Photo: Alli
Kaitlyn FarringtonSun Valley, Idaho-native Kaitlyn Farrington claimed the first Winter Dew Tour victory of her career at the women s snowboard superpipe final at the Toyota Championship, while 28-year-old JJ Thomas pulled down the top score in the men s competition at Mount Snow Resort to claim his first win on the three-stop circuit as well. In a night of firsts for both Farrington and Thomas, the wins for each landed them atop the year-long standings, giving them the Dew Cups in their respective disciplines.

After a strong run that included a backside 540, and inverted 720 with a grab, a stalefish as well as a backside 720, Farrington was awarded a 90.75 to win the women s snowboard superpipe final. The win, coupled with a second-place finish last month at the second stop of the Winter Dew Tour, gave the 20 year old the boost she needed to claim the Dew Cup.

I m so stoked to win the Dew Cup, said Farrington. It s just icing on the cake in what s been a pretty awesome season.

In the first final of her tenure on the circuit, 15-year-old Maddy Schaffrick from Steamboat Springs, Colo. made it onto the podium, taking second with an 85.00, while Norwegian Olympian Kjersti stgaard Buaas, 27, rounded out the top three with a 72.50.

Thomas winning run included a McTwist, a flawless 1080 and a frontside 900, giving him a final score of 96.75. The number-two spot on the podium went to 19-year-old Brennen Swanson of Stillwater, Minn., whose huge double cork to end his run aided in his score of 91.00. Swanson s run put Steve Fisher, 27, in third with a score of 85.00. Heading into the final, Fisher was the top contender for the Dew Cup and needed a first- or second-place finish to secure it.

Consistency was the name of the game for Breckenridge, Colo. s Thomas, who made all three finals this season, never finishing worse than sixth at any competition. His win tonight allowed him to jump to the top of the points standings, edging fellow Breckenridge-local Fisher by a margin of five points. Thomas 245 points over the course of the season gave him his first Dew Cup.

I couldn t be more excited, and I never imagined winning an entire Tour, said Thomas. Brennen had a pretty amazing run tonight too, and I guess he helped me win the Cup by coming in second place.

Sunday s events for the Toyota Championship include the finals for the Gatorade Free Flow Tour, the official amateur series of the Winter Dew Tour, along with the Toyota Tricktopsy Big Air featuring top freeskiers like Simon Dumont, Bobby Brown and 2009-10 Dew Cup winner in freeski superpipe, Jossi Wells.