MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CA- Mount Snow rider and West Dover native Kelly Clark earned a spot in her third Olympics last week by winning the Grand Prix halfpipe event at Mammoth Mountain. Clark made her first Olympics appearance in 2002, winning gold in Salt Lake City. In 2006 she again earned a place on the US Team for the Turin Olympics, this time finishing fourth behind two fellow Americans.

For years Clark has soared above the competition, known for going bigger than other female riders. It was in this fashion she earned her Olympic spot with a run of frontside air, backside 5, frontside 9, backside air, frontside 7, and cab 7. The perfection and height of her tricks won her a score of 48.40 out of 50. Hannah Teter (US) was second at 45.20 and Holly Crawford (AUST) came in third with a score of 44.40.

“I couldn’t be happier with my result today, and it’s a privilege to be going to my third Olympic Games,” Clark said.

Last season, Clark also won the Dew Cup at the inaugural Winter Dew Tour. At the second stop, on her home turf at Mount Snow, she took home first place in halfpipe. This year Mount Snow will host the finals of the Winter Dew Tour, The Toyota Championships, from February 5 to 7.