Cover - Women’s podium ,Madeline Schaffrick, Kaitlyn Farrington, Kjersti Ostgaard Buass

West Dover, Vt. – Sun Valley, Idaho-native Kaitlyn Farrington claimed the first Winter Dew Tour victory of her career at the women’s snowboard superpipe final at the Toyota Championship, while 28-year-old JJ Thomas pulled down the top score in the men’s competition at Mount Snow Resort to claim his first win on the three-stop circuit as well. In a night of firsts for both Farrington and Thomas, the wins for each landed them atop the year-long standings, giving them the Dew Cups in their respective disciplines.

After a strong run that included a backside 540, and inverted 720 with a grab, a stalefish as well as a backside 720, Farrington was awarded a 90.75 to win the women’s snowboard superpipe final. The win, coupled with a second-place finish last month at the second stop of the Winter Dew Tour, gave the 20 year old the boost she needed to claim the Dew Cup.

“I’m so stoked to win the Dew Cup,” said Farrington. “It’s just icing on the cake in what’s been a pretty awesome season.”

In the first final of her tenure on the circuit, 15-year-old Maddy Schaffrick from Steamboat Springs, Colo. made it onto the podium, taking second with an 85.00, while Norwegian Olympian Kjersti Østgaard Buaas, 27, rounded out the top three with a 72.50.

Thomas’ winning run included a McTwist, a flawless 1080 and a frontside 900, giving him a final score of 96.75. The number-two spot on the podium went to 19-year-old Brennen Swanson of Stillwater, Minn., whose huge double cork to end his run aided in his score of 91.00. Swanson’s run put Steve Fisher, 27, in third with a score of 85.00. Heading into the final, Fisher was the top contender for the Dew Cup and needed a first- or second-place finish to secure it.

Consistency was the name of the game for Breckenridge, Colo.’s Thomas, who made all three finals this season, never finishing worse than sixth at any competition. His win tonight allowed him to jump to the top of the points standings, edging fellow Breckenridge-local Fisher by a margin of five points. Thomas’ 245 points over the course of the season gave him his first Dew Cup.

“I couldn’t be more excited, and I never imagined winning an entire Tour,” said Thomas. “Brennen had a pretty amazing run tonight too, and I guess he helped me win the Cup by coming in second place.”

Sunday’s events for the Toyota Championship include the finals for the Gatorade Free Flow Tour, the official amateur series of the Winter Dew Tour, along with the Toyota Tricktopsy Big Air featuring top freeskiers like Simon Dumont, Bobby Brown and 2009-10 Dew Cup winner in freeski superpipe, Jossi Wells.

Winter Dew Tour’s Toyota Championship at Mount Snow Superpipe Results:

Women

1. Kaitlyn Farrington, Sun Valley, Idaho, 90.75. 
2. Maddy Schaffrick, Steamboat Springs, Colo., 85.00. 
3. Kjersti Østgaard Buaas, Norway, 72.50. 
4. Kelly Marren, Hillsborough, Calif., 72.00. 
5. Sarka Panc, Czech Republic, 71.75. 
6. Jamie Anderson, South Lake Tahoe, Calif., 71.25.

Men

1. JJ Thomas, Breckenridge, Colo., 96.75. 
2. Brennen Swanson, Stillwater, Minn., 91.00. 
3. Steve Fisher, Breckenridge, Colo., 85.00. 
4. Dylan Bidez, Minturn, Colo., 82.50. 
5. Scotty Pike, Sun Valley, Idaho, 80.75. 
6. Spencer Shaw, Bantam, Conn., 66.50. 
7. Jack Mitrani, Mammoth Lakes, Calif., 63.75. 
8. Chris Waker, Manchester Center, Vt., 62.00. 
9. Ross Baker, Reno, Nev., 56.25. 
10. Broc Waring, Edwards, Colo., 52.75. 
11. Elijah Teter, Belmont, Vt., 33.50. 
12. Connor Leach, Vail, Colo., 27.00.

Superpipe Dew Cup Point Standings:

Women
1. Kaitlyn Farrington, 225. 
2. Kelly Marren, 225. 
3. Kjersti Østgaard Buaas, 220. 
4. Queralt Castellet, 180. 
5. Elena Hight, 170. 
6.Jamie Anderson, 170. 
7. Maddy Schaffrick, 118. 
8. Sarka Panc, 115. 
9. Meg Pugh, 110. 
10. Leslie Glenn, 110.

Men

1. JJ Thomas, 245. 
2. Steve Fisher, 240. 
3. Danny Davis, 200. 
4. Dylan Bidez, 166. 
5. Jack Mitrani, 164. 
6. Brennen Swanson, 160. 
7. Zachary Black, 121. 
8. Scotty Pike, 120. 
9. Elijah Teter, 107. 
10. Ross Baker, 104.

Brennen Swanson airs over some fans giving the Vermont salute.  The fans on the right side of the pipe in Vermont were ballistic; when the women rode past they were yelling “you suck” except Kjersti, in which case they yelled “I love you” Of course they let me know that I suck for one reason or another, the slippers sucked, everyone sucked or the were the best, no in-between. The Mount Snow pipe security was busy letting me know I suck too by asking for my credentials 12 times on Friday night and giving me grief. The NBC camera guys let me (and all photographers) know I suck too. So this Vermont bird goes out to all of them, you suck, security, NBC camera guys, love the rowdy fans though.