Bluebird skies welcomed the first official day of competition at the fourth annual Roxy Chicken Jam. The all-women’s professional snowboard contest is the final event of the Swatch Ticket to Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour and will name the 2008 TTR World Tour Champion. Today the Superpipe competition kicked off with a vengeance as the world’s best female shredders gathered in a bid to win more than $150,000 in prize money and the coveted TTR World Tour Title.
Facing hard-hitting competition, Olympic Gold Medalist Kelly Clark took first place and the 2008 Roxy Chicken Jam Superpipe Crown. Staying above the lip and launching massive airs, Clark grabbed the top spot on the podium and bagged a $10,000 cheque. Roxy team-riders Torah Bright and Kjersti Buass followed close behind in second and third respectively.
Clark pulled out all the stops and gave the crowds back-to-back impressive runs, going bigger than any of the other competitors. Staying at least head-high above the lip on every hit, Clark threw down massive frontside and backside airs into a 540 to 540 combo, combining technical prowess with her spins and amplitude of airs.
“I am excited to be here at the Chicken Jam and to have won today’s Superpipe title,” said Clark. “This event is such an important part of our tour in determining the world champion. I had a lot of fun and I am looking forward to Slopestyle tomorrow.”
Today’s win moves Clark in the second spot on the TTR Tour ranks, only five points behind Roxy team-rider Torah Bright. Both Clark and Bright are scheduled to compete in tomorrow’s Slopestyle competition which will determine the 2008 Women’s Swatch Ticket to Ride (TTR) World Tour Champion.
Bright, known for her impressive bag of switch-stance tricks, had fans on their feet in cheers. On each of her three runs Bright went big, switching up her spins and successfully throwing back-to-back 540s and a few cab 720s.
Canadian Dominque Vallee won the Schick Quattro for Women $3,000 Best Trick Award for throwing down an ollie-oop michalchuk. Vallee placed seventh overall.
The Roxy Chicken Jam will convene tomorrow morning at 8am for practice runs followed by the Slopestyle qualifiers.
