Jossi Wells made a strong impression today in Aspen. The New Zealand athlete lead the competition from his first run to grab the most beautiful victory of his career. Gus Kenworthy won the silver medal, his third medal at the X Games, ahead of Øystein Bråten who took the bronze.
A first ever gold medal in style
Beau-James Wells was in the crowd to cheer for his brother today, and Jossi Wells didn’t disappoint him. The skier landed a beautiful and mastered first run at 88.33, way enough to take the lead of the competition. He couldn’t better his score on the second run due to a hand drag on a double. The rider from Wanaka raised the bar even higher on his third attempt. Indeed, Wells put down an impressive run including an amazing sequence : a switch double 1080 to a switch double 1440 safety. He finally reached the mark of 90.00 to secure his first X Games gold medal.
Gus Kenworthy finished his X Games in Aspen in a great way. The young American earned his second silver medal in four days of competition. He put down a solid first run including a double 1080, a double 1260, a switch double 1080 and a pretty well executed first upper rail section. He then reached the mark of 81.00, not enough to put him on the provisional podium.
His second attempt hit the exact same mark as his first run for the judges. Kenworthy earned his place on the podium on his third run where he chained up beautiful rail sections, ending the round with a huge switch double 1080. He finally got the mark of 87.33, sending him directly to the second place.
Øystein Bråten finished third of the Slopestyle final, his first ever X Games medal. A huge performance from the young Norwegian, even more after his heavy fall earlier during the trainings. The rider landed down a solid first run reaching the mark of 84.33. He didn’t improve his mark during the second round and exactly equaled it at his third attempt, where he put down a stunning sequence: a switch double 1080, a switch 1260 and a double 1080. Two impressive runs that made winning his first medal in the X Games possible.
A first time in a Slopestyle track
The competition was made of impressive runs put down even with the snowy conditions. But this day was also marked by a first triple in a slopestyle track. Andri Ragettli, the young 17 year old Swiss stomped a back to back triple, way enough to make roar the crowd in Aspen.
The fabulous session of three gold medals in a row ended today for Nick Goepper. The skier finished his first run on his feet, made a couple of mistakes on the rail sections at his second attempt and went down on his second jump during his third run. He finally didn’t make the podium.
Joss Christensen, the Sochi Olympic gold medalist in the discipline, broke his left hand earlier this week. The young and so talented American was eager to take part to the final and tried his best. He unfortunately fell in his second run on his final hit switch double but also on his third attempt, this time after the rail session. Hopefully, the fabulous rider of Park City didn’t injured himself more.