Eight women advanced through Wednesday’s halfpipe qualifier, and today, those eight battled once again—this time, with Dew Cup glory on the line. As per usual, the ladies had two chances each to stomp a clean run, best run counts. And under mostly clear skies, with Breck’s world-famous 22′ pipe running as smooth as ever, it was Team USA who swept the podium: Maddie Bowman earning the win, Angeli VanLaanen finishing second and Brita Sigourney placing third.

Watch: Maddie Bowman’s winning run, Dew Tour 2013

“The girls really killed it today, and I’m so happy to be on the podium with Angeli and Brita,” Bowman said. Maddie’s winning run—her first of two—consisted of a straight air Japan, right 900, left 540 mute, straight air mute, left corked 900, right 720 and a switch 540 to close.

“I’m feeling good about my run,” Maddie explained. And as for plans heading into the upcoming Grand Prix at Copper, “I just want to up some things and get some grabs going,” she said.
In addition to taking home the Dew Cup, Maddie earns valuable points towards a nomination for a spot on the US Olympic Team. To this same end, Angeli and Brita are also very pleased with their results today.

“I am ecstatic to share the podium with Maddie and Brita,” said Angeli. “We’ve worked really hard this season and it’s phenomenal to see it pay off.”

While we thought perhaps we might see the 900 from Angeli today, she stuck to the same run that earned her a first-place finish in the qualifying round: a lofty straight air on the left wall to open, 540 mute, right 5 safety, left 7 safety, switch right 3 and an alley-oop 3 to close. Ang had some trouble on her first run today, and was thus forced to put on a clean performance under pressure—nothing this vet can’t handle.

“When I drop in, I always say a few affirmations,” Angeli told me. “I say to myself, ‘Strong legs, focus and lift.’ I’m really looking to have that amplitude and go as big as I can.”

Today’s third place finisher also spoke to the American sweep. “I’m stoked, I’m really proud of America, really proud of Angeli, she’s definitely going to secure a spot on the US Olympic Team,” Brita said. “I think we’re going to kick a lot of ass this winter.”

L-R: Angeli VanLaanen, Maddie Bowman and Brita Sigourney

I also caught up with Andrew “Andy” Woods, US Freeskiing Halfpipe Pro Team coach, who certainly had much to be proud this morning.

“This is the second Dew Tour we’ve done since I’ve been coaching,” he said. “It’s always a big deal. It’s always special, and the girls definitely skied their asses off.”

Woods also gave some love to the other two Americans who competed in the finals. “Devin [Logan] and Annalisa [Drew] didn’t put down the runs they wanted to, but they came out guns blazing,” he said. “Yesterday, Devin landed her first ever 900 in the pipe, and today she was like, ‘OK, I want to do it in the contest.’ So, she landed her first 9 ever in a contest. So, definitely not holding back. And that’s what we wanted her to do. Anna is the same way—Anna never had landed a right 9 in a contest, and she went for the back-to-back 9s and a 10 at the bottom. So, yeah, guns blazing and that’s all you can ask for.”

Results: 2013 Dew Tour women’s halfpipe final

1. Maddie Bowman (USA) 89.60
2. Angeli VanLaanen (USA) 89.00
3. Brita Sigourney (USA) 88.20
4. Ayana Onozuka (JPN) 86.60
5. Anais Caradeux (FRA) 80.00
6. Devin Logan (USA) 75.00
7. Rowan Cheshire (GBR) 64.40
8. Annalisa Drew (USA) 38.00

To see how these results affect the current AFP World Rankings, visit afpworldtour.com. For updates re: Fantasy Freeride League, visit fantasyfreeride.com.