Local favorite Crystal Wright laid down a fluid and aggressive run to dominate the women's field yesterday. Wright charged into the center-stage feature of Casper Bowl known as Box Car, before plunging off of a 25 foot drop and skiing away into a series of clean airplane turns across the open field of dry Jackson Hole snow, landing her at the top of the field with 34.63 points. Just behind is Amber Gale of Snowbird, UT, who claimed 33.75 points, and tied for third place are Hannah Horigan of Jackson, WY, and Tanya Christensen of Crested Butte, CO, with 32.50.

ÒI was so psyched I actually nailed that,Ó reflected Wright, just after learning of her first-place status. ÒIt is by far the riskiest line IÕve gone for in competition, but with all this new snow, I knew the elements were lined up.Ó

With the inclement weather came plenty of fresh snow and once the action was finally underway this morning Mark Welgos of Aspen, CO, would take the lead in the standings, blasting off the starting line and carving velvet-smooth ribbons across Ranger Ridge, before executing a series of clean cliff drops.

ÒI knew I had to carry my speed throughout the run if I wanted to have enough momentum to nail my line,Ó explained Welgos. ÒBut I have to admit, I definitely surprised myself when I stomped those big airsÉthere are so many great skiers up at the start just chomping at the bit, there is no room for holding back against these guys!Ó

WelgosÕ powerhouse run was enough to earn him 39.88 points, just ahead of second place skier Lars Chickering-Ayers of Mad River Glen, VT, with 39.63 points. Rounding out the top three is Rob La Pier of Whiteface, NY, with 38.13 points.

ÒDealing with this weather made for a touch-and-go day that happens from time to time, and itÕs all part of our sport,Ó said Mountain Sports International Event Director Dak Williams. ÒWhile it can be tough, itÕs also cool to see how everyone comes together and keeps the focus once the show is back on.Ó

With clear skies forecast for tomorrow, Subaru Jackson Hole Freeskiing Open competitors anticipate a great day of big mountain skiing for the final and super-final rounds.

For more information, photos and VIDEO STREAMING OF THE COMPETITION, please log on to www.usfreeskiing.com


2008 Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series & Freeskiing World Tour Schedule

¥ Subaru Telluride Freeskiing Open, Telluride CO, February 7-10

¥ Subaru Squaw Valley Freeskiing Open, Squaw Valley, CA, February 13-16

¥ Subaru U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships, Crested Butte, CO, February 19-23 (World Tour #1)

¥ Subaru Jackson Hole Freeskiing Open, Jackson Hole, WY, March 13-16

¥ Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Nationals, Snowbird, UT, March 18-23 (World Tour #2)

¥ Subaru Freeskiing World Championships and Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series Finals, Alyeska, AK, April 9-13 (World Tour #3)



Special thanks to our sponsors:
Subaru of America
The North Face
Corona
Nordica
Coca-Cola
Powder Magazine
Emergen-C
Ski Press Magazine
Mt. Olympus water
Lynden Transport
Sports Insurance
Grabber
Skull Candy
Yakima
IFSA

Special thanks to our Resort partners:
Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Telluride Ski Resort
Squaw Valley USA
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Alyeska Resort


For more information log onto www.usfreeskiing.com

Results for Day One - Casper Bowl
WOMEN ATHLETE NAME COUNTRY HOME RESORT BIB Run#1 Total
1 Crystal Wright USA Jackson Hole 85 34.63
2 Amber Gale USA Snowbird 61 33.75
3 Hannah Horigan USA Jackson Hole 88 32.50
3 Tanya Christensen USA Crested Butte 78 32.50
5 Hannah Whitney USA Alta 92 32.00
6 Michelle Manning USA Alta 99 31.63
7 Andria Huskinson USA Alta 15 30.88
8 Rebecca Selig USA Snowbird 24 30.63
8 Katharine Lange USA Squaw Valley 35 30.63
10 Jess Spangler USA Jackson Hole 54 30.00
11 Caroline Gleich USA Alta/Bird 98 29.88
12 AJ Whitney USA Jackson Hole 37 29.75
13 Emily Teague USA Aspen 17 29.13
14 Claudia Bouvier USA Vail 56 27.88
15 Whitney Barker USA Snowbird 2 27.00
15 Kate Stoddard USA Bogus Basin 104 27.00
17 Ally Marcus USA Jackson Hole 51 26.00
18 Alexis Bennett USA Snowbird 33 25.75
19 Meredith Riley USA Snowbird 21 25.38
20 Holly Mumford USA Cochrans 102 25.25
21 McKenna Peterson USA Sun Valley 69 23.25
22 Darcy Conover USA Aspen 12 23.00
23 Anne Henry USA Squaw Valley 66 22.88
CUT OFF CUT OFF
24 Nadia Kaliszewski USA Grand Targhee 97 21.88
25 Erica Martling USA Big Sky 53 19.75
26 Brigid Mander USA Jackson Hole 101 19.63

Day 2 Men's Results
ATHLETE NAME COUNTRY RESORT BIB RUN 1
1 Mark Welgos USA Aspen 11 39.88
2 Lars Chickering-Ayers USA Mad River Glen 80 39.63
3 Rob LaPier USA Whiteface 95 38.13
4 George Hjelte USA Squaw Valley 46 37.13
5 Ryan Hawks USA Mad River Glen 16 36.38
6 Chris Germain USA Jackson Hole 57 36.25
7 Nick DeVore USA Aspen 19 34.88
8 Jason Brown USA Aspen 87 34.50
9 David Wintzer USA Park City/Bird 4 34.13
10 Josh Daiek USA Kirkwood 52 34.13
11 Kevin O'Meara USA Squaw Valley 55 33.75
12 Scott Hanichen USA Alpine Meadows 77 33.50
13 Tanner Flanagan USA Jackson Hole 75 32.75
14 Cliff Bennett USA Snowbird 10 32.63
15 Jonny Manwaring USA Park City 50 32.50
16 John Mason USA Breckenridge 73 32.50
17 Kent Hyden USA Alta 76 32.38
18 Zaq Rosenbloom USA Kirkwood 72 32.38
19 Darrell Haggard USA A-Basin 30 32.25
20 Mike Cook USA Jackson Hole 45 31.75
21 Pat Owen USA Bridger Bowl 6 31.38
22 Nathan Kushlan USA Jackson Hole 86 30.75
23 Jon Mullins USA Kirkwood 89 30.25
24 Luke Hinz USA Afton Alps 28 30.00
25 Tim Nelson USA Bogus Basin 14 29.00
26 Brett Phelps USA Ski Texas 27 28.75
27 Jared Lynch-Gilbert USA Nashoba Valley 59 28.25
28 Tim Normand USA Snowbird 67 28.13
29 Paul Herberger USA Bridger Bowl 44 27.75
30 Ben Ford USA Jackson Hole 79 27.63
31 Jesse Bryan USA Mt. Bachelor 38 27.00
32 Scott McBrayer USA Alta/Bird 20 26.25
33 Brady Newton USA Snowbird 49 26.13
34 Matt Gold USA Snowbird 93 26.00
CUT OFF CUT OFF
35 John Lange USA Squaw Valley 47 24.50
36 Adam Moszynski USA Aspen/Snowmass 13 24.38
37 Ryan Banker USA A-Basin 9 24.00
38 Rob Greener USA Alta/Bird 48 23.75
38 Daryn Edmunds USA Alta 64 23.75
40 Todd Ligare USA Park City/Bird 25 23.38
41 Kenjiro Matsuo JPN Tokyo 43 22.88
41 Trevor Marsh USA Snowbird 5 22.38
41 Andy Sabatier USA Sun Valley 70 22.38
44 Patrick Nelson USA Jackson Hole 82 22.13
45 Jake Cohn USA Telluride 90 21.88
46 Brian Anzini USA Snowmass 29 21.25
47 Chris Newey USA Bridger Bowl 40 20.88
47 Zach Berman USA Loveland 100 20.88
49 Brad Bermes USA The Canyons 65 20.50
50 Ryan Zernis USA Jackson Hole 34 20.38
50 Cameron Ciccone USA Jackson Hole 23 20.38
52 Andrew Whiteford USA Jackson Hole 71 20.25
53 Brady Smedsrud USA Alta 39 20.13
54 Mike Huse USA Mt. Baker 94 19.75
55 Chuck Mumford USA Alta 18 19.50
56 Drew Billington USA Alta/Bird 60 19.25
57 Jason France USA Snowbird 41 19.00
58 Elijah Lee USA Mt. Baker 63 18.75
59 Scott Hermanski USA Alta/Bird 81 18.50
60 Bobby Lee USA Alpine Meadows 8 18.00
61 Tyler Horne USA Jackson Hole 1 17.50
62 Bill Radecky USA Loveland 103 17.00
63 Sean Doyle USA Snowbird 22 16.75
63 Kyle Baumann USA Breckenridge 7 16.75
65 Tor Lindstad NOR Oppdal, Nor 32 16.25
66 Jim Bob Schell USA Jackson Hole 68 16.00
67 Eli Ivie USA Bridger Bowl 96 15.75
68 Bryce Newcomb USA Sun Valley 31 15.25
69 Philip Thomas USA Stevens Pass 3 14.00
70 Travis Wolfe USA Telluride 91 12.50
Ollie Nieuwland-Zlotnicki USA Aspen/Snowmass 42 tdq
Al Magnatta USA Keystone 62 tdq
Ian Jacobsen USA Alpine Meadows 26 dnf
Mike Tracy USA A-Basin 58 dnf
Earl Christensen USA Squaw Valley 84 dnf
Zack Poindexter USA Paoli Peaks 74 dnf
Drew Stoecklein USA Alta 36 dnf