ASPEN, Colo. (Jan. 28) – The 14th running of ESPN’s Winter X-Games kicked off today in exciting fashion as Canadian skier Kaya Turski grabbed the first gold medal of the event in the women’s Slopestyle Skiing contest with more than an 11-point advantage.

Turski finished third in last year’s inaugural women’s slopestyle event after the Montreal native lost a ski during her first run. She kept them both on today to score 96.66 and beat  Breckenridge’s Keri Herman in second and Salt Lake City native Grete Eliassen, last year’s silver medalist, in third.

“I can’t even explain what this means,” said Turski of her successful trip down a course of rails, kickers and jumps. "I have been working for this my entire life. To win X Games is a dream come true."

Chicago’s Ashley Battersby was just off the podium in fourth place while Aspen local Megan Olenick claimed fourth. Women’s free skiing star Sarah Burke of Whistler finished sixth.

For a complete list of this weekend’s competition and TV schedule click here.

Look for more  in-depth X-Games coverage, images and video in the next digital issue of Ski Racing.

Skiing Slopestyle Women’s Final

Results from Aspen/Snowmass on Thursday
 
           Name                          Bib #               Hometown                             Score                         
1.         Kaya Turski                   571                   Montreal, QC, Canada               96.66
2.         Keri Herman                  508                   Breckenridge, Colo.                   85.00
3.         Grete Eliassen               509                   Salt Lake City, Utah                   84.33   
4.         Ashley Battersby           539                   Chicago, Ill.                               83.66
5.         Megan Olenick              541                   Aspen, Colo.                             79.33
6.         Sarah Burke                  570                   Whistler, BC, Canada                 64.66
7.         Kristi Leskinen               593                   Uniontown, Pa.                          50.66
8.         Roz Groenewoud           507                   Calgary, AB, Canada                 0.00