarding's up-and-coming groms competed in the annual US Open junior jam halfpipe competition. Thirteen-year-old Arielle Gold took the title for the girls with her technical spin combinations and her impressive amplitude. Tanner Barrett emerged from a field of 83 boys to take the title with his massive frontside 900 tail grab to McTwist mute followed by back-to-back 540s and a tail to slob air.

Snow Blog sponsored by: EvolveChile.com - Ride With Style
Chile is a world renowned ski and snowboard destination. Visiting Chile during the North American summer allows skiers and snowboarders to live the "endless" winter dream. As the season wraps up in North America, Chile is just getting ready for action. Whether it's hitting the terrain park at Valle Nevado, dropping into waste deep powder in Portillo or building massive kickers in Termas, the variety of terrain helps riders of all abilities improve their overall skills. Evolve Chile travels to the best mountains in all of Chile - plus, enjoy the surf in between snow sessions and immerse yourself in Chilean culture. Wet slushy summer conditions are not Evolve Chile's forte. Instead, try on some deep powder and natural kickers courtesy of mother nature herself.

It has been a long, beautiful and memorable year for the Burton Global Open Series. Burton New Zealand Open, Australian Open, European Open, Canadian Open, Nissan X-Trail Asian Open and this weekend's US Open World Championships in Stratton, Vermont. So far, Kass the character and Torah from down under took top honors in the pipe Saturday, while Buass and Lago won the quarterpipe competition on Friday. The slopestyle is going on as we speak, so check back later for final cumulative results for the BGOS 09 as a whole. Another year down again!

KASS WINS FIFTH BURTON US OPEN OF CAREER, BUASS AND LAGO WIN BURTON US OPEN QUARTERPIPE

HALFPIPE--
Two time Olympic silver medalist Danny Kass (Portland, OR) took to the pipe in Stratton Saturday to rally the fifth US Open win of his career. Australia's Torah Bright locked down her second win in a row to lead the women's field.

"There's something about East Coast pipe and weather like this. I hurt my shoulder last year so I'm psyched to come back to the US Open and win," Kass said. "It's incredible. I grew up on the East Coast, so I would always come here and watch my favorite riders."

"Danny getting his fifth US Open win, we're obviously proud of him as a U.S. rider. He's showing he's got what it takes and is making a push to get back to his third Olympics," U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Head Coach Mike Jankowski said.

Finland's Peetu Piiroinen followed Kass, finishing second, and Luke Mitrani (Mammoth Lakes, CA) was third.

In the women's competition Bright overtook Clark for the win, but the 2002 Olympic gold medalist was satisfied with the season's final event.

"It was a great day. There was a lot of really good snowboarding. Torah rode amazingly and I got to try my nine again. It was awesome," Clark said.

"Kelly was able to get up there with second place. She obviously came to win, but she can't be disappointed with a podium performance," Jankowski added.

Following Clark for the first Burton US Open podium of her career was Stratton Mountain School student and U.S. Snowboarding athlete Ellery Hollingsworth (Stratton, VT).

"For Ellery, she had a stand out performance for her first US Open podium. It was a strong field and she's really proven herself as a top notch professional at a young age," Jankowski said.

With the season's final competition wrapped athletes now turn to summer training in the lead up to 2010.

"From here we'll have some spring training and really just push things into high gear for Vancouver," Jankowski said. "We're right on track and everything is in place for more great things to happen this year."

OFFICIAL RESULTS
2009 BURTON US OPEN HALFPIPE
Stratton Mountain, VT - March 21, 2009

Men
1. Danny Kass, Portland, OR, 93.50
2. Peetu Piiroinen, Finlane, 91.83
3. Luke Mitrani, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 89.83
4. Charles Reid, Canada, 82.50
5. Steve Fisher, Breckenridge, CO, 82.00

Women
1. Torah Bright, Australia, 96.00
2. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 93.33
3. Ellery Hollingsworth, Stratton, VT, 87.00
4. Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas, Norway, 84.67
5. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 82.00

QUARTERPIPE--
Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas and Scotty Lago earned the first titles of this year's US Open, taking home top honors and $10,000 in cash for their overall impression on the judges after the quarterpipe jam. In addition, Buaas took home another $3,000 after boosting 16' and Luke Mitrani launched 25' and won $3,000 each compliments of Amp Energy for the highest air in the quarterpipe competition.

Kjersti impressed the judges with her big backside airs, air to fakies and going for broke with different grabs. Buaas had this to say about her big win, "It hasn't really sunk in yet, I never ride quarterpipe, I didn't know what to expect. I tried to take things from the halfpipe and use them in the quarterpipe, and it really paid off."

Scotty Lago wowed the crowds by pulling out every trick in the book and scored points with his clean style and lofty airs. Lago spun frontside and backside, throwing down tricks like a frontside 720 truckdriver and a corked back 540. "I really wanted to do well," said Lago. "The jam format was awesome. I have been coming to the US Open for 13 years and this is the first time that I have been on the podium, I'm so excited."

Daniel Ek of Norway took 2nd for the men and Sebastien Toutant (CAN) placed 3rd, taking home $5,000 and $2,500 respectively. For the ladies, Lisa Wiik (NOR) placed second and took home $5,000 and Elena Hight (USA) won $2,500 for third.

After an insane night of riding, the quarterpipe crowds were treated to a free RJD2 show.

Team Thunder's 08 snow film "Remember When" was bad ass. This year they released "Gold Country" which I haven't seen yet. They remind me of a young Think Thank - with creativity rivaling that of Jesse Burtner.

Anyways, check this clip. Simple, fun, what snowboarding is all about. The hay bale section starting at about 1 minute 30 seconds in would be a perfect AT&T add as well. "Raising the Bar." Get it? If anyone has a solid AT&T contact hit me with it, this commercial has to happen! The Devendra Benhart song "Little Yellow Spider" plays in the movie during this part which is amazing too! The song during this clip isn't quite as rad, bit still good...

snowboarding saves lives!

Read my blog! But, if you need more to chew on, you should check out Quiksilver's new, "The Mountain and Wave Blog." themountainandwave.com

Here's a taste:

Fo Sho Friday's - Part 2 of the Quiksilver trip to Lost Trail Montana.