Sound the didgeridoos, the 2008 Burton Australian Open has come to a close and Torstein Horgmo (NOR) and Jamie Anderson (USA) have come out on top, winning the men’s and women’s slopestyle competition at Perisher Blue Resort. After a week of dodgy weather, the sun broke through, illuminating the 400m long slopestyle course that featured a downrail, battleship rail and three massive kickers.
With a field comprised of an Olympic gold medalist, the men’s and women’s New Zealand Open slopestyle winners, two TTR World Champions, six Winter X-Games medalists and some of Australia’s best, the day promised some serious riding and it didn’t disappoint. While the standard was high in both the men’s and the women’s fields, both winners were stand outs with Torstein Horgmo nearly ten points clear of Danny Davis (USA) and Jamie Anderson an impressive 15 points clear of her nearest rival, Raewyn Reid (CAN).
Women’s slopestyle champion Jamie Anderson continued to be unstoppable in her pursuit for perfection with another podium win. She started her winning run with a tailpress on the downrail, followed by a noseslide-to-fakie on the battleship, sticking a switch backside 360 stalefish on the first kicker, into a Cab 540 mute on the second, finishing with an frontside 540 melon. “I am so stoked to win, it was a really fun day and we had great weather,” said Anderson. “The other girls were sweet; everyone was riding so well, it was an awesome day.”
Raewyn Reid had an impressive showing for the ladies with a backside lipslide on the downrail and a 50/50 frontside boardslide on the battleship, taking home 2nd place and $3,500 AUD. Kara Rennie (CAN) won $1,500 AUD and the third place title by styling it out on the rails with a backside lipslide and 50/50 to boardslide.
For the chaps, Horgmo secured a sensational winning run with Danny Davis landing second place and Eric Willet securing a third place finish.
With the Burton Australian Open over, it’s on to the Canadian Open, taking place at CODA’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary from December 1-7, 2008. The Canadian Open is the third stop on the 2008-2009 Burton Global Open Series and Jamie Anderson will be sure to be on hand to defend her TTR World Tour Champion title as well as secure the top spot in the $100,000 Burton Global Open Series.
RESULTS
1: Jamie Anderson, USA, BILLABONG, 96.17, $7,500
2: Raewyn Reid, CAN, DC, 80.50, $3,500
3: Kara Rennie, CAN, NIKITA, 63.83, $1,500