X GAMES XIII
WINTER X GAMES 13
The 13th annual winter action sports competition features athletes from across the globe competing for medals and prize money in the following sports: Skiing, Snowboard and Snowmobile. The event includes day and evening competitions and is free to the public.
ESPN and ABC will feature 15 hours of live high-definition programming Jan. 22 – Jan. 25. ESPN2 will present daily late-night highlight programs in HD from Jan. 22 – Jan. 25, resulting in eight additional hours of original HD programming for Winter X Games 13. Additionally, the Winter X Games will also be televised on ESPN’s International networks to 122 countries and territories in Latin America, the Pacific Rim, Middle East, Asia, Africa, Israel and Canada.
*** Keep checking back for daily updates for everything going on at this weekend’s 13th annual X Games!
Friday January 24, 2009
It is another snowy day at Aspen’s X Games 13, with a projected accumulation of 2 feet. It’s coming down wet, big and fast, making course visibility just another obstacle to overcome for athletes coming to compete today. Training rounds are already underway, but riders seem to be taking it easy before the event, most of them having trained for this event all year. The big story this year, of course, is whether Nate Holland can break the record for four straight consecutive wins, which no athlete in X Games history has yet to accomplish. “Of course I am going for the fourth. I wouldn’t be going if I weren’t trying to win it. I am feeling confident and riding well. You just have to get in there and see what happens. Hopefully you have a good day and lay everything out on the line and you’ve done your homework,” Holland said. “It’s going to be a tough competition this year, as it is every year, but I’m confident. I’ve done three already, so why not a fourth?” Competing with younger brother Pat Holland, the Holland brothers are joined by their family today who have yet to miss an X Games so far.
Nate Holland is up against some tough competition, as many of the US men have just returned from the World Championships in Gangwon, Korea, where Nick Baumgartner secured a podium finish, leading US men with a bronze medal. Nick was joined by Seth Wescott following closely behind with a fifth place finish and Graham Watanabe in sixth. All four men will be competing today and all four will be vying for the Gold.
Photo by Marc Piscotty
Lindsey Jacobellis will also be returning this year to defend her 2008 title. Lindsey, who has dominated the Boardercross scene for the last several years, seems untouchable again this year, having just won yet another World Cup in Bad Gastein Austria, earlier this month. Already a sure-thing for the Olympics next year, Jacobellis skipped the World Championships in Korea last week to train for today’s event. If she rides like she has been all year, it will be another heavy metal event for Lindsey. Also, up and coming athlete Faye Guilini who won the Open class event at USASA Nationals lat year, will be competing in her first X Games event this year. Check back for results and pictures coming later this afternoon as Finals will begin at 1 o’clock this afternoon, with live coverage of the event on ABC Sports, all day.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Clark Takes Silver at Winter X
Lindsey Sine
ASPEN, CO (Jan. 23) – U.S. Snowboarding’s Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow, VT) led the way for the women Friday, reining in the silver at the Winter X Games. Australia’s Torah Bright came back from silver in 2008 to win the second X Games gold of her career.
“Tonight was great, I was really happy with my riding,” Clark said. “Everyone was riding so well and the level of riding was stepped up a lot.”
Clark’s first run of frontside air, backside 5, frontside 5, backside air, front 7, cab 7, earned her the silver status. But, according to U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Head Coach Mike Jankowski, Clark has a few more tricks up her sleeve enroute to reaching her overall goals.
“I think what she did do was go really big and what she’s doing right now in terms of progressing women’s snowboarding is truly awesome,” Jankowski said. “It’s always better when you’re able to land the run you wanted to land and you’re able to let the judges decide what they think of it. Unfortunately she wasn’t able to land her best run, but it’s positive in that she was able to get silver.”
Joining Clark on the podium in third was teammate and fellow Olympic gold medalist Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT) who, according to Jankowski, is using each competition as an opportunity to ramp up for her ultimate goal of reclaiming the Olympic gold.
“Hannah has been working super hard to push her snowbarding to the next level,” Jankowski said.”I think every day and every contest is just a step toward her goal of winning the gold medal. We just take it one day at a time and one contest at a time and try to see the big picture.”
Ellery Hollingsworth (Stratton, VT) had a standout night, finishing fourth against an international field of the best female snowboarders there are. Following Hollingsworth in fifth was U.S. Snowboarding rookie Kaitlyn Farrington (Sun Valley, ID). The Westminster College student laid down the first X Games runs of her career Friday night.
X Games 12 gold medalist Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO) took a nasty spill on her second of three runs and had to withdraw from the competition.
“It’s a great halfpipe and a good environment. I think it’s more than just a contest night, it’s all week and all the riders have been pushing themselves, progressing and looking at the big picture,” Jankowski said.
The X Games continue Saturday with men’s and women’s snowboard slopestyle and snowboardcross.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2009 WINTER X GAMES
Aspen, CO – Jan. 23, 2009
Women’s Halfpipe
1. Torah Bright, Australia, 91.33
2. Kelly Clark, Mt. Snow, VT, 88.33
3. Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT, 83.00
4. Ellery Hollingsworth, Stratton, VT, 70.66
5. Kaitlyn Farrington, Sun Valley, ID, 66.00
6. Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO, 40.00
Photo Credit: Nate Abbott
Parsons Scores the Upset
Defeats the Favorite LaVallee in the Finals
Aspen, Colo. – On Wednesday, Joe Parsons celebrated his 21st birthday. On Thursday, he received a belated present that he won’t soon forget, winning the gold medal in the finals of the Snowmobile Speed & Style.
The pride of Yakima, Wash. knocked off the favorite Levi LaVallee in the final heat 87.30 to 83.00.
“I knew that as long as Levi and I stayed on our sleds we would be going head-to-head,” Parsons said afterwards. “I knew it would be close, but to come out with it — It really hasn’t even sunk in yet.”
LaVallee, who looked to repeat last year’s victory in this event, took the silver and Cory Davis rounded out the medal winners grabbing the bronze with a score of 80.00.
Speed & Style combines the gravity-defying tricks of Freestyle and the pedal-to-the-medal racing of SnoCross, as two racers compete two seats each – side by side. As one racer flies through the air, the other racer pins the accelerator around the course. Upon completion of their lap, they swap lanes. Scores for each rider are based 50% on racing time and 50% on freestyle judging.
Viva La France!
Bertoni Takes the Gold in the Men’s Skiing SuperPipe Final
Aspen, Colo. – Xavier Bertoni wowed the Thursday night crowd at Winter X Games 13, taking the gold at the Men’s Skiing SuperPipe Final.
Bertoni took control of the competition early and held on to grab the gold with a score of 93.66. Tanner Hall, who was looking for his fourth straight gold in the event, grabbed the silver with a score of 92.00 and Simon Dumont rounded out the medalists with a 91.00.
“We trained really, really hard for this,” Bertoni said about his win. “This pipe was huge; I am so excited about tonight.”
Before the competition, the majority of the talk was about Hall and Dumont, but Bertoni’s final run that included an alley-oop flat spin 360, a switch 720 and 1260 at the bottom, clinched his first Winter X Games gold.
Hall’s silver was his 12th Winter X Games medal and though he was disappointed in not winning, said tonight was a big night for skiing.
“Tonight I was so excited,” Hall said. “The funny thing is I actually felt nervous. It was crazy that I had to throw down my third run and stick it. I did the best I could to throw it down. This was such a great night for skiing.”
The Skiing SuperPipe event represents the progression of the sport and showcases the best pipe riders in the world. The 540-foot long, 22-foot deep SuperPipe is 75-feet from lip-to-lip with a pitch of 18 degrees. This translates into maximum amplitude and speed for the athletes to perform their tricks.
