MNSS SUPERCROSS RACER RYAN VILLOPOTO PLACES FIRST AT THE SAN FRANCISCO SX

Before 41,872 fans at AT&T Park, Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, WA, won his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross race of 2010. At the start Villopoto followed Ryan Dungey in second place. Millsaps passed Villopoto on the first lap but then crashed on lap four, giving second place back to Villopoto. Dungey crashed on lap ten and dropped back to fourth place. This allowed Villopoto to move into the lead and he held it for the rest of the race to finish in first place. The win for Villopoto marked the third in his career. "The track was tough and slippery," said Villopoto. "It was hard to put in 20 perfect laps out there tonight. It wasn't the start that I wanted, so I played catch-up. It is a long season with a lot of racing left." This coming weekend Villopoto will line up for the next AMA Supercross in San Diego, CA.

MNSS SNOWBOARDER TORSTEIN HORGMO TAKES 2ND IN BIG AIR AND CHAS GULDEMOND TAKES 3RD IN SLOPESTYLE AT THE WINTER X GAMES 14

The Sports Syndicate’s Torstein Horgmo and Chas Guldemond both earned medals at Winter X Games 14. In Big Air, Torstein Horgmo set down 1260s galore, both a Cab 1260 and switch backside 1260 along with a savage backside 1080. However, it appeared that the judges were rewarding inverted tricks, and so not throwing a double cork held him in 2nd place for the Silver medal. Torsein would like to thank his sponsors DC, Monster Energy, Oakley, Vestal, Park City, and Kicker. In Slopestyle, Chas Guldemomd stomped his line on the course and hung in there for a 3rd place finish and the Bronze medal. Chas rocked a back rodeo off the cannon feature, then slapped down a Cab 10, a switch backside 900, and a backside 1080 through the kicker line for podium-place number three. Chas would like to thank his sponsors Rockstar Energy Drink, Electric, Under Armour, Hatch Ltd and Porters.

MNSS SNOWBOARDER JOHN JACKSON WINS BEST RIDER OF THE YEAR AND BEST VIDEO PART OF THE YEAR AT THE TRANSWORLD SNOWBOARDING RIDERS POLL AWARDS

Freestyle snowboarding powerhouse John Jackson scooped the two big TransWorld SNOWboarding Riders’ Poll Awards, winning for Men’s Video Part Of The Year and Men’s Rider Of The Year honors. John’s mind-numbing video part in Forum’s Forever pretty much sealed the deal on this year’s Riders’ Poll. To be voted the very best rider, by the best riders in snowboarding is serious business. The always humble Jackson, who learned his chops in California’s Eastern Sierra’s mountain said, “It feels amazing—I’ve never really won anything so it means alot, thank you, seriously.” Click to check out the recap with photos on the TWSNOWBOARDING website. John would like to thank his sponsors Forum, Special Blend, L-R-G, Von Zipper, Jacks Garage and I Path.

MNSS SNOWBOARDER LOUIE VITO QUALIFIES FOR THE US OLYMPIC SNOWBOARD HALFPIPE TEAM

The Sports Syndicate’s Louie Vito has qualified for the US Olympic Snowboard Halfpipe Team on January 23rd in Park City, UT. Vito finished with 800 points on the season after having secured two 2nd place finishes at the Copper and Mammoth Grand Prix stops.

“When I get to Vancouver, I want it to be an experience and really take it all in”, said Vito of his Olympic opportunity. “You know, it’s a once in a lifetime chance and I want to do well and put down a good run, but I just really want to take it all in and enjoy it, and have fun.”

The Olympic Team was determined by ranking the riders according to their two best finishes among the five (5) Grand Prix events. The third best finish was used in the event of a tie.

Louie would like to thank his sponsors for their support: 686, Monster Energy Drink, Omatic, Spy, Skullcandy, Sprint, Mountain High, Kicker, Neff and Vestal.

