Shaun White, Chloe Kim claim top spots in qualifying for US Open superpipe finals

Riders were treated to absolutely perfect conditions in the 22-foot superpipe at Vail Mountain Resort for the 34th annual US Open Snowboarding Championships halfpipe semi-finals. Chloe Kim (USA) and Shaun White (USA) took the top spots Thursday, leading the field of six women and 10 men advancing to Saturday’s superpipe finals and a shot at the coveted US Open halfpipe title. 

Fifteen-year-old Chloe Kim (USA) posted the top score on her first of two qualifying runs with a score of 94.25. She displayed the amplitude and effortless style that have become her trademark, linking up a huge backside air on her first hit, into a frontside 540 Indy, a McTwist, followed by back-to-back 720s. Xuetong Cai (CHN) took second place earning a 86.62, followed by Olympian Hannah Teter (USA) in third with a score of 84.00.

The competition was heated in the packed 32-man field vying for the 10 final spots. Shaun White (USA) showed that he hasn’t missed a beat, earning the top two scores of the day with a 92.12 and a 92.00. He wowed the crowd with massive backside airs on his first hit and linked together technical runs including back-to-back double cork 1080s and a stylish backside 900 Japan. The rest of the field battled it out for the remaining qualifying spots with Raibu Katayama (JPN) securing second place with a 90.50, and Benjamin Ferguson (USA) in third earning a 89.12, both bettering their first run scores. Fourth place was also notable with 14-year-old Junior Jam winner Judd Henkes (USA) qualifying ahead of the rest of the pro field and earning himself a spot in Saturday’s final.

The action continues in the Burton US Open halfpipe for finals on Saturday, March 5^th with the US Open title and $45,000 up for grabs in the men’s and women’s divisions.

Join us tomorrow, Friday, March 4^th for a full day of women’s and men’s slopestyle finals starting at 9:30 am MST on Vail Mountain’s Golden Peak custom slopestyle course—as always, the Burton US Open is FREE for spectators. Televised coverage of the women’s slopestyle finals will air on FS2 at 11:30 am MST, followed by men’s slopestyle at 6:00 pm MST. Web coverage kicks off on Red Bull TV and BurtonUSOpen.com with women’s slopestyle at 9:15 am MST followed by men’s slopestyle at 12:30 pm MST.

Women’s Halfpipe Semi-Finals Results

1. Chloe Kim, BURTON, 94.25

2. Xuetong Cai, NIKE, 86.62

3. Hannah Teter, EVOL, 84.00

4. Kelly Clark, BURTON, 82.50

5. Arielle Gold, ROCKSTAR, 80.25

6. Elena Hight, VOLCOM, 74.87

Men’s Halfpipe Semi-Finals Results

1. Shaun White, BURTON, 92.12

2. Raibu Katayama, BURTON, 90.50

3. Benjamin Ferguson, BURTON, 89.12

4. Judd Henkes, BILLABONG, 87.74

5. Scotty James, RED BULL, 79.49

6. Danny Davis, BURTON, 79.00

7. Taku Hiraoka, BURTON, 77.50

8. Greg Bretz, RED BULL, 76.37

9. Matthew Ladley, NIKE, 75.49

10. Ayumu Nedefuji, YONEX, 75.37

Entertainment at the Burton US Open continues tonight in Vail Village with the world famous Broomball Tournament finals from 4:00 – 7:00 pm MST at the Solaris Ice Rink, followed by live entertainment from The Bright Light Social Hour on the Solaris Concert Stage from 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm MST.

For additional details on all things Burton US Open, including a full list of invited riders, concerts, product demos, Burton Girls happenings, kids’ Learn To Ride opportunities, and the history of the longest-running snowboard event in the world, head to BurtonUSOpen.com and follow along using #BurtonUSOpen. You’ll also find highlights of winning runs, full webcast replays, contest recaps and more.