VAIL \u2014 Locals will have a snowboarder to cheer on in the Saturday halfpipe final at the Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships, as Eagle resident Jake Pates landed a solid run in Thursday\u2019s semi finals to make it through in fifth position.<\/p>\n
The men\u2019s semi-final narrowed a field of 32 down to 10 qualifiers; Japanese snowboarder Yuto Totsuka was top qualifier with a score of 89.37, and Scotty James, of Australia, was just behind him with a score of 89.12.<\/p>\n
Pates was the top scoring American on the day, one of only two U.S. riders to make it through to Saturday\u2019s final. Danny Davis qualified in 10th position.<\/p>\n
Japan will be the best represented nation in Saturday\u2019s halfpipe finals, with Raibu Katayama and Ruka Hirano also qualifying on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Katayama said the Japanese snowboarders are friends as well as rivals.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways, every day, every time, we push each other,\u201d Katayma said. \u201cWe are getting higher and higher with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scotty James, who won both X Games an the halfpipe snowboarding World Championships this season, will also have a compatriot in the finals as Australian Kent Callister made it through, as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to Saturday, it\u2019s going to be an exciting show,\u201d James said. \u201cI\u2019m just grateful to be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The men\u2019s halfpipe finals are scheduled to start at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Vail\u2019s Golden Peak venue. The event is free for spectators to attend and will be broadcast free for viewers on BurtonUSOpen.com.<\/a><\/p>\n