Jamie Anderson competes in women's slopestyle snowboarding at the Burton U.S. Open on March 3, 2017 in Vail, Colo.
There’s something about the Burton U.S. Open that brings out the best in Jamie Anderson. The reigning Olympic slopestyle snowboarding champion proved that once again Friday afternoon by earning her 11th consecutive podium at the event, taking second in Vail, Colorado.
Entering the competition as the two-time defending champion, Anderson recorded a score of 81.55, less than two points behind winner Anna Gasser of Austria. The overall world cup leader, Gasser logged an 83.85 to take her first U.S. Open title. Canada’s Spencer O’Brien was third, receiving a 75.65.
Anderson is a veteran rider who’s racked up 12 X Games medals and seven slopestyle world cup podiums. Anderson told U.S. Snowboarding that keeping her U.S. Open string alive meant playing through pain.
“I’m riding with a broken elbow right now, so I’ve been super mindful this week,” she said. “I wasn’t sure I was even going to compete, so I’m super happy to put a run down.”
Not as fortunate was Team USA’s Julia Marino, who placed fifth in qualifying but did not compete in the final after absorbing a hard crash during warm-ups.
On the men’s side, Chris Corning had the best showing for the U.S., finishing a career-best fifth at the U.S. Open. Red Gerard gave Team USA two in the men’s final, taking seventh, while Brandon Davis ended 10th.
