The Gatorade Free Flow Tour crowned its first three event winners this weekend at Big Boulder, including freeskier Jack Strain.

The amateur event, hosted by Big Boulder Ski Resort in Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania on January 9th, drew 92 amateur competitors. The Winners From Big Boulder Advance to Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals, taking place in conjunction with the Dew Tour’s Toyota Championship, February 4-7 at Mount Snow Resort in Vermont.

In the freeski slopestyle competition Strain, a 16-year-old Montclair, New Jersey native, executed a perfect switch 900 to corked out 9 tail grab, finessing his way through the rail section of the course during his winning run. His score of 84.33 edged out 30 other freeskiers at Big Boulder.

In the men’s snowboard slopestyle competition, Augusta, Maine native Will Mayo, 21, earned the victory over a full field of 34 amateurs after landing a cab 5 melon and a back 900 in his second run to come from behind for the win. Sarah Polmounter, a 21 year old from Hazleton, Pennsylvania, punched her ticket to the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals in the women’s contest, using a 50-50 and a bonk off the Gatorade cooler legacy piece to secure the win.

“I’m really excited that I won the Gatorade Free Flow Tour competition today,” Strain said. “I had a lot of fun and got to meet new kids. I’m most excited about Finals, because Mount Snow is my home mountain, and I’ll get to have all my friends and family in the crowd.”

Judging the competitions was Winter Dew Tour freeski slopestyle athlete Sean Jordan, who finished in eighth place at the Tour’s first stop in Breckenridge, Colorado last month.

“The talent that was competing today was great to see, especially since we’re on the East Coast,” Jordan said. “The Gatorade Free Flow Tour gives these ams an amazing opportunity, and it’s exactly what we need around here.”

With the wins, all three – Strain, Mayo and Polmounter – earn automatic bids into the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals that will take place at the Dew Tour’s Toyota Championship, February 4-7, 2010 at Mount Snow Resort in Vermont.

The 2010 Gatorade Free Flow Tour showcases the top amateur winter athletes competing in snowboarding and freeskiing, slopestyle and superpipe. The 10-stop schedule includes resorts in all areas of the United States. The winners in each of the 51 contests will be flown to the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals.

Gatorade Free Flow Tour – Big Boulder Ski Area Results
Saturday, January 9, 2010

Lake Harmony, PA
Freeski Slopestyle

1. Jack Strain, Montclair, N.J., 84.33. 2. Jake Doan, Lake Placid, N.Y., 82.33. 3. Brad Bulzan, Chardon, Ohio, 81.33. 4. KC Brousseau, Saranac, N.Y., 77.33. 5. Freddy Brideweser, Canton, Ohio, 74.33.

Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle

1. Will Mayo, Augusta, Maine, 73.67. 2. Louie Hanft, Stroudsburg, Pa., 71.67. 3. Billy Keil, White Haven, Pa., 69.00. 4. Bradley Schaeffer, Stone Ridge, N.Y., 65.67. 5. Rob Hallowell, Tilton, N.H., 64.00.

Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle

1. Sarah Polmounter, Hazleton, Pa., 61.67. 2. Ashley VanderMeer, Johnstown, Pa., 61.00. 3. Kendel Elliott, Kewaskum, Wis., 49.67. 4. Riley Elliott, Kewaskum, Wis., 46.67.

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