NZsnowboard.com

9th April 2008

Copper Mountain, Colorado Ben Stewart (Whangamata) ended his competition season on a high, winning gold in the open mens division halfpipe at the USA Snowboarding Association (USASA) National Championships, following in the footsteps of previous winner and 2006 Olympic gold medallist Shaun White.


Ben Stewart (middle) takes Gold at the USASA Nationals

The USASA Nationals is the largest snowboard competition in the world in terms of participation and is the climax event on the US domestic season calendar. Kiwi snowboarders were out in full force, accumulating a total of eight medals at the event.


Connor Harding (right) takes 3rd in his division

Connor Harding (Wanaka) cruised to the podium with a third place finish in a strong field of 66 riders in the Junior Mens halfpipe discipline and placed 15th in the slopestyle the following day. Jay Walsh (Wanaka) placed fifth in another huge halfpipe field in the youth age group (14-15 years).


Adaptive Snowboarder Carl Murphy (left) takes silver

In his first international snowboard event, Adaptive Snowboarder Carl Murphy (New Plymouth) posted second in Giant Slalom, third in Slalom, and fourth in the Snowboardcross. Murphy missed out out on the bronze medal by a rather spectacular crash only four berms from the finish line. Murphy said he was stoked to get a podium finish in his two specialty events.

My goal going into the USASA Nationals was to come out with a podium in my three entered events, so to finish on the podium with two was a sweet feeling, said Murphy.

Murphy said he is looking forward to snowboardcross becoming a demonstration event at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver.

Snowboardcross athlete Ellie Richards (New Plymouth) posted the fastest time-trial, and placed fourth in the Womens Jam age group (18-22 years), while in the Mens Jam (18-22 years) Snowboardcross event, Will Harris (Wanaka) also posted the fastest time trial, winning the small final to end up placing seventh.

Lyn Brede in the Kahuna Women (50-59 years) placed second in snowboardcross, slopestyle and halfpipe, and secured third in Giant Slalom.


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NZsnowboard.com Congratulations all the kiwis on these fantastic results!!





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Kristy Quin
Marketing and Communications
Snow Sports New Zealand
Ph: +64 3 443 4085 ext. 3
kristy@snowsports.co.nz