Vans Cup was an entertaining show

The Vans Cup events continue to draw the world's best as well as local competitors.

Mike Casanova and Leanne Pelosi laid claim to the weekend's first two titles at the Vans Cup last week under the lights at Northstar-at-Tahoe in the Rail Jam competition.

Judged on overall performance during the 45-minute Jam, Casanova attacked the rail features and threw in a wicked variety of tricks including a Switch Frontside Boardslide through the kink to Backside 180 to Switch 50-50 to 180 out and walked away with a cool $15,000.

Darrell Mathes was second and won $8,000, plus $4,000 bonus from Tylenol. Third was Lucas Magoon, winning $4,000. Danny Rein won $4,000 for Tylenol "Fight through the Pain" Award.

Darrell Mathes took home $8,000 and Lucas Magoon won $4,000 on the evening.

In the Ladies' Jam, Pelosi defended her '05 title with a best that included a Half Cab to Front Boardslide to Fakie Off to win $2,000 during the 30-minute Jam that also included Hana Beaman, Erin Comstock, Alexis Waite and Priscilla Levac.

Fifteen year-old Jamie Anderson, from South Tahoe, captured the biggest title of her young career and $17,000 and was joined by Salt Lake City's Nate Sheehan as winners in the Slopestyle competition at the Vans Cup last Saturday.

Anderson bested Japan's Izumi Amaike, the leader after qualifiers, and Tara Dakides who rode her way back to the podium in third place. In the guys' competition, Mammoth Lake's Mason Aguirre, the Torino Superpipe fourth place finisher, came in second, while Chaz Guldemond placed third.

The Vans Cup drew to a close Sunday with Finland's Antti Autti and Australian Torah Bright coming up big in the storm-shortened Superpipe Jam. With the guys given an hour to show there stuff, the judges and crowd both ordained Autti, who represented Finland in the Torino games, the day's best, with Louie Vito and Kazuirho Kokubo of Japan finishing second and third.

In the ladies' Superpipe Jam, 19-year-old Torah Bright grabbed the $17,000 first place check finishing ahead of Torino silver medalist Gretchen Bleiler and Aguirre's sister, Molly Aguirre.

The Vans Cup will air on Fox Sports Net in two parts at 3 p.m. April 28 and May 5 with re-broadcasts on May 12 and May 19.

WOMEN'S DAY

Olympian Kristin Krone will be part of the festivities for the fifth annual Tahoe Women Service's Ski Day taking place on Sunday at Northstar-at-Tahoe. Lift tickets are priced at $20 and must be purchased in advance.

Krone will appear at Northstar's mid-mountain Day Lodge between noon and 2 p.m. Krone, a Truckee resident, represented the United States Alpine Ski Team at the 1988 Calgary Olympics and the 1992 Albertville Olympics.

Tickets are available online at www.tahoewomenservices.org or at Tahoe Dave's Skis & Boards or Porters on the North Shore and in Truckee. Tickets are not available for sale at Northstar and must be purchased by March 11. Call 298-0010.

Every $20 lift ticket purchased for Tahoe Women's Services Ski Day supports the delivery of emergency food and shelter, counseling, legal assistance and advocacy to women and families.

Friends and family can "do the dew" at Sierra's Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge at Northstar. This event includes activities for all ages and ability levels including slalom racing, prizes and give-a-ways, DJs, Mountain Dew sampling tents and more. The event is free with a valid season pass or daily lift ticket.

USASA event

The United States Amateur Snowboard Association (USASA) will host the 17th Annual USASA National Championship at Northstar. This event will bring more than 1,300 athletes and their families and friends to the North Lake Tahoe region for a week of competition and daily festivities. For a detailed list of events, see www.northstarattahoe.com.