Scott Team a strong presence at U.S. Freeskiing Open

Now in its eighth year, the 2005 U.S. Freeskiing Open, held January 18-23 in Vail, featured some of the biggest names in men’s and women’s freeskiing in four disciplines; Big Air, Slopestyle, Superpipe and Skiercross, with a total purse of $75,000. The Open is a qualifying event for the 2005 USSA World Championships. The top finishers from the Men’s Skiercross and Men’s Superpipe are guaranteed spots in the Worlds competition.

In Slopestyle, Scott athletes Tyler Peterson, AJ Burton, Blake Nyman, Tosh Peters, Ryan McPherson, Laurent Favre, and Jacob Wester all made it into the semifinals. AJ Burton, from Salt Lake City, finished an impressive eighth place. In the women’s division, new Scott athlete Angeli Van Laanen finished in sixth, and Lisa Solberg came in 10th.

Jacob Wester at 2005 U.S. Freeskiing Open

At the nighttime Big Air Invitational, Burton, Mike Wilson, Favre, and Wester threw down for a crowd of more than 3,000. In the end, Favre and Wester ended up taking respectable third and fourth places respectively. One of the highlights of the comp was when Favre did what is being called one of the biggest switch D7’s ever landed in a comp. He essentially landed it just a couple of feet short of the flats.

Laurent Favre at 2005 U.S. Freeskiing Open

In Sunday’s Superpipe event, Scott team riders John Symms, Burton, Peterson, Scott Hibbert, Craig Coker, John Marks, Taylor Felton, Jamie Sundberg, and Jen Hudak were all out representing. In the end, Coker ended up placing 10th, Felton placed 12th, and Hudak had an impressive third place finish.

Jen Hudak at 2005 U.S. Freeskiing Open

John Symms at 2005 U.S. Freeskiing Open