Snowbird, UT (Monday, January 27, 2003) - Canadian Jonny Law overcame low visibility on a steep North Baldy and a field of the world's best freeskiers to claim the 2003 Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Nationals title at Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort. Law, who will also be hauling the Sick Bird Award home to Whistler, B.C. for his crazy lines and air over the two-day competition, edged Frenchman Romain Maitre with a score of 81.6 to 80 for Maitre.

Ingrid Backstrom of Squaw Valley, Calif., took top honors in the women's field with a score of 72.6. Lynn Kennen, Alpine Meadows, Calif., finished second (61.4) and Little Cottonwood Canyon's own Laura Ogden was third (60.4). Snowbird's Kelly Holland was sixth.

Snowbird's Rick Greener skied to third place for the second straight year. Other Utah skiers among the top finishers are Sage Cattabriga,
Alta/Snowbird, eighth, and Ben Wheeler, Alta/Snowbird, 10th.

Originally scheduled to end Sunday, the Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Nationals presented by Amstel Light were moved to Sunday and Monday due to fog during Friday's skiercross. The last half of the men's field was blasted by strong winds and heavy snowfall on the steep North Baldy run.

For his fourth-place finishes in both the skiercross and big mountain events, Justin Glick, Silverton, Colo., won the combined honors and a check for $3,500. Anik Demers, Squaw Valley, Calif., was the top female combined finisher and received $1,500.

Law received $2,500 for his first-place finish while Backstrom earned
$1,500.