Cover - Scotty Lago hugs Shaun White after his last run. Jack Mitrani, Luke Mitrani, Gregt Bretz, and Louie Vito are in the mix there too
The final Grand Prix went down in Salt Lake and the US Olympic Pipe Team was named, mostly. Look for full story , official team and gallery soon. Shaun White, Kelly Clark, Louie Vito, Scotty Lago, Gretchen Bleiler and Hannah Teter are in as of press time. The balance of the team will be announced soon. There are some tied and/or very close scores so more spots are yet to be determined. It’s the Olympics, you thought it would easy to figure out? As soon as we hear the official results, you will know.
UPDATE: Check out the official press release:
Park City, UT - Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH) rode his way onto his first Olympic Team with a huge first run Saturday night at Park City Mountain Resort, putting down a score of 48.00 to win the spot. Shaun White (Carlsbad, CA) delighted fans with a Vancouver-ready 49.50 and earning his second victory in two nights, while Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow, VT) matched that feat in the women's event.
One day after scoring a 49.00 and landing the first-ever competition double McTwist 12, White was rewarded with a Grand Prix record 49.50 for stomping the same run and used his victory lap to high five spectators in watching in the light snow alongside the 22-foot megapipe at the Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix.
"For me tonight to put that run together was unreal," White said. "It felt great.
"I wanted to push the judges to boundaries that they can go to. I know they haven't handed out a full-on perfect score yet. I'll get them."
With pressure of Olympic qualification thick in the air, Lago gave the gold medalist a run for his money for a second straight competition.
"I'm still in shock right now," Lago said. "Obviously, it's been a huge goal of mine for the last couple seasons to make the team, and to realize that I just did it, so many things are going through my head."
The top three men and women from the Grand Prix, based on average of two best results, get a spot on the fourth-ever Olympic Team which will be formally named on Monday.
White led the men's standings, followed by Lago and Louie Vito (Sandy, UT). Clark, the 2002 gold medalist, took the women's title, followed by Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO) and 2006 gold medalist Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT), who was second twice in Park City and plans to donate all of her earnings to charity.
The six were announced to the crowd at a concert following the Grand Prix finale, where “I Ride For Pearce” stickers were abundant in honor of Kevin Pearce (Norwich, VT), still recovering in a Salt Lake City hopsital from a severe head injury sustained in training three weeks ago.
"It was a hard-fought battle, obviously, getting on this team, but I feel like the best of the best are sitting right here, and we're going to go into Vancouver with the strongest team ever," said U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Head Coach Mike Jankowski.
Like White, fellow Grand Prix points leader Clark did enough in her first run to take a pressure-free final jaunt. She went front-side air, back-side 5, front-side 9, backside 5 and front-side 7 to cab 7.
"Everything heading into this event was practicing for the Olympics," Clark said. "Getting to do the most difficult run in a contest setting is the best way to get ready for Vancouver."
Fans can watch the Saturday's finals Sunday on NBC Sports at 3:00 p.m. ET.
The team will travel to Aspen for X Games events before going to Vancouver. The full 2010 Olympic Snowboarding Team will be announced Monday.
Shaun White
Kelly Clark
2010 Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix Park City Halfpipe Results:
Men
1. Shaun White, Carlsbad, CA, 49.50
2. Scotty Lago, Seabrook, NH, 48.00
3. Luke Mitrani, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 45.30
4. Gregory Bretz, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 44.80
5. JJ Thomas, Golden, CO, 44.20
6. Jack Mitrani, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 42.30
7. Dylan Bidez, Minturn, CO, 41.30
8. Steve Fisher, Breckenridge, CO, 40.60
9. Zack Black, Breckenridge, CO, 38.50
10. Broc Waring, Edwards, CO, 38.20
Women
1. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 47.40
2. Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT, 43.90
3. Kaitlyn Farrington, Sun Valley, ID, 41.00
4. Maddy Schaffrick, Steamboat Springs, CO, 36.50
5. Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 36.20
6. Ellery Hollingsworth, Stratton, VT, 25.40
7. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 15.50
8. Kelly Marren, Hillsborough, CA, 12.60
DNS - Clair Bidez, Minturn, CO
US Olympic Team - Final Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix Standings Average of best two results:
Men
1. Shaun White, Carlsbad, CA, 1000
2. Scotty Lago, Seabrook, NH, 800
3. Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 800
4. Danny Davis, Detroit, MI, 645
5. Greg Bretz, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 550
6. JJ Thomas, Golden, CO, 550
7. Luke Mitrani, Mammoth Lakes, CA, 550
8. Zack Black, Breckenridge, CO, 525
9. Elijah Teter, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 475
10. Steve Fisher, Breckenridge, CO, 400
Women
1. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 1000
2. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 900
3. Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT, 800
4. Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 650
5. Ellery Hollingsworth, Stratton, VT, 600
6. Kaitlyn Farrington, Sun Valley, ID, 500
7. Maddy Schaffrick, Steamboat Springs, CO, 500
8. Clair Bidez, Minturn, CO, 425
9. Kelly Marren, Hillsborough, CA, 320