Clouds crept over the horizon, edging out the bright blue sky as the Norseman, Andreas Wiig put it together, and edged out four-peat X Games gold medalist Shaun White, along with Jussi Oksanen, Travis Rice and the rest of the heavy-weight lineup at Winter X Games 11 at Aspen/Buttermilk in Colorado.

Serious moves were going down”10th place finisher Chas Guldemond form New Hampshire stomped two immaculate backside 1260s”on the bolts on the Last Chance Kicker. You know shit is serious when perf’ back 1260s land you in the last spot. But this was not a best trick event, runs had to be linked throughout the entire course to make the cut. Danny Kass