2008 Burton US Open Big Air
Photos: Andrew Miller unless noted
Words: Joe Carter
Video: Mark Dangler
The triumphant return of Big air has finally made it back to the US Open. After many years of the rail jam and last year Big Air cancellation due to weather this year it finally all went down! After a long day of insane halfpipe contest everyone trekked over from basecase at Sun Bowl to the main gondola area of Stratton to watch riders sending it off the jump followed up by a wild night of drunken debauchery. As practice started some of the riders were having a bit of trouble on the larger jump with some gusty winds and hard snow. Norway's Kim Rune Hansen overshot the landing to his heel edge slamming hard having to get taken out by ski patrol. After that a lot of riders were sketched out resulting in a riders meeting with the outcome deciding to close the larger jump and have the contest on the smaller jump. Dispite the hard slam and winds there were some riders that would have rather hit the big side to separate the men and the boys. Some highlights of the night were Mammoth's own Greg Bretz and Lonnie Kauk riding solid with big tricks. Lonnie killed it riding nonstop all night and should of got the most runs taken award. 2008 X Games Big Air winner Torstein Horgmo was killing it as always with a series of spins of every direction grabbing the third place spot. New Hampshire buzzard Chas Guldemond was riding hard and strong with arsenal of tricks charging the jump non stop all night. But It was Flow's Tim Humphreys that ended up taking the top spot with his first US Open title. The young east coast ripper landed a ton of moves spinning every direction coming hot off a solid second place finish in slopestyle the day earlier behind Shaun. For the ladies Cheryl Maas was holding it down strong all night with a perfect backside 720 tail. After a bunch of money and a couple of Volvos were handed off it was time for some metal from Mastadon to start out the party then right to the bars for everyone of age or with a fake ID heading over to grizzleys for more music coming from Appetite For Destruction a sick Guns and Roses cover band putting on another good show for the evening and from there on my memory of the night was a little foggy.
Riders Included:
Tim Humphreys, Chas Guldemond, Torstein Horgmo, Lonnie Kauk, Greg Bretz, Nate Sheehan, Chris Rotax, Cheryl Maas, Claudia Fliri, Spencer O'Brian, Kjersti Buass, Anti Autti and more
2008 Burton US Open Big Air Results:
Men:
1 - Tim Humphreys
2 - Chas Guldemond
3 - Torstein Horgmo
Sobe Sick Trick Award - Chas Guldemond - $2,500
Women:
1 - Cheryl Maas
2 - Claudia Fliri
3 - Spencer O'Brian
Sobe Sick Trick Award - Cheryl Maas - $ 2,500
Click below for 2008 Burton US Open Big Air Video:
- An overview of the jump from the drop in. No speed checks today.. with the gusty winds riders had to tuck and point it from the top. (Joe Carter Photo)
- Big L and Torstein fresh off a heli trip from Canada with Standard films. Lonnie showed us a few pictures from the trip and it looked ridiculously insane. Can't wait to see both these guys parts in the new flick. (Joe Carter Photo)
- A big crowd came out to see some big airs. Nice view of Bromley mountain in the background.
- Riders meeting. After Kim Rue Hasen took a horrible hard slam to flat everybody was pretty scared to hit the bigger lip because of the random strong gusts of wind. Even though some were still down to hit the big lip the decision was made to close it off and hit the smaller side.
- Lonnie Kauk was one of the few still pushing to hit the bigger side. Lonnie showing some Revolution love with some SNOWREV clouds on his board.
- Chas sending a rodeo in practice
- Torstein hot off his win at the X Games Big Air was throwing down all night. Here going for a front nine.
- Anti Autti was a little sketched on the conditions but still took a few laps.
- Tim Humphreys flying into the night.
- Greg Bretz leading the pack of young up and comers from Mammoth right now.
- Greg has such great style for his age and had a strong showing at the halfpipe finals earlier that day.
- Lonnie was one of the few charging the jump all night non stop.
- Chas and Lonnie DC represent (Joe Carter Photo)
- To bad the big lip was closed off since the small lip was about the size of one of the jumps in the slopestyle course. Torstein Horgmo "Big Air".
- A lot the riders had no clue these fireworks were going to be blow off and it scared the shit out a few people including Chris Rotax. I guess a part of the firework debris hit Cheryl Maas while she was in the air and she wasnt to stoked about it.
- Torstein holding on for the fireworks show in front of this face.
- Tim Humphreys had a good showing at the 2008 US Open getting 2nd place at slopestyle the day before.. (Joe Carter Photo)
- Double take, Torstein whipping it around for third place.
- Chas sending his way into 2nd and Sobe best trick for the night.
- Flow team rider Tim Humphreys taking first place
- Cheryl Maas one of the few ladies to hit and spin over the jump. Sobe sick trick award for her backside seven tail grab
- Chas Guldemond - Sobe sick trick award.
- Womens Podium - L-R: Spencer O'Brian 3rd, Cheryl Maas 1st, Cluadia Fliri 2nd.
- Mens Podium - L-R: Torstein Horgomo 3rd, Tim Humphreys 1st , Chas Guldemond 2nd.
- The Best overall rider for the weekend won this new Volvo GSRXLW 250000.
- Cheryl Maas and Shaun White huge key's to their new whips. I guess Shaun has won this a couple of times and he has quote " volvo's up the ying yang"
- I wonder how Cheryl is going to this thing over to Europe? (Joe Carter Photo)
- FINALLY!!! A contest this year with out some heading rap/hiphop band. Speed Metal at its finest MASTADON!!!!!
2008 BURTON US OPEN
Slopestyle Report
Slopestyle Video
Halfpipe Report
Halfpipe Video
Big Air Report
Big Air Video