Justin Dorey with decisive win at Breck Dew Tour

Canada is getting the job done in the halfpipe. It only took one run for Justin Dorey to make a statement at the Dew Tour, as the British Columbian’s first-lap score of 93.5 set a high bar, unreachable by the rest of the field in Breckenridge Friday.

Not even a dislocated shoulder he sustained in the air could ruin Dorey’s day (but it did ruin his second run through the pipe), as the 24-year-old picked up his first career Dew Tour victory.

“I usually go for broke every run,” he said. “Sometimes it works but it’s a gamble. I knew I needed a podium for the Olympic qualifying so I was a little more reserved. That helped me focus.”

Dorey’s winning run consisted of a right double cork 1260 safety, left
900, air-to-fakie, switch 720, alley-oop left flatspin 540 and left
double cork 1260.

He was joined on the podium by New Zealand’s Byron Wells and Alberta’s Mike Riddle, who less than a week ago picked up a win at the North American season opener, the North Face Open, a NorAm-level event at Copper Mountain. 

“This is the most important event for us so far as what the results mean,” said Riddle, the defending world champion. “It’s huge to get a podium (finish) so I’m unbelievably excited. Now I hope to build on it.”

David Wise was the top American in fifth, finishing just behind multi-X-Games gold medalist Kevin Rolland, of France, who has only been back on snow three weeks since a nine-month hiatus.  

Finishing in sixth, Tanner Hall was celebrating more than just a competitive score. It was only the second U.S. competition for the seven-time X Games gold medalist since his devastating injury in 2009, which sidelined him from competition and nearly ended his career.

Clearly hitting his stride at the right moment, Vail’s Taylor Seaton was next best American in eighth, the top Dew Tour result of his young career.

The Americans fared better on the women’s side, as Brita Sigourney’s amplitude and technical tricks won the judges over, while teammate Maddie Bowman’s left and right 900s landed her in second.

It was Sigourney’s first competition back after she suffered a knee injury in late February.

“I am so happy right now with my skiing, to come off a knee injury and after having to sit out the rest of the season last year was such a bummer and this is so rewarding,” Sigourney said. “I have been training at the Center of Excellence all summer and fall and it really paid off. I really needed this to help get my confidence back up.”

Freeski Men’s Superpipe Results
1. Justin Dorey – 93.50
2. Byron Wells – 90.25
3. Mike Riddle – 88.50
4. Kevin Rolland – 85.50
5. David Wise – 85.00
6. Tanner Hall – 85.75
8. Taylor Seaton – 76.75
9. Matt Margetts – 74.25
10. Thomas Krief – 38.75

Freeski Women’s Superpipe Results
1. Brita Sigourney – 90.25
2. Maddie Bowman – 87.25
3. Roz Groenewoud – 84.00
4. Ayana Onozuka – 78.00
5. Anais Caradeux – 74.50
6. Keltie Hansen – 62.00