2010 Burton US Open Slopestyle: Mikkel Bang And Sina Candrian Win

Mikkel Bang and Sina Candrian each take the slopestyle podium for the first time in the Burton US Open of 2010. The competition was extremely tight and places were decided by mere fractions of a point.

Europeans Mikkel Bang of Norway and Sina Candrian of Switzerland each took home $20,000 at the US Open Snowboarding Championships with top slopestyle honors.

“It’s my seventh year coming here to the US Open and the first time I’ve made it to the slopestyle podium,” says Mikkel Bang. “All of the top riders are here, which makes it even more special to win. This really is the perfect ending of the season for me.”

Mikkel Bang won his first US Open slopestyle title when he took the lead in the first run, then added to that a nearly perfect 98.00 on his second run, which included a Cab 1080, switch backside 1260 indy and a frontside 1080 on the jumps.

Ulrik Badertscher stole 2nd place after a drawn out batte with Sebastien Toutant, who ended up in third place by a few fractions of a point.

In the women’s competition, Sina Candrian grabbed the lead with her first run and held onto it, topping her own score in the third run of the finals.

Sina Candrian’s best scoring run included a Cab 540, frontside 720 and a backside 360 on the jumps. New Zealand's Shelly Gotlieb took second place, who earned a spot on the podium with her last run that featured a Cab 540, backflip and a backside 720.

Former US Open slopestyle champion Jamie Anderson claimed third place and Lisa Wiik was awarded the AMP Energy Best Trick for her backside 720 indy.

“Today was really my day because my runs kept getting better and better,” said Sina Candrian. “The features were perfectly shaped and the course was fun to ride – it’s amazing to win here and I’m so happy that it put me in the lead for the women’s TTR title.”

Now, the winners of the 2010 Burton US Open in Vermont gear up for the next stage of intense snowboarding competition.