In his second Winter X Games, Reno’s David Wise took gold in Men’s Ski SuperPipe.Saturday under bluebird skies and a capacity crowd in Aspen.
“I just focused on the perfect halfpipe and perfect conditions,” Wise said. “I just wanted to show the world who I am and what I can do.”
David Wise took first place in the men's skiing SuperPipe finals. Photo by Sasha Coben.
His technical and stylish run began with a lofty switch double flip 1080, followed by back-to-back 900s, a huge alley oop flatspin 540 and a massive double corked 1260 to earn the day’s top score of 93.00.
Under-the-radar Wise ousted France’s Kevin Rolland who was attempting a three-peat and Aspen’s Torin Yater-Wallace who was aiming for gold in his hometown.
Silver medalist Noah Bowman entered Winter X Games 2012 as a second alternate then found out he would be competing two hours before the elimination round. Landing a difficult and progressive trick, the switch double alley oop 900, Bowman wowed the crowd and the judges as he skied to second place.
Yater-Wallace, last year’s runner up, grabbed the bronze with a high-score of 89.66. He landed on the podium with a unique double cork 1260, combined with a left 900, pipe double flip 900, alley oop flatspin 360 and switch 720.
“I felt like I was expected to do well,” Yater-Wallace said. “I tried to put the pressure aside, but it is so hard as you are standing at the top about to drop. I am stoked that I am on the podium again.”
The SuperPipe is approximately 567 feet long and 66 feet wide, with 22-foot walls. The event is judged on amplitude, execution, difficulty, landings and use of the course.
Women’s Ski SuperPipe Finals
Earlier in the morning, Canadian Roz Groenewoud skied to gold in Women’s Ski SuperPipe with a 93.66, the highest score in the events’ history. After taking bronze the past two Winter X Games, Groenewoud took gold on her fifth X Games appearance. She also had the largest air of the day—a 14-footer on her first hit.
Women's skiing SuperPipe podium. Photo by Sasha Coben.
“It means so much,” an emotional Groenewoud said. “After the tribute on Thursday, I am so proud to be a skier. The outpouring of support has been amazing. I felt like I had Sarah [Burke] with me. She has been a teammate for so long. This is for Sarah.”
Maddie Bowman won the silver, while last year’s silver medalist Brita Sigourney landed the first 1080 in competition and took bronze.
Ski Big Air Finals
With the help of a switch double cork 1440 and a switch double misty 1260, Bobby Brown took the win in Ski Big Air Saturday night, which featured an 80-foot step-up jump.
“It’s all about consistency,” said Brown, who won gold in 2010 and silver in 2011. “It’s not about someone coming out with the gnarliest trick ever, it’s just about laying it down when you need to.”
Louie Vito signing posters in the Red Bull tent. Photo by Sasha Coben.
Winter X Games rookie, Kai Mahler, 16, took silver, while New Zealand’s Jossi Wells finished a point behind Mahler to grab bronze.
Jacob Wester got style props with his cork 900, switch 720 and zero spin on his three respective jumps.
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