Before I breakdown the 2013 Burton US Open I want to address a something I said in my last article. I kind of feel like Babe Ruth right now after calling my shot and slugging a huge home run! Well maybe not a home run, more like just hitting a run scoring double. “What the hell am I talking about” you ask? I’m talking about what went down at the Burton US Open in Vail Colorado this past weekend. Let me clarify what it is exactly that I’m talking about by revisiting my last article. In my last article I said this about Ayumu Hirano “This kid is going to beat Shaun White in Halfpipe in the next two years. That’s a guarantee”. Well Ayumu didn’t lock up a win at the USO but he did come in a close second, and it seems like he’s the one rider that can beat Shaun in the pipe. Back to my prediction, 1 month ago to the date I gave myself 2 years on Shaun losing to Ayumu at some future snowboard competition. At this point in time it’s only been 2 months since Shaun’s 6th straight win at the X Games but Ayumu seems to be getting closer and closer to knocking Shaun off his thrown. It seems we might not have to wait anywhere near two years to watch this young ripper beat a renowned veteran in one of the most recognized snowboarding competitions in the World today. Why do I say this? Well, Ayumu’s pace and contest results are amazing, point blank period. I kid you not; Ayumu is the next big thing to hit the competition Halfpipe scene! If he stays on this track, Ayumu will inevitably start winning some of the biggest competitions of the year before he turns 16 years old. It’s funny; Ayumu’s abilities to handle pressure and land the banger tricks remind me of watching a young Shaun White several years ago. I guess only time will tell but my money is still on the young Ayumu Hirano. Ok, now back to the USO. At this year’s Burton US Open, Shaun White was determined to win one for his long time sponsor. In typical Shaun White fashion, he put up a 95.8 on his third run with two double cork 1080’s, a double McTwist 1260, and like a cherry on a slice of cheesecake, he dropped a front Dub 12 to silence the doubters and bring home the win. Ayumu came out on his second run with back-to-back 1080′s, a front 9 tail grab, then a back 5 mute, ending with a front Dub 1080 Indy. Now, in my opinion, Shaun’s double cork onslaught will beat Ayumu runs on paper and in the pipe everytime. The reason being, Ayumu needs more Double Cork variations to really compete with and beat Shaun White. That being said, the kid did drop a few bangers to secure second so I’d say he’s not doing too bad. Ayumu has tons of style, he goes so big, and he stomps all the big tricks consistently. These attributes lead me, and plenty of other people, to believe that Ayumu is the future, the way things are headed, the next Shaun White. With this victory Shaun White secures his 5th US Open win tying Danny Kass for Burton US Open wins. In a post competition press conference Shaun was noted as saying Ayumu will have to come back next year to take him out. Shaun saying that is interesting, it might show some doubt starting to brew up in the always confident and collected Mr. White. I want to point out that next year’s US Open is scheduled to take place after The Olympics. Think back to Vancouver in 2010. After Shaun White won the Olympic Gold he was MIA for the rest of year when it came to the contest scene. In fact he didn’t compete in The US Open for the next 2 years. So does this mean if Shaun takes home the Gold at the upcoming winter Olympics that he won’t be competing with Ayumu in the following Burton US Open? What if Ayumu takes the Gold, then what will Shaun do? Time will determine all I guess but one thing’s for certain, snowboarding halfpipe competitions will be nothing short of amazing for the next few years. Kevin Pearce was heard saying on a US Open Webcast that Ayumu’s first run matched Shaun White’s first run, consequently causing uproar on Twitter. Everyone has their own opinions and KP’s opinion is definitely one that counts, but score bashing isn’t going to do anything but build the hype around Ayumu. I’m not knocking KP here and I am always stoked to share the mic with him! But both KP and myself know that Dub variations are what Ayumu needs to add to his bag of tricks if he wants to dethrone the man. As I said before, variations are key and so far, Ayumu has only shown us his Front Dub 1080. Until he starts adding a few more Double Cork variations to his run, 2nd place will have to do for now. Ok sorry about the ranting, I will try and calm down about the Ayumu-Shaun White battle. I just believe that at his age, with his direction, compiled with his skill level, Ayumu’s future could mirror Shaun White’s when Shaun was younger and setting the world on fire. The thing to remember is that Ayumu is only 14 and he’s already racked up two 2nd Place Finishes at X Games, a second place finish at the Burton US Open, along with becoming the 2013 World Snowboard Tour Halfpipe Champion in his first full year of competing. That’s quite the resume for a 14 year old snowboarder let me tell you! The bummer about all this is that we have to wait until next year to see how the Shaun White Ayumu Hirano battle will play out. After seeing the way Ayumu has shaken things up in the snowboarding halfpipe world in such short time, I can only wonder what’s in store for us in the future. I saw all of this coming when they squared off against each other at X Games in Aspen and I felt the need to let all of you know: I told you so! Until next time, Brad J [email protected] www.Twitter.com/bradjaymc
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