Dew Tour fans bright and early. JLNorthern Utah has been putting out, even this past Sunday, which isn't typical in the conservative land of the Mormon. Sunny blue skies, again, and perfect weather set the stage for a big day on the slopes of Snowbasin Resort.

Snowbasin + Tim Eastley = killing it. JL
The SPT slopestyle course build by Snowbasin Terrain Park manager Time Eastley (of former Breck fame) was center stage as men's and women's snowboarders battled it out for some serious cash.

Someone really wanted to be on TV. Probably
didn’t happen. JL

Women's snowboard slopestyle was filled with falls, drama, and an unexpected podium line-up as early favorite Jamie Anderson fell on both her runs and wildcard Megan Ginter snuck in and copped a 3rd place spot behind Jenny Jones and Spencer O'Brien. O'Brien took top honors with the cleanest back to back 5s I've ever seen in competition. No spin to win @ Snowbasin, as Jenny Jones locked a cab 5 to a 720, her extra rotation wasn't enough to top the style of O'Brien's 5s.

Men's snowboard slopestyle was another story, with big spins from Chas Guldemond proving that it doesn't take doublecorks to come out on top. "I've hit my head enough that I wanted to stay away from the doublecorks today and just focus on what I know I have." What does Chas have?

When in doubt, lay it out. JL

A perfect 1260, off the last jump, right in the judges faces. On a Rockstar Energy board no less; it makes me wonder what the Mtn Dew bigwigs thought when they were signing his check later that day. Do you remember your to-do lists from when you were 16 years old? I barely do, but I know they didn't include learning double cork 1260s before your next shred contest.

The people's champ, Chas Guldemond. JL
Young Tyler Flanagan took second place with 9s, 10s, and a double cork, with doublecork 1260s, hopefully in time for Vermont. Also 16 year old, 3rd place finisher and PC local Sage Kotsenberg took to the Dew podium for the second time this winter and like Flanagan, is looking forward to dropping some some of his doubles in Vermont.

The level of shredding is far beyond the limits of what anybody ever thought was possible, and the game may be changing as 16 year olds are beating shred superstars like Torstein Horgmo and Andreas Wiig, who have long dominated the slopestyle contest scene. Horgmo, who finished 6th said "I'm just happy I landed everything in my second run, I've been battling a head cold so my run was more mellow than I would have liked, so I am just going to focus on resting and healing for the X Games."

The eyes of Jenny Jones. JL

With the Wendy's Invitational all wrapped up, 2010 is fast shaping up to be perhaps one of the biggest years snowboarding has ever seen. The level of riding is at an all time high, seasoned vets are being dethroned by kids barely old enough to drive, and the Winter X games and Winter Olympics are just around to corner. In the meantime, keep your eyes on every 22ft halfpipe in America as Olympic hopefuls from coast to coast is polishing what could be a gold medal run of a lifetime.

With injuries sidelining top US Team contenders Kevin Pearce and Danny Davis, dark horse riders will be hitting the pipe walls harder than ever before.

Words: Sean Kerrick Sullivan
Photos Sean Sullivan/Jake Lawlor

Click here for the FULL GALLERY