2008 World Superpipe Championships
Photos: Andrew Miller
Words: Joe Carter
Video: Mac Spedale
White and Bright for the win second year in row.
Park City, Utah – Eagle superpipe Saturday March 8th 2008.
The sixth annual World Superpipe Championships went down today in the massive 22ft 2002 Olympic superpipe for the second to last five star event of the TTR Tour. With a literally world class line up from Japan to Finland to Australia all the riders turned it up for a chance at the 90,000 purse and points towards the TTR rankings. The ladies started things off bright and early at 9:30 to a mostly cloudy sky followed by the men and some light snow showers during the best of three runs. The pipe was firm and fast allowing for some high-speed hits for the massive crowd that showed up.
No surprise Shaun White killed in taking home the numero uno spot with his now almost signature runs. Back to back 1080's, a few nine’s, huge boned out frontside fives walked him away with 15,000 and gold WSC Bling. Mason same deal as the vans cup style for miles.. smooth back to back 10's and want looks like this season his signature boned out backside five for 2nd place right behind Shaun. Third place it was Finland's Janne Korpi cranking out some powerful runs grabbing the 3G’s. Followed by Mr. Luke Mitrani doing the most entertaining and and insanes run for 4th. Luke would pop a frontside 180 into the pipe for a switch backside 900 into a switch frontside 7, front 9, backside 9 front 7 then squeezed in sickest switch double back flip last hit. Are you kidding me? Now that’s a run you don’t see every day. Some other people that stuck out in my head were Louie Vito blasting back to back 10's on his first two hits going big and even a backside 10 attempt on his last hit. Then as always Finch and Kier Dillon going huge boosting some of the highest airs of the day. For the girls Torah Bright technical and smooth run took top honors followed up by Kelly Clark big airs and Japan's Soko Yamaoka grabbing the third place spot. This is the 2nd to last TTR contest to rack up point next stop grind prix in Killington followed by the last stop of the tour at the Open where the next TTR men’s women’s champs will be crown. As of right now Kevin Pearce and Torah Bright are in the tops stops but still have two more events to go. We will see what happens next week Vermont. Until then over and out.
Riders Included:
Shaun White, Mason Aguirre, Jack Mitrani, Luke Mitrani, Keir Dillon, JJ Thomas, Mitchell Brown, Markus Malin, Gary Zebrowski, Peetu Piirroinen, Markus Keller, Toni-Markus Turunen, Mitch Allan, Janne Korpi, Andy FInch, Steve Fisher, Torah Bright, Kelly Clark, Soko Yamaoka, Junko Asazuma, Shiho Nakashima, Leslie Glenn, Juliane Bray, Meg Pugh, Sophie Rodriguez, Ellery Hollingsworth and more
2008 World Superpipe Championships Results
Men:
1. Shaun White - 93.00 $15,000
2. Mason Aguirre - 90.33 $8,000
3. Janne Korpi - 85.33 $3,000
Women:
1. Torah Bright - 96.67 $15,000
2. Kelly Clark - 93.00 $8,000
3. Soko Yamaoka - 85.00 $4,000
Click below to see the 2008 WSC Video:
- The scene today at the 2008 WSC held at Park City's Eagle 22ft superpipe made famous during the 2002 Olympics.
- The masses were out in full force today... If this event was held on Sunday more than half these people would be in church.
- Kelly Clark rides like a dude. Massive five sending her in second place.
- Torah sealing the deal with this stylish cab seven tail grab.
- Keir Dillon checking things out before the guys first run started.
- Hot off his win at the Nippon Open Superpipe Keir sends his first hit double over head.
- Louie Vito now lives in Utah. I believe this was a back nine japan first hit.
- That cable cam better be getting the shot. Mason Aguirre making sure to grab every single spin he thrown the whole way through. Mason kills it!
- Andy Finch going huge air to fakie first hit. Finch got the "highest air" award at last weekends Vans Cup in Tahoe.
- This pipe must bring back some memories for JJ Thomas after he won bronze at the 2002 Olympics in this very same U tube.
- The announcers loves saying its going to be a Bright White day if Torah and Shaun win. They both did so I guess it was.
- The bottom of the pipe was packed to the max.
- The weather definitely could of been a lot worse. A little snow didn't stop Mason from going huge.
- I took this same exact picture of Markku Koski doing the same trick at the Vans Cup last weekend.
- Markus Malin of Finland mid spin.
- Shaun boning out a front five.
- From 4ft deep powder lines at the Natural Selection to 22 ft walls at the World Superpipe Championships. JJ Thomas can riding anything and everything put in front of him with tons of style.
- Gary Zebrowski holding it down for France with this huge method.
- All eyes on O-Matic team rider Louie Vito.
- Mason with his oh so stylish back five. Check out the photo Double Take we did with Mason doing this same trick HERE.
- Shaun White contemplating his run.
- Shaun's 3rd run was pretty much a victory lap. Huge air for the crowd.
- This front row wanted anything and everything from every rider... Screaming and yelling for any gear off anybody who walked by. Check out the sun bearded boy on the left.. somebody give that kid some sun screen!
- Women's Podium - L-R - Kelly Clark 2nd, Torah Bright 1st and Soko Yamaoka 3rd.
- Torah showing off her bling. Claiming 1st at Park City for the second year in a row.
- Men's Podium - L-R - Mason Aguirre 2nd, Shaun White 1st, Janne Korpi 3rd.
- Shaun also claiming victory for the second year in row. Giving me the "oh great another photographer picture" look. He is pretty much celebrity status now.. getting mobbed everywhere he went today. .. I guess thats what comes after you get the cover of Rolling Stone, appear in American express commercials, win the Olympics and take the WSC for the second year in a row.
Click below for Video: