Image from Dan Brown.
After constant snowfall for most of the past week, the skies in New Zealand have finally cleared to allow for the first 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games to go off. On Wedensday, Gus Kenworthy and Devin Logan won the halfpipe competition. The Americans prevailed in what was reported to be very bad visibility.
Kenworthy’s run included a left cork nine with a tail grab to right side cork seven with a tail grab, two switch left seven mutes, alley oop flat spin 540 Japan finishing with a left cork ten eight tail grab all of which got him 85 points. Kenworthy commented on the comp saying, “The biggest competition today was the weather. I saw that the competition was big with Jossi Wells and David Wise pulling some big amplitude and tricks during practice so knew I had to give it my all and I did.”
New Zealand’s Jossi Wells was second behind Kenworthy. A left side cork nine tail to right side cork nine safety to a left flair tail grab to a right side seven tail grab finishing with a switch seven mute shifty gave him 78.25 points.
Third was David Wise of Reno NV with 75.25 points. His combo included a left flair safety, to a right side cork nine tail grab, to a left cork nine nose to a an alley oop flat three sixty mute to a switch left seven dub Japan grab and then an alley oop flat 540 mute.
For the women, it was a clear sweep for the US. VT’s Devin Logan won with a straight air to left five forty tail grab to right side flair to straight air to straight air to left side seven tail grab. Second was Jen Hudak of SLC with a left side 540 mute to alley oop mute to straight air to another straight air to a left side seven finishing with a switch alley oop 360. Maddie Bowman of South Lake Tahoe was third with a left side 540 safety grab to a right side 540 to another left side 540 to a straight air to a left side 720 at bottom.
The rescheduled Ski Slopestyle will be held tomorrow at Snow Park and WSF Para-Snowboard World Cup at Cardrona Alpine Resort.
For for info go to wintergamesnz.com