X Games: Groenewoud, Wise grab superpipe gold
The 2012 Winter X Games rolled on today (Jan. 28) in Aspen, Colo. with ski superpipe athletes Roz Groenewoud of Calgary, A.B. and David Wise of Reno, Nevada taking the gold medals.
Groenewoud took to the pipe today with Sarah Burke stickers on her helmet in honor of her Canadian teammate and close friend and captured gold in Women’s Ski SuperPipe with a 93.66-point score – the highest score in the events’ history.
“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 with me. She has been a teammate for so long. This is for Sarah.”
After winning the bronze medal the last two years, the gold is Groenewoud’s first in five Winter X Games appearances.
Maddie Bowman, who made her first Winter X Games appearance last year managed three scores in the 90s, her highest a 92.00, won the silver.
“Honestly this is kind of shocking, it is just now sinking in,” an excited Bowman said. “It’s great and I am honored to be able to go out and ski like Sarah would have wanted.”
Last year’s silver medalist, Brita Sigourney executed the first 1080 in competition, took home the bronze with a high score of 90.66.
David Wise, in just his second Winter X Games, overcame overwhelming odds to capture gold in Men’s Ski SuperPipe with a top score of 93.00.
“I just didn’t think about it as pressure,” Wise said. “I just focused on the perfect halfpipe and perfect conditions. I just wanted to show the world who I am and what I can do. Thanks to everyone for giving me the opportunity to show you what I can do in the pipe.”
All the talk before the competition revolved around Frenchman Kevin Rolland’s attempt at a three-peat and Aspen’s Torin Yater-Wallace’s attempt at capturing gold in his hometown. All the while Wise flew under the radar and consistently put up great runs.
Joining Wise on the podium with the silver medal is another relatively unknown skier Noah Bowman, who entered Winter X Games Aspen 2012 as a second alternate and found out he would be competing two hours before the elimination round.
“It was kind of nice, I was just looking at this week as a good practice week – having fun with it,” said Bowman. ” Having fun all week and no pressure thinking about the comp – that was good. Sadly a couple of guys got hurt – but for me it was nice to be in and just making it to finals – I couldn’t believe I did that. Then putting down a good run today and being rewarded for it – it feels good.”
Last year’s silver medalist Yater-Wallace grabbed the bronze with a high-score of 89.66.
“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.”
Rolland finished fourth with a score of 89.33.
Image by Eric Lars Bakke /ESPN
Women’s Results
Name Bib No. Hometown Score
1. Roz Groenewoud 363 Calgary, AB, Canada 93.66
2. Maddie Bowman 360 South Lake Tahoe, Calif. 92.00
3. Brita Sigourney 367 Carmel, Calif. 90.66
4. Anais Caradeux 361 La Clusaz, France 89.00
5. Devin Logan 352 West Dover, Vt. 87.66
6. Keltie Hansen 365 Edmonton, AB, Canada 86.33
7. Dara Howell 350 Hunstville, ON, Canada 70.66
8. Megan Gunning 364 Calgary, AB, Canada 49.00
Men’s Results
Name Bib No. Hometown Score
1. David Wise 335 Reno, Nev. 93.00
2. Noah Bowman 338 Calgary, AB, Canada 90.00
3. Torin Yater-Wallace 336 Aspen, Colo. 89.66
4. Kevin Rolland 333 La Plagne, France 89.33
5. Tucker Perkins 331 North Hampton, N.H. 88.33
6. Simon Dumont 326 Bethel, Maine 87.00
7. Mike Riddle 332 Sherwood Park, AB, Canada 80.33
8. Justin Dorey 325 Vernon, B.C., Canada 38.33