Yater-Wallace claims more X Games gold
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO, Colorado
ASPEN – Gold again.
Skier Torin Yater-Wallace won gold, again, at the X Games in Tignes, France. In a repeat from last year, the freestyle skier from Basalt/Aspen won the halfpipe competition Friday. David Wise, of Reno, Nev., finished second.
The skiers finished first and second, in order, in 2012.
According to information from the USSA, Yater-Wallace delivered the winning runs with a combination of smooth and progressive tricks.
He finished with a down-the-pipe, double flatspin 900 to wrap up the gold medal.
“My legs are shaking. I knew I needed to clean up my run after my first two,” said Yater-Wallace, who won silver in the superpipe at the X Games in Aspen this year.
“It was one of the most nerve-wracking moments of my life,” said the native of Aspen.
“I’m so happy, and I had so much fun.”
Yater-Wallace said he’s been battling a cold, but managed a winning effort Friday.
“The U.S. has had so many podiums this season, and we are so lucky to have all the resources that we do,” Yater-Wallace told U.S. Snowboarding. “Amazing 22-foot halfpipes, and teammates to push and encourage us.”
In the women’s halfpipe finals, Marie Martinod-Routin, of France won gold.
American Maddie Bowman, from South Lake Tahoe, Calif., won bronze.
She was in fifth place until the final pass, when she moved up to third.
The medal was her first for X Games Tignes.
Only 1.33 points separated the top three women.
U.S. Snowboarding rookie teammate Annalisa Drew, of Andover, Mass., qualified for the finals and finished eighth.
