VALENTINO GUSELI WINS 2019 BURTON US OPEN JUNIOR JAM
Published Wed 27 Feb 2019
The 2019 Junior Jam presented by Clif Bar kicked off the first day of competition at the 37th Annual Burton U·S·Open Snowboarding Championships.
The field featured 27 of the top boy and girl halfpipe riders ages 14 and under competing in the 22-foot superpipe, in a two-run best run counts format.
First place in the girls division went to 13-year-old Brooke D’Hondt (CAN) while boys division winner Valentino Guseli (AUS) took the win after earning second place in 2018.
With these wins, D’Hondt and Guseli both earned an equal share of the $2,000 prize purse and the opportunity to compete against the pros in Thursday’s halfpipe semi-finals.
Valentino Guseli was a favorite coming into today’s competition and he lived up to the hype by landing an impressive second run scoring 96.99.
Guseli scrubbed his first run and then in true pro style, sent it under pressure on his second and final run linking up a frontside 900 tail, into a backside 900 mute, then a frontside inverted 720 mute, with massive amplitude.
Guseli clearly upped his riding level over the previous year, he says, “I’ve just been snowboarding, having fun and trying to send it and it’s finally paid off and I’m so happy!”
He adds, “I can’t wait to just go and send with the big dogs.” He’s especially looking forward to riding alongside his hero Scotty James (AUS) in halfpipe semi-finals.
Additionally, the winners of the Clif Bar ‘Raise the Bar’ award, rewarding two athletes for the best trick of the day’s competition, went to the two top finishers—Brooke D’Hondt for her frontside 720 melon and Valentino Guseli for his frontside 900 tail.
The competition marked an incredible exposure opportunity for these young riders with the entire contest webcast live around the world via the live Burton U·S·Open webcast with special commentary by 2014 Burton U·S·Open halfpipe champion Taylor Gold who will also be competing in Thursday’s halfpipe semi-finals.
Boy’s Halfpipe Junior Jam Results
1. Valentino Guseli (AUS), 96.99
2. Kyu Shimasaki (JPN), 92.87
3. Fynn Bullock-Womble (USA), 87.37
Buckle up and hang on, because the Burton U·S·Open is coming at you fast. Keep your eyes on BurtonUSOpen.com and the Burton U·S·Open app for daily updates on the competition, concert and entertainment schedule, live broadcasts, special events, and all that’s going on this week in Vail, Colorado.