Reno’s Wise 7th in halfpipe skiing at X Games

By Kade Krichko, U.S. Ski Team

ASPEN — The Frenchman Kevin Rolland relied on some last run heroics to edge out Americans Torin Yater-Wallace of Aspen and Simon Dumont of Bethel, Maine, Friday night in Aspen to win Winter X Games gold in halfpipe skiing.

On the final run of the entire competition, Rolland threw down a nearly impeccable display of amplitude and style to spoil Yater-Wallace’s X Games debut. Rolland’s last run went double cork 1080, alley-oop flat spin 360, switch 1080, switch 540, to double cork 1260, securing him the gold.

The real surprise of the night was Aspen’s Yater-Wallace. Just 15, the young skier electrified the home crowd with a stellar third run that put him in first ahead of halfpipe-skiing legend Dumont with only three riders to go. The freshman at Aspen High School punched his ticket to Winter X after a fifth at the Dew Tour on Dec. 10, becoming the third youngest male to ever compete at Winter X and the youngest competitor in the event this year.

A visibly disappointed Dumont took home the bronze, increasing his total medal count to nine at Winter X. Dumont had control of the lead after two runs, but was unable to improve upon his score in his third run.

Both Yater-Wallace and Dumont are anticipated to represent the U.S. at the FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships in Park City on Feb. 5.

Official results, Winter X Games 15, Jan. 28, 2011, Superpipe

1. Kevin Rolland, France, 93.66

2. Torin Yater-Wallace, Aspen, CO, 92.66

3. Simon Dumont, Bethel, ME, 90.33

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4. Duncan Adams, Breckenridge, CO, 86.00

7. David Wise, Reno, NV, 56.66