On the East Coast, competitors vying for their shot into the pro circuits took to the slope course at Okemo and the superpipe at Killington, freshly used by the pros at the Winter Dew Tour.
Snowboarders Lauren Tamposi and Jack Dawe earned bragging rights at Okemo, facing tough competition from second and third place finishers Sophie Anderson and Maggie Leon in the women's competition and Eric Cerra and Jed Sky in the men'. Dawe's winning run ended with back-to-back 720s in opposite directions.
Eager to get to Utah, Tamposi was grateful for the opportunity, saying, "Big thanks to Gatorade for putting on this awesome contest!" Expressing similar sentiments, Dawe said, "Today was a super fun day. I’m so psyched Gatorade is sending me to compete with the Dew Tour at Snowbasin!"
Okemo Men's Snowboard Slopestyle Results:
1. Jack Dawe
2. Eric Cerra
3. Jed Sky
4. Erik Fahie
5. Jack Greffin
Okemo Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Results:
1. Lauren Tamposi
2. Sophie Anderson
3. Maggie Leon
Killington held a strong pipe contest Sunday, with contenders coming from all over the northeast and beyond for the contest. Maggie Leon earned her trip to the upcoming Finals with a frontside indy 360, topping Abby Lancour and Sophie Anderson in the pipe, while Dayton's frontside 720 and 540 rounded out with a cork 540 landed him just above Randall Reynolds and thirteen-year-old Austin Rebetz, who finished second and third respectively.
Representing for the mountain, Leon feels comfortable advancing to more of the professional level pipes. "Since this is my home mountain, I felt pretty good about riding in a 22-foot pipe. I'm super psyched Gatorade puts on this contest and is sending me to Utah!"
"This was my first Gatorade Free Flow Tour event, and it was awesome!" said Dayton after his win. "This was a great event – the Gatorade Yowie is sweet – and I had a killer day."
Killington Men's Snowboard Superpipe Results:
1. Owen Dayton
2. Randall Reynolds
3. Austin Rebetz
4. Jack Valentine
5. Emmett Ellmaker
Killington Women's Snowboard Superpipe Results:
1. Maggie Leon
2. Abby Lancour
3. Sophie Anderson
With their wins, all six contestants earn an automatic bid into the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals, taking place in conjunction with the Winter Dew Tour's Toyota Championship, February 9-12, 2012 at Snowbasin Resort in Utah.
