I-Pod P: Courtesy of ESPN.com
After a video was uploaded all over the inter-web a week ago of Iouri Podladtchikov landing "Shaun White's trick", the Double McTwist 1260 on the second try, an idea was sparked and people began to question: "Would it be possible to beat Shaun White?" After all, the Olympics just came to a close and after White's perfection of a halfpipe run with the debut of a brand new trick, it seemed pretty much impossible. However, I-Pod answered this question with an apparent, "heck no it's not impossible" attitude and set out to show us why.
In the middle of his second run at the Euro X Games, he laid out the Double McTwist 1260 flawlessly after a Cab double cork 10 and an inverted front 5. He didn't stop there, Iouri completed the run with a front 10 and Cab 7. This inconceivable display of riding earned him a 98.00 - the highest score ever in X Games history. On ESPN.com, I-Pod even admitted to having another double he's never shown in competition. It appears that White is not the only rider ready with not only some surprises, but surprises they can actually pull off. Shaun White might be regretting not showing up to Tignes right about now. When these two guys finally get to hit the same halfpipe at the Burton US Open, we can be sure that it will be riding for the books.
Earning the silver medal was France's Mathieu Crepel with a 95.00 run topped with a front double cork 10, front 12, and an alley oop rodeo. Rounding out the men's snowboard halfpipe podium was America's dancing sensation, Louie Vito with a 92.33. Vito threw three double cork 10s back-to-back-to-back, which some believe deserved the silver.
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Men's Snowboard Superpipe Final Results
1. Iouri Podladtchikov 98.00
2. Mathieu Crepel 95.00
3. Louie Vito 92.33
4. Markus Malin 90.33
5. Aluan Ricciardi 88.66
6. Christian Haller 85.00
7. Luke Mitrani 82.33
8. JJ Thomas 79.66
Jenny Jones P: Courtesy of ESPN.com
The riders at the European X Games are simply showing us what's up. With improved conditions on the demanding slopestyle course, the ladies had their opportunity laid out in front of them and they decided to spin to win.
Jenny Jones came in hot and clinched gold, adding to her X Games medal collection, while Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas nabbed the silver, her first X games medal since her first appearance in the games in 2002. The bronze medal went home with X games newbie, Swiss rider Sina Candrian.
Each one of the ladies on the podium stomped a 7 in their run, no doubt epitomizing the progression of women's snowboarding in that a chick throwing a 7, grabbing, and landing it was unheard of a few seasons ago. The long and unique set up at the European X Games provided a different competitive experience for the ladies - allowing them to focus more on their riding rather than their speed.
Jones' winning run was made up of a 5-0, front 3, back 3, front 5, Cab 5, 50/50, and a front 7. Her known top competitor, Jamie Anderson was taken out of the contest with a practice injury earlier in the week while Sarka Pancochova was also missing from the finals due to a foot injury. Jenny Jones is a the top of her game right now and it doesn't look like she's going anywhere anytime soon.
Women's Slopestyle Final Results
1. Jenny Jones 92.33
2. Kjersti Oestgaard Buass 86.66
3. Sina Candrian 83.00
4. Spencer O'Brien 80.66
5. Silje Norendal 63.00
6. Charlotte van Gils 48.33
The riding this winter is staggering - almost stupidly good. No one knows what to expect, including the riders. The US Open begins next week - tune in only if you want to witness the snowboard world change as you know it, again.
