Jenny Jones & S.White win X-Games Slopestyle

Sun 25 January 09

Brit Jones comes up with the goods; On my last run I knew what I had wasn’t enough, so I had to lay down the 720

Womens Slopestyle

A jubilant Jenny Jones could hardly believe what she had just accomplished in the Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle.

The pride of Great Britain trailed Spencer O’Brien going into the final run and knew she had to do something big to steal the top spot. And Jones did just that, sticking a front-side 720 off the money booter final ramp to steal the victory and the gold medal from O’Brien 90.00 to 87.66.

“On my last run I knew what I had wasn’t enough, so I had to lay down the 720,” Jones said.

Jones said: “I woke up to see massive snow flakes coming down. Any other day I would be so happy to see this but not today as fresh snow does not equal speed. But as I headed up for practice, it stopped snowing and the fog cleared. I was able to clear the jumps and so it was ‘game on’ for me.

“My first run was sketchy, my second run I cleaned it up, so it looked better and I felt happy with the run but it wasn't enough, as I was still in second by about three points. So I just had to go for it on the last run with the last jump, an 80ft frontside 720.

 

 

 

“I had not practised it all day and it was kind of hit and hope. I just made it round, landed and rode away with no hands down.

“I was so pleased to win and suddenly the emotions went crazy and I had to try hard not to cry. It means so much to me to win an X Games medal and to win gold is the icing on the cake.”

“Jenny rode super well,” O’Brien said of the gold medalist. “I think we had a really good back and forth there with our final runs. She totally deserved it.”

Despite the snow, the course produced high speeds as the competitors flew around Buttermilk Mountain.

Womens Slope Style Rider: Spencer O'Brien
Womens Slope Style Rider: Spencer O'Brien
Photo: Tomas Zuccareno/Shazamm/ESPN Images

“The weather was tough at the start,” O’Brien said. “But when the snow turned to rain the course got faster and faster with every run and we were able to pull better jumps.”

Seattle’s Megan Ginter scored an 82.00 for the bronze medal.

Results from Aspen/Snowmass on Saturday

Name Bib # Hometown Score

1. Jenny Jones 526 Bristol, Great Britain 90.00
2. Spencer O’Brien 530 Whistler, B.C., Canada 87.66
3. Megan Ginter 525 Seattle, Wash. 82.00
4. Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas 531 Trondheim, Norway 75.00
5. Hana Beaman 521 Big Bear, Calif. 65.33
6. Kimmy Fasani 522 Mammoth Lakes, Calif. 64.00

Watch a replay!

Mens Slopestyle

Shaun White is not accustomed to leading off an event, but after qualifying last -- that is exactly what he did.

The unusual event may have been just the motivation he needed as he came away with Snowboard Slopestyle Men’s title and a Winter X Games record eighth career gold medal.

“It was unreal,” an excited White said following the race. “I missed out on a gold medal the past two years, so to win it was awesome.”

Mens Slope Style winner Shaun White
Mens Slope Style winner Shaun White
Photo: Tomas Zuccareno/Shazamm/ESPN Images

Keyed by his daring backside 720 cross over the treacherous canyon, White snatched the lead on his second run with a score of 96.00, a score that tied his career high and the Winter X Games high in Snowboard Slopstyle Men’s.

Scotty Lago, who lead the competition after the first round, finished second with a top score of 94.66 and

Oslo, Norway’s Mikkel Bang closed out the medalists, grabbing a bronze with a top score of 91.33.

“I came in super focused,” the silver medalist Lago said. “I knew I could do well. I am super excited; words can’t explain … I am so happy right now.”

Results from Aspen/Snowmass on Saturday

Name Bib # Hometown Score

1. Shaun White 514 Carlsbad, Calif. 96.00
2. Scotty Lago 507 Seabrook, N.H. 94.66
3. Mikkel Bang 501 Oslo, Norway 91.33
4. Chas Guldemond 504 Truckee, Calif. 91.00
5. Peetu Piiroinen 511 Hyvinkaa, Finland 90.33
6. Andreas Wiig 515 Oslo, Norway 89.00
7. Tim Humphreys 506 Basking Ridge, N.J. 88.66
8. Jussi Oksanen 509 Encinitas, Calif. 75.00

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ESPN Winter X Games 2009

22-25 January 09

The ultimate winter adrenaline junkie contest in back in Aspen featuring Snowboarding, Skiing and Snowmobiles. Will it be yet another Shaun Whitewash?

Aspen Buttermilk, USA
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Freestyle: 75% - Monster pipe & good parks
Pistes: 60% - Fine but dull
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