ROBBIE FRANCO TAKES THE FREESKI TITLE AS GATORADE FREE FLOW TOUR’S 2011 SLOPESTYLE CHAMPION
Earns a Pre-qualified Spot in First Stop of 2011-12 Winter Dew Tour
Ogden, Utah – February 12, 2011 – In the first day of competitions for the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals, freeski slopestyle competitor Robbie Franco earned the right of passage from amateur to professional with his win in this afternoon’s contest. With the win, 17-year-old Franco becomes the 2011 Champion and earns a prequalified spot in the 2011-12 Winter Dew Tour’s first stop in December.
“This is amazing, Gatorade could not do a better competition,” said Franco. “The way they treat their riders, doing everything to help kids get out in the pro level is above and beyond anything else out there. Look at this trophy – it’s sick!”
Franco’s run, a 270 onto the flat box, transfer over switch up to the down rail, a switch up on the flat box with a rodeo 5 off to the jumps where he hit a switch left nine and kangaroo, finished with a switch onto rail, earned the top score of a 90.00. Competing on a torn meniscus, he topped one of the closest podiums in the history of the Finals. Second-place finisher and 13-year-old Willie Borm’s run earned an 89.00, and Maine’s Tyler Duncan’s 88.00 was a tight finish for third place.
The four-day competition is being held in conjunction with the 2010-11 Winter Dew Tour, featuring freeskiing and men and women’s snowboarding disciplines. The Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals will conclude tomorrow with the superpipe disciplines for freeski and men’s and women’s snowboard.
Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals
Saturday, February 12, 2011 Ogden, Utah – Snowbasin Resort
Freeski Slopestyle – Finals 1. Robert Franco, Camino, Calif., 90.00. 2. Willie Borm, Chaska, Minn., 89.00. 3. Tyler Duncan, Freyeburg, Maine, 88.00. 4. Cesar Rodriguez, El Dorado, Calif., 87.75. 5. Will Hibbs, Jericho, Vt., 87.50. 6. Ian Hamilton, Missoula, Mont., 83.00. 7. Alex Gorham, Stowe, Vt., 81.75. 8. Tanner Coulter, Eagle, Colo., 81.25. 9. Lars Ellingson, Mount Baldy, Calif., 77.75. 10. Michael Briggs, Portland, Ore., 64.25. 11. Freddy Brideweser, Canton, Ohio, 29.25. 12. Tanner Boudreau, Hood River, Ore., 24.50. 13. Austin Torvinen, Duluth, Minn., DNS.
The winners in each of the 54 Gatorade Free Flow Tour 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.
