Complimentary Images - Winner, Louie Vito - mid rotation at Perisher Blue for the Garnier Fructis Pro Challenge.

Photo Credit Steve Robertson

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

USA riders dominate Men's Open Super Pipe with surprise Australian winning Women's Open Super Pipe. 

Perisher, NSW (Sunday August 27, 2006) - -  It was widely described as the greatest day of Snowboarding ever on Australian snow as a world class international field fought out the Super Pipe finals of the Garnier Fructis Pro Challenge at Perisher Blue today.

18 year-old American snowboarding sensation Louis Vito ( Ohio , USA ) threw down a flawless final run which included back to back 900 rotations and a backside 1080 - the first ever on Australian snow - to claim victory and his second successive Garnier Fructis Pro Challenge. 

Fellow American Danny Kass finished runner-up in an epic battle - the lead see sawing with Vito throughout the final as they pushed their performances to amazing levels.  Kass looked set to out do Vito's run with a series of high 900 rotations but came unstuck on a backside 1080 spin during the final stages.  Australian Andrew Burton (Jindabyne, NSW) put on a great snowboarding display and finished 3rd place.

"This has been an amazing event.” Visto said while holding the $21,000 winners cheque,

“The Perisher crew did an incredible job building the Pipe which made us go for the big moves. We (Vito and Kass) pushed each other today and that's what it's all about - going harder and higher for the win - I've had a great time here and full credit to Garnier and the Australian's for putting on such an incredible event." 

In the women's division, Sydney snowboarder Holly Crawford upstaged the much anticipated showdown between Olympian's Torah Bright ( Australia ) and Gretchen Bleiler (USA). 

Crawford's high aerial moves eclipsed the higher seeded riders with Bright and Bleiler finishing in equal second place. It is a great outcome for Crawford, who last year endured a difficult rehabilitation from an ACL injury and subsequent surgery to repair a separated shoulder.  It's was Crawford's biggest ever win and the 22 year old former Olympic squad member picked up $21,000 for her victory. 

"I'm totally speechless. I really didn't expect to win but it's a fantastic feeling." An emotional Crawford said after her surprise win.

Torah Bright's second placing came on the back of her win in yesterdays Slopestyle event

The Garnier Fructis Pro Challenge offered $100 000 in prize money over two days across Open Men and Open Women in the disciplines of Slope Style and Super Pipe and was the biggest Snowboarding Event ever in Australia .

Official Results of The Garnier Fructis Pro Challenge:

MENS:

1^st          Louis Vito
2^nd         Danny Kass
3^rd         Andrew Burton

 WOMEN:

1^st         Holly Crawford
=2^nd      Torah Bright & Gretchen Bleiler