Men Snowboard Slopestyle // SEBASTIEN TOUTANT Gold
Once again the last day of the snowboard competition lived up to all expectations. Slopestyle was the focus this morning in Tignes, where the men’s contest turned out to be a highly acrobatic show. The Norwegian star Torstein Horgmo, who took first place in the qualifying rounds, injured his ankle on his second run and was forced to prematurely drop out of the competition.
The two Canadians, Marc Mc Morris and Sebastien Toutant, fought it out for the top spot on the podium, just managing to keep Peetu Piiroinen in third place. Peetu, who once again let his versatility do the talking during these X Games Tignes, was one of the only riders to take part in both the Slopestyle and SuperPipe events.
With nearly identical runs, that both included the infamous triple cork, it was the Quebecois Seb Toutant’s clean airs and amplitude that enabled him to beat Marc Mc Morris with a second run that was scored at 95 points.
Women Snowboard Slopestyle // SILJE NORENDAL Gold
The women were hit with a troubled week, where training sessions were permanently being pushed back due to the bad weather conditions. That didn’t stop them from pushing their limits during the finals, giving what one commentator described as "the best women's slopestyle finals I've ever seen"! Frontside 1080s and double back flips were thrown down solidly, proving that the women are pushing each other beyond belief on the competitive circuit right now. It was the young Norwegian rider Silje Norendal that came out on top and took the top podium place. “I chose not to limit myself in terms of tricks and decided to risk it all. I’m not interested in playing it safe and insuring a fourth or fifth place.”
Men Ski SuperPipe // TORIN YATER-WALLACE Gold
The youngest athlete in the competition, American Torin Yater-Wallace, repeated his last year's win as the Ski SuperPipe Gold medalist. The win continues Yater-Wallace’s streak of success and ensured yet another podium position.
In an exciting final, Yater-Wallace battled with fellow American David Wise and hometown favorite Kevin Rolland throughout the competition. Though Yater-Wallace got out to an early lead with his first run, both Wise and Rolland took the top spot with their second runs. However, Yater-Wallace had the final say, improving his score to a 93.66 with his final run.
"I think everybody skied really well tonight," said Yater-Wallace, who also earned SuperPipe gold in Tignes in 2012. "It was just such a high-level competition. I was so surprised: I couldn't believe I won again."
Wise scored a 92.33 for the silver medal and Kevin Rolland’s 91.66 won him bronze, his first medal since 2011.
Jamie Nicholls Photo: IUC Photography
Women Ski SuperPipe // MARIE MARTINOD Gold
In the comeback of the X Games, formerly retired French skier Marie Martinod returned for the first time since 2006 to win the Women’s Ski SuperPipe competition. She started the competition off with a big first run for a score of 86.33 that proved unbeatable.
The French women thrilled the crowd – Martinod winning the gold medal and Anais Caradeux the silver. Caradeux scored an 85.33.
"It's probably the first time I've had so many friends at the bottom and all my family, and everything I can say is that I heard you guys," Martinod-Routin said, celebrating with her daughter from the bottom of the pipe after the competition. "I heard you screaming and shouting so loud; it just gave me so much power."
X Games Aspen 2013 gold medalist Maddie Bowman stepped up in her last run to take the last spot on the podium with an 85.00.
