ResulTs PhoTo GaLLeRy

Shannon Dunn

THE BUTTE -- Michele Taggart took her back-to-back 540s high and outside today under the Crested Sun. Her consistency pulled her through. Shannon Dunn-had the lead with her solid mctwist at the top of her run, but held back on her 720s. She sketched on her final run and lost the lead to Michele. Tricia Byrnes also held back on her 7s, but maintained her hugeness all the way down the pipe. The judges deemed this not technical enough and pulled her down to fourth.

"I like to think of both Aurelie and Leslee as "a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll," but today they needed a bit more rock and roll in their run..."

Cara Beth did the one thing that no other female could touch. The bottom of the pipe has a mailbox down one deck and a box with a rail on top of the other. CB jumped up on the opposite deck and gained some speed before boosting above the box right in front of the judges. This easily helped CB pull down third and rise above the rest.

Tricia Byrnes

Barrett Christy was working it, but her lack of pipe practice was showing. "I wasn't feeling good in the pipe until the finals were almost over. It was fun though," she said.

Tara Dakides on the other hand was hitting the first hit larger than all and mctwisting as well. Her consistency couldn't be found either and she was bumped down to eighth. Leslee Olson ended up in 18th, but easily would have been top three if she stuck her mctwists like Shannon.

Aurelie Sayres was another girl that could have been there with a little more techno. I like to think of both Aurelie and Leslee as "a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll," but today they needed a bit more rock and roll in their run. They do both claim to be strictly country and western and that theme does fit in well here in The Butte.

The pipe had a better cut today and although conditions deteriorated, most riders kept their composure. When it was all over, the men started attacking the pipe and you would think that the crows would flock to see rulers Terje, TR and Rippey. But noooooooooooooooooo.

The Big Air skiing next door had all eyes to the sky. No boarders could doubt the reality of skiers next door to them pulling inverted 720s and 540s. They are landing backwards on skis! It held everyone's eyes above.

—Hans Prosl, in two places at once for The Mountain Zone