For more information on Louie check out his Olympic profile at www.nbcolympics.com

MNSS SNOWBOARDER CHAS GULDEMOND SPINS TO WIN AT THE SNOWBASIN DEW TOUR SLOPESTYLE

For The Dew Tour's Stop #2 in Snowbasin, Chas dropped in, hit the A-frame with a nosepress 180 to switch nosepress, spins a cab 270 frontboard down the double kink. Spun a lot more off the first two jumps before throwing a 1260 off the third and then spins another lofty 360 off the up rail. That was a lot of spins in a 40 second winning run. Without a doubt Chas killed it in the final. His 1440 attempt was solid, just a bit washed out, and his 5050 stiffy salute was hilarious and apparently heartfelt, “That was to all my fans in America and across the world.” While Chas obviously enjoyed his win, he’s aware of what it took to get there. This Final was a wake-up call. Everyone has the 900, and 1080s only score big when back-to-back or doublecorked. This was a rough Final, almost everyone fell second run as slopestyle riders adapt to the new degree of insanity.

MNSS SUPERCROSS RACER RYAN VILLOPOTO PLACES 2ND AT THE PHOENIX SX

At the start of the AMA 450cc SX final Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto was running in a close second, while out front Ryan Dungey was leading from start to finish. During the main event Villopoto looked impressive and pushed Dungey early in the race, but could not get close enough to make a challenge. “I gained a little on Dungey during the early part of the race, but I just couldn’t do anything with it,” said Villopoto. “This track is typically slippery and I just had to ride really smooth and not make any mistakes, which made it hard to catch up.” This coming weekend Villopoto will line up for the next AMA Supercross at Anaheim # 2.

MNSS SNOWBOARDER CHAS GULDEMOND TAKES 1ST IN THE MAMMOTH GRAND PRIX SLOPESTYLE

The Sports Syndicate’s Chas Guldemond ripped up the slopestyle course at Mammoth Mountain on his way to a 1st place finish. Chas landed a cab 900, a backside 1200, half cab, 50/50 to back 3 out, gap to 50/50, backside rodeo and a switch backside 900. “I work really hard at what I do. Since last spring I haven’t been on the podium, let alone top 5, so I am stoked to be back up here,” said Guldemond of his 1st place finish. “I just like to put on a good show for all the people around and it definitely boosts the confidence,” said Guldemond. He will carry that confidence to the next stop of the Dew Tour at Utah’s Snowbasin Resort January 15, 2010-January 17, 2010. Chas would like to thank his sponsors Rockstar Energy Drink, Electric, Under Armour, Hatch Ltd and Porters.

MNSS SNOWBOARDERS LOUIE VITO AND JJ THOMAS LAND IN 2ND AND 3RD AT THE MAMMOTH GRAND PRIX SUPERPIPE

The Sports Syndicate’s Louie Vito AND JJ Thomas both had a stellar weekend at Mammoth, placing 2nd and 3rd respectively in Superpipe at the Mammoth Grand Prix. The 2010 Vancouver Olympic hopeful Louie Vito currently sits in 2nd place on the leaderboard, the top 4 get Olympic bids. Thomas, the 2002 Bronze Medalist has been having a great season so far. With top 5 finishes on the Grand Prix and a 3rd place finish at the Dew Tour. The Olympic team will be named on January 23, 2010 after the final Grand Prix stop in Park City. With Vito currently sitting in second place, with two 2nd place finishes he is virtually a lock for qualifying for the 2010 Games in Vancouver. JJ currently sits in 4th place on the Grand Prix leaderboard and is in a great position to secure one of the four positions for the US Olympic Team in Vancouver. Louie would like to thank his sponsors 686, Monster Energy Drink, Omatic, Spy, Skullcandy, Mountain High, Kicker, Grenade, Neff and Vestal. JJ would like to thank his sponsors Breckenridge Resort, Essa, Oakley, vitaminwater and Yea Nice.

CHAT LIVE ONLINE WITH MNSS SNOWBOARDER ANDREAS WIIG

On Friday January 8, 2010 at 1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern Andreas Wiig will be chatting online live at http://facebook.com/xgames. Fans who participate will have a chance to chat with Andreas live and win gift bags from Andreas' sponsors including: Rockstar, Electric, Vans, Matix, Keystone and more.