X Games: Slopestyle goes to White

Aspen, Colo. – Shaun White is not accustomed to leading off an event, but after qualifying last, that is exactly what he did.

The unusual event may have been just the motivation he needed as he came away with Snowboard Slopestyle Men’s title and a Winter X Games record eighth career gold medal.

“It was unreal,” an excited White said following the competition.  “I missed out on a gold medal the past two years, so to win it was awesome.”Aspen, Colo. – Shaun White is not accustomed to leading off an event, but after qualifying last, that is exactly what he did.

The unusual event may have been just the motivation he needed as he came away with Snowboard Slopestyle Men’s title and a Winter X Games record eighth career gold medal.

“It was unreal,” an excited White said following the competition.  “I missed out on a gold medal the past two years, so to win it was awesome.”

Keyed by his daring backside 720 cross over the treacherous canyon, White snatched the lead on his second run with a score of 96.00, a score that tied his career high and the Winter X Games high in Snowboard Slopstyle Men’s.

Scotty Lago, who lead the competition after the first round, finished second with a top score of 94.66 and

Oslo, Norway’s Mikkel Bang closed out the medalists, grabbing a bronze with a top score of 91.33.

“I came in super focused,” the silver medalist Lago said. “I knew I could do well.  I am super excited; words can’t explain … I am so happy right now.”

Snowboard Slopestyle tests the rider’s ability to handle a variety of terrain by executing freestyle maneuvers down a course filled with a variety of features.  The Winter X Games 13 course contains rails, hips, tabletops and a variety of jumps, allowing riders to combine big air and technical tricks into one run.

X Games men’s snowboard slopestyle final results:
1.         Shaun White                          Carlsbad, Calif.                         96.00
2.         Scotty Lago                                Seabrook, N.H.                         94.66
3.         Mikkel Bang                            Oslo, Norway                            91.33
4.         Chas Guldemond                   Truckee, Calif.                           91.00
5.         Peetu Piiroinen                          Hyvinkaa, Finland                      90.33
6.         Andreas Wiig                       Oslo, Norway                            89.00
7.         Tim Humphreys                           Basking Ridge, N.J.                   88.66
8.         Jussi Oksanen                          Encinitas, Calif.                         75.00