Snowboard fans at today's Grand Prix event in Mammoth, Calif., had a sense they were in for a treat today. Within the tight-knit snowboarding community many here would argue that making the elite U.S. Snowboard Team this year is just as hard, if not harder, than earning a medal in Vancouver. The argument is a testament to the talent and depth of the U.S. hopefuls.

Danny Davis drilled this point home today.

Davis made snowboarding history by completing what many experts are already calling the best halfpipe run ever during today's finals. With a solid first run under his belt, he made the most of his final shot. He came firing out with a cab double cork, followed with a front 900 and a back crail (straight air), then finished up with back-to-back double corks, the last one being the switch double back rodeo.

"I hadn't even landed one of those [switch double back rodeo] in practice," Davis explained. "So that was a gamble."
When his score of 49.20 out of 50.0 was announced, it sent the crowd into a frenzy. Davis' total score was nearly impossible to beat, but Shaun White had one final chance to catch him.

For a moment it looked like White was going to pull the impossible. No snowboarder has ever earned a perfect score of 50.00. White landed every double cork, boosted his straight air and laced his spins, but on his very last trick, another double-cork attempt, he couldn't manage the landing. The mistake gave Davis the win, and snowboarding's golden boy finished with a rare second place.

"There was some great riding today," said White. "This is by far the heaviest contest I've ever been in."

The win was especially moving for Davis, who's riding with good friend Kevin Pearce on his mind. Pearce was severely injured last week during halfpipe training run and remains in an induced coma in Salt Lake City.

"I had Kev on my mind and right before every run," Davis said. "I know we're sending vibes back to each other and it was good. I asked Kev to help me through [this] one."

The fans in attendance were equally moved by the moment. Signs flashing support for Pearce were peppered throughout the crowd, making the win for his good friend Davis feel almost poetic. Davis acknowledged the outpouring. "Our best friend Kevin Pearce got a little hurt so he's not here with us...He's the strongest kid we know and he'll be better soon enough."

The women's pipe final was full of excitement as well. The girls were boosting well above the lip and laying down run after run with few mistakes.

Kelly Clark, who won the first Grand Prix, picked up where she left off last month. She waisted little time jumping out to an early lead. Her first run ended up as the top score of the day, which meant her final run was a victory lap.

After winning two Grand Prix Olympic Qualifiers in a row, Clark has officially become the first American to be named to the U.S. Snowboard Team, an honorable feat indeed this year. This will be her third trip to the Winter Olympics for halfpipe. Clark won the women's gold in the 2002 at the Salt Lake City Olympics.

Hannah Teter followed Clark with second place today, and the well-known philanthropist promptly donated all of her winnings to Hannah's Gold, her charity foundation in Africa.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
2010 Sprint U.S. SNOWBOARDING GRAND PRIX
Mammoth Mountain, CA - Jan. 5, 2010
Halfpipe

Men
1. Danny Davis, Detroit, MI, 49.20
2. Shaun White, Carlsbad, CA, 46.20
3. Scotty Lago, Seabrook, NH, 45.00
4. Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 45.00
5. Elijah Teter, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 44.90
6. Greg Bretz, Mammoth Mountain, CA, 44.50
7. Jeff Bachelor, Canada, 43.50
8. Mathieu Crepel, France, 43.00
9. JJ Thomas, Golden, CO, 41.30
10. Jack Mitrani, Mammoth Mountain, CA, 40.30

Women
1. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 48.40
2. Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT, 45.20
3. Holly Crawford, Australia, 44.40
4. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 42.50
5. Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 42.40
6. Maddy Schaffrick, Steamboat Springs, CO, 38.70
7. Ellery Hollingsworth, Stratton, VT, 31.00
8. Clair Bidez, Minturn, CO, 39.90