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The World Ski and Snowboard Festival has always been a series of highs and lows for Olympic snowboarder Maëlle Ricker. This year was another high.

The World Ski and Snowboard Festival has always been a series of highs and lows for Olympic snowboarder Maëlle Ricker. This year was another high. After winning the North American BoarderCross championships the first weekend of the festival, Ricker returned last weekend to win the women’s pro category of the Westbeach Classic halfpipe jam. West Vancouver’s Ricker, 19, finished ahead of fellow Olympian Tara Teigen of Calgary. B.C. rider Kelly Kaye was third. Two years ago Ricker won both the pro and amateur categories of the women’s Westbeach Halfpipe — then broke her ankle in the skateboard park during the skateboard jam the next day. Nine screws were required to repair her ankle during a four hour operation. Last year she wasn’t allowed to compete in the BoarderCross because she was under 19. The men’s pro halfpipe jam was won by B.C. rider Allen Clark. Trevor Andrew of Nova Scotia was second and Guy Deschenes of Quebec third. The women’s amateur even was won by Dawn Gillen of Ontario. Sara Jordon was second, just ahead of fellow British Columbian Vanessa Stark. B.C. riders swept the medals in the men’s amateur halfpipe. Glenn Kelly topped the field, followed by Caine Heintzman and Oliver Roy. Saturday evening’s Big Air invitational competition was another crowd pleaser, despite the damp weather. Kevin Sansalone won the men’s event. He was followed by Ben Hinkley and Mike Page. The women’s Big Air finals were won by Jamie Macleod. Jacquie Berg was second and Jane Mathews third.



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