FREESKI PIPE CHAMPION ALEX FERREIRA CLOSES OUT 2011 GATORADE FREE FLOW TOUR
Ferreira Earns Prequalified Spot in December 2011-12 Winter Dew Tour for Professional Contest Debut
Ogden, Utah – February 13, 2011 – Taking on the same superpipe as Winter Dew Tour athletes at Snowbasin Resort today were top amateur freeskiers looking to earn their spot in the professional contest scene. Aspen, Colo.’s Alex Ferreira rode out his success of the season by topping the podium and winning a spot in next season’s Winter Dew Tour December contest.
After taking a fall in his first run, Ferreira dropped into his second run looking to take it all, which he did with huge airs and some of the tightest spins of the day. The 16-year-old will advance to the professional contest to join friend and 2010 Champion Torin Yater-Wallace, who watched on from the top of the superpipe.
“This has been a really great opportunity that Gatorade provided for us,” said Ferriera. “I’m so excited, this was so fun and the Winter Dew Tour will be a great way to continue my goals in skiing.”
The only American on the podium, Ferreira clinched the win with a high score of 92.25. Also using his second run to land on the podium was Canadian Simon D’artois, who scored an 87.50. Coming all the way from Great Britain to round out the podium in third place was James Machon, whose enthusiastic run earned him an 81.00.
The four-day competition was held in conjunction with the 2010-11 Winter Dew Tour, featuring freeskiing and men and women’s snowboarding disciplines. The winners from this year’s competitions will compete in December at the first top of the Winter Dew Tour’s 2011-12 season.
Sunday, February 13, 2011. Ogden, Utah – Snowbasin Resort
Freeski Superpipe – Finals
1. Alexander Ferreira, Aspen, Colo., 92.25. 2. Simon D’artois, Canada, 87.50. 3. James Machon, Great Britain, 81.00. 4. Austin, Simonpietri, Truckee, Calif., 75.00. 5. Colby Vavolotis, Rehoboth, Mass., 69.75. 6. Daniel Rosenblum, Stamford, Conn., 63.75. 7. Ty Wellman, Boyne City, Mich., 45.50. 8. Clint Kasten, Mammoth Lakes, Calif., 29.25.
The winners in each of the 54 local contests (30 slopestyle and 24 superpipe) were flown to the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals, taking place in conjunction with the Winter Dew Tour’s Toyota Championship, February 12-13 at Snowbasin Resort in Utah. Encompassing the “Flow to Pro” theme that is the cornerstone of the Gatorade Free Flow Tour, the two overall snowboard superpipe and slopestyle champions and the overall freeski superpipe and slopestyle champions will earn a spot to compete against the pros at the first stop of the 2011-12 Winter Dew Tour the following season.
