SNOWBASIN RESORT — History was the theme at the Winter Dew Tour's 2012 Toyota Challenge on Saturday as Louie Vito became the first male in snowboard superpipe to win back-to-back Dew Cups, the tour's overall title.
Leading after the first run, Vito used his second run to score the highest score in men's snowboard pipe history with a 98.00.
"I've been running so consistent, and it's so nice to finish with a win after my second-place finish at Breckenridge and Killington," Vito said.
Vito, who was second place in the overall standings coming into the Toyota championships, needed the win to secure the Dew Cup.
"I knew I had a good run in my head — all I had to do was execute," Vito said. "Knowing that Iouri (Podladchikov) was riding behind me pushed me to land my best run. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Today it worked out. Having the Utah crowd here is extra motivation, I love winning in front of the biggest Dew Tour crowd."
Spencer Shaw from Vermont landed the first ever 1440 in competition, landing him on the podium with a 90.00 and a third-place finish.
"It feels so good," said Shaw. "I was a little shaky on the bottom after I landed. This was the first time I have ever done that run, and it helped me to my first ever Dew Tour podium. I am so excited, especially with how great everyone was riding."
In the women's snowboard superpipe, Kelly Clarke extended her winning streak to 14 straight competitions and her third Dew Cup. She needed her final run to secure the win.
"I really had to stay focused on what I came up to do today," Clark said in a statement. "Some of my favorite contests that I can remember are when Gretchen and I go head-to-head and run-to-run. For me, it's all about the conditions of the halfpipe, and this is one of the best pipes I've ridden all year. I'm happy to do so well and to win the Dew Cup."
Clarke, with a score of 95.00, beat out teammate and friend Gretchen Blieler who was leading until Clarke's final run with a 94.25.
"It's a little bittersweet to take second place with such a close race," Blieler said. "I'm a competitor so it's tough to get second. I have more to give a tricks that I have yet to use, so I'm not worried, I've just got to keep working hard."
Snowbasin is showcasing the tour's longest halfpipe at 615 feet long with 22-foot high walls.
Sunday's schedule
Women's snowboard stopestyle final, 9 a.m.
Men's snowboard slopestyle final, 9:35 a.m.
Women's freeski slopestyle final, noon
Men's freeski slopestyle final, 1 p.m.
Women's snowboard superpipe final, 2:30 p.m.
Men's snowboard superpipe final, 3:30 p.m.
Men's freeski superpipe final, 4:30 p.m.