BOREAL RESORT, CA (Jan. 31) - U.S. Snowboarding's Steve Fisher (Breckenridge, CO) and Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT) shook up the podium, winning halfpipe at the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix presented by Visa at Boreal Resort Saturday.

It was a long time coming for Fisher, who last won a Grand Prix at the start of the 2008 season in Breckenridge. The Colorado rider threw a frontside air, backside 9, frontside 10, cab 1080, frontside 9 to take the win.

"I am very excited. I've had a couple of second places so far and having the win is always great," Fisher said. "I am looking forward to getting underway with the closing of the season. This is definitely fuel for the fire."

According to U.S Snowboarding Halfpipe Head Coach Mike Jankowski, Fisher's riding is running smoothly.

"Steve is riding at such a high level right now. He's consistent, smooth, and he's having fun in there, and it shows. He's in a really good place right now," Jankowski said.

Fisher was followed in second Louie Vito (Sandy, UT), who won the last three Grand Prix in a row and is the tour's reigning champion.

"I bobbled into my front nine, which hurt my speed but I was happy to be able to land my second run," Vito said. "I am really looking forward to Killington [season finale in March]. I had good luck there last year so I hope it will carry over."

The day was a landmark for U.S. Snowboarding rookie Dylan Bidez (Minturn, CO) who threw what he felt was his best run to land on the only Grand Prix podium of his career.

"I pretty much am shaking right now. This is the best I have ever done in a Grand Prix. I am super stoked," Bidez said. "This is the run I wanted to win today. The first run I was going to do a backup run and just seeing everyone ride I knew I had to do something better."

U.S Snowboarding Freestyle Development Coach Bud Keene was happy to see his rider progress to a new level.

"Dylan has really been coming back from an injury last year and things have been falling in to place for him. It's really not that much of a surprise to me. He's just killing it," Keene said.

In the women's halfpipe, fresh off a silver medal at the 2009 Winter X Games, Teter's win means more to her knowing that it will help others.

"I am so excited because this is my first win of the season and all the money I make is going to go support the town I sponsor in Kenya," Teter said. "The ripple effect of this win is going to be huge because it's not just for me, it's for a whole group of people."

Teter will donate all of her prize money to her town in the hopes of bringing everyone clean water.

"We're working on clean water right now, so with this win we'll probably be able to buy a full well, which will help support around 1,500 people," Teter said.

In second was reigning overall Grand Prix champion Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow, VT), who was happy to see her friend and teammate take first, but plans to step it up in upcoming competitions.

"I had a great run. I was happy with my snowboarding, and that is all I can ask for. It's always great to see my friends do well," Clark said. "I head to Italy first thing in the morning and I'll have to do a little better next time."

The Grand Prix continues Saturday night with the Xbox Junior Jam where Tahoe locals will compete in front of the pros to win an Xbox console.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
2009 U.S. SNOWBOARDING GRAND PRIX PRESENTED BY VISA
Boreal Resort, CA - Jan. 31, 2009
Halfpipe

Men
1. Steve Fisher, Breckenridge, CO, 46.90
2. Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 45.90
3. Dylan Bidez, Minturn, CO, 44.90
4. JJ Thomas, Golden, CO, 44.70
5. Chris Waker, Manchester Center, VT, 43.40

Women
1. Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT, 45.10
2. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 44.30
3. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 39.40
4. Kaitlyn Farrington, Sun Valley, ID, 34.60
5. Alexa Duckworth, Canada, 28.80
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