Photo Credit: Christian Pondella
1. Xavier Bertoni / 93.66 / Bib 333 / La Clusaz, France
2. Tanner Hall / 92.00 / Bib 305 / Kalispell, Mont.
3. Simon Dumont / 91.00/ Bib 303/ Bethel, Maine
4. Justin Dorey / 83.33 / Bib 334 / Vernon, BC, Canada
5. Colby West / 79.33 / Bib 325 / Breckenridge, Colo.
6. Duncan Adams / 74.66 / Bib 332 / Breckenridge, Colo.
7. AJ Kemppainen / 72.33 / Bib 338 / Kuusamo, Finland
8. Kevin Rolland / 50.00 / Bib 348 / La Plagne, France
Winter X Games 13 Continues Green Streak
X Games Environmentality™: Eco-Action through Action Sports.
Friday, January 23rd, 2009
ESPN Winter X Games’ successful green streak continues, with bigger and better waste minimization, pollution prevention and environmentally sound product use programs at its 13th annual event.
Scheduled for January 22-25 at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colo., Winter X Games 13 will continue to build on the X Games Environmentality (XGE) program, which combines efforts to recycle and compost waste and use alternative fuels to cut greenhouse gas emissions. As in years past, sustainable materials will be used wherever possible and an educational outreach initiative for fans, staff and vendors will include opportunities to participate in environmental activities, helping Winter X Games 13 to further achieve its environmental objectives.
“Environmental protection and awareness have always been at the core of our philosophy when planning an event,” said Chris Stiepock, vice president and general manager, X Games franchise. “With tens of thousands of people descending upon Buttermilk Mountain for the Winter X Games, it’s our responsibility to continue implementing wide-ranging initiatives to help minimize our footprint, while also involving and educating everyone from fans to the staff who work behind the scenes.”
Among the objectives is an ambitious waste reduction program, which provides specialized, three-way recycle, compost and trash receptacles throughout the venue for fans to recycle beverage containers and compost biodegradable materials, such as food waste and paper products. Behind the scenes, additional measures will be taken to recycle paper, cardboard, electronics, construction material and plastic shrink wrap. Nearly 18,000 pounds of bottles and cans were diverted from the landfill last year through recycling at Winter X Games 12. At Winter X Games 13, an increased landfill diversion rate will again be at the forefront of XGE initiatives.
Committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, XGE is encouraging spectators to use biofuel-powered RFTA shuttle buses. Kitchen grease from the staff catering facilities will also be recycled into biodiesel. To further reduce the event’s carbon footprint, XGE and the National Arbor Day Foundation are planting 2,000 trees in Colorado’s Pike-San Isabel National Forest on behalf of each athlete, staff and media member participating in Winter X Games 13.
XGE also extends into green purchasing and use of environmentally sensitive materials throughout event venues whenever possible. The event media guide is printed on 100 percent post-consumer, recycled paper and uses a recycled plastic binding and the Winter X Games 13 spectator guide will be made available online instead of in print. Additionally, all the catering areas will offer cups, plates and napkins made from renewable and compostable materials, including PLA plastic made from corn and Bagasse, a fiber made from sugarcane by-product. (PLA) biopolymer is a plant based plastic made from a 100% annually renewable resource, which contributes to a smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional plastics, produces over 80% less greenhouse gases than traditional polymers and requires up to 65% less fossil fuel to produce from cradle to pellet.
Environmental education via The TRASHed Recycling Store is back at Winter X Games 13. Spectators who “Get Caught Recycling” throughout the venue will be rewarded with tokens redeemable for valuable prizes at the TRASHed Recycling Store. Many of these prizes are made from recycled materials or designed to encourage eco-action. In addition, spectators can learn about XGE initiatives at The Store. Additionally, on January 22 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Winter X Games will host approximately 200 local 5th and 6th graders and will roll out the X Games Environmentality Challenge (XGEC). XGEC is a program that gives Colorado-based students the opportunity to solve an environmental issue at their school or in their community and compete against other schools for the opportunity to win an exclusive X Games experience in January 2010.
Aspen/Snowmass has hosted Winter X Games since 2002 and the event will remain there through 2012. Efforts made in the areas of energy and water efficiency, green development, waste management, recycling and alternative transportation have elevated Aspen Skiing Company to one of the country’s Green Leader’s in the mountain resort industry.