2008 Vans Cup Superpipe
Words: George Crosland
Photos: Andrew Miller, George Crosland, Joe Carter
VIDEO:  Mark Dangler

Danny Kass topped a very heated men’s field and Elena Hight topped a sleepy women’s field at Northstar at Tahoe under sunny skies. There were a lot of riders at the Nippon Open in Japan but that kind of made the Tahoe men’s pipe contest better. The fact that Shaun White and other Burton riders were in Japan meant that there was room for someone at the top of the podium other than Shaun White. It was game on for the men in the Northstar pipe, everyone was gunning for the gold and really, any of the finalists could have walked away with the win. The women’s pipe was kind of another story, with Gretchen Bleiler, Kelly Clark, Torah Bright and Hannah Teter out; it was pretty sleepy to watch the girls. Although the top four girls did rip it up a bit.

If there is a war or recession in this country, you would not know by going to Northstar. The place is going off with construction of luxury condos, a Ritz Carlton and some Hyatt Club. In fact every year there are more condos and less parking. Parking kind of sucked there. The parking sucks but Northstar does have one the top 5 parks in the world, or should we say six parks. They have really commited to building great parks and pipes. Sunday morning was sunny and chilly but it got warmer as the day wore on – pretty much a perfect day for pipe. The crowds came out in force as the event was free. All of the Tahoe media was there and it was a bit of a circus. Lot’s of dudes on the deck complaining that someone was setting off their flashes, there were about 20 light kits sharing 4 channels. Anyway, the media frenzy was kind of funny. Dudes in ski boots and Sorels should not be allowed to shoot snowboard competitions though, snowboard boots only on the deck of the pipe, clowns!

In women’s prelims there was a girl doing all tricks under the lip. I was like “what the hell, this is supposed to be the worlds best” Someone educated me that this “girl” was a 53 year old woman charging that pipe, well that is pretty cool and inspirational. It basically came down to four girls in the finals. Molly Aguiire was going the biggest of all the girls and she got 4th. Kjserti Buas Oesstgaard was going big and threw down hard tricks like a frontside inverted 7. Lizz Beerman is girl I had never seen. Lizz was not to tech but very smooth, stylish and solid and got second. Elena Hight went big and did a frontside – 9 – done – she won.

The men’s qualifiers were pretty sleepy too, they were holding the best for the finals. The men’s finals were ON FIRE though - insanity. It was very exciting because any of the finalists could have won the best run of three format. The standouts were Steve Fisher who was going huge with back to back 10’s but slammed big time and he was out. Mason Aguirre did the best and biggest front 5’s ever plus 10’s and 9’s, not too mention Mason switched his runs up, he should have been on the podium for sure. Then again the judges included Jeff Brushie, Jim Rippey and George Oakley so what do I know? Andy Finch looked like another sure fire podium getter; his run consisted of a Mikalchuk, front 7, cab 10, alley oop backside air and front 9, all done huge. Maybe he did not get enough walls or something cuz he was sick. I-pod was riding sick, I am not sure he should have got a podium above Mason and Andy though. Louie Vito has been working on his amplitude and he looked super smooth, he did a front 10 (tuck knee frontside grab no less), cab 10, front 9, back 9 and a front 7 – not a straight air in there. Good on ya Louie!  Danny Kass had his usual lazy style to get through the prelims but the finals it was like his rad lazy style but huge, intense and stylish. His run was a huge air to fakie Indy all boned out and pointed to the sky (Danny made sure I noted how rad his first hit was when he told me his run), cab 10 nose, front 10 tail, cab 7, double something, front 9 melon and a back 7 indy. So Danny went big, stylish and got 7 tricks versus Louie’s six tricks and Finch’s 5 tricks. It should also be noted that Danny tried to do an alley oop front 7 in his third run on the first wall to replace the air to fakie. Had he made it would have been the pipe run ever of all time and he would have beaten Shaun White, if Shaun were there.  I am writing this in the Reno airport at 6:00 am and one of the Oak Ridge boys just got on the plane next to ours to Dallas, Nevada is a trip, Later!

2008 Vans Cup Superpipe Results:

Ladies Best Trick
Kjserti Buass  – Inverted front 7

Ladies Results
1) Elena Hight      $15,000
2) Lizz Beerman   $7,500
3) Kjersti Buass    $3,000

Men’s worst slam
Steve Fisher “I don’t know what I did but my ass hurts”

Men’s biggest air
1) Andy Finch
2) Danny Kass
3) Steve Fisher

Men Results
1) Danny Kass   $20,000 
2) Louie Vito      $14,000
3) I-Pod             $7,000

- The scene at the Superpipe on Sunday in Northstar at Tahoe.



- Everybody and their brother from Tahoe loves Chas...Every time he dropped people where yelling ... I guess you could say he's the Shaun White of Tahoe.




- This is a perfect example of how you should grab your board. No board slaps here. Danny clamps on for a huge air to fakie first hit.




- A behind the scenes look at first hit at the Vans cup pipe.  Once men's finals came around add like 15 more filmers and photographers this picture.




- Omatic's Louie Vito getting around a 1080.




- In the women's it was pretty much Molly vs. Elena.....Until Molly decked out a few times pretty hard.  Here she boosts a method first hit.




- Maceface... Holding it down for the FRENDS crew.  You killed it Mason.... should of podiumed for sure!!




- Attention please take note of the style here. Alot of people can ride pipe but only a few can make it look this good.  Mason is one of the few.. I would take this proper backside five over a 1080 any day!




- Elena first hit in the finals.. I would say a good 3ft higher than any of the girls were going.




- Yo quero Tace Bell?... Sorry boys this isnt the X Games.. You could score a hamburger grilled up by Van's Steve Van Doran though!




- Finch doing what he does best... Going huge!




- Kjersti Buass rode well getting best trick for an inverted seven



- Double D, Dingo and the masses



- Above where I was talking about only a few riders can thrown down in the pipe and have style to boot.  Danny is another Gold card member this in club. Shit he could even be the President of it!




- Last year Danny had a broken wrist and had the doctor put the cast over a Grenade spring glove... Looks like he healed up fine.




- Markku Koski



- The coveted Vans Cup.  I remember seeing footage last year when Danny won of him using this as a dog food bowl for his dog Big Vern to eat out of.




- Elena sealing the deal with a nine hundred degree rotation.




-  It was no surprise Andy Finch got the "Biggest Air" award




- I-Pod spinning his way into 3rd




- Louie Vito stiffing his way in 2nd place



- Owner of Grenade Gloves and probably top three (numero uno in my book) best pipe riders out there Danny Kass with out a doubt winner for the 2nd year in a row!




- Enough cameras for you? This was only one side.




- Elena Hight 1st place for the Ladies




- Steve Fisher might have ripped himself a new asshole but at least he got some cash for it.  Steve trying to explain his pain to crowd.




- Go big or go home.  Andy Finch 2,500 for biggest Air.




- Men's Superpipe Podium: 2nd- Louie Vito, 1st Danny Kass, 3rd I-Pod.





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Monday, March 03rd 2008 @ 03:00 PM.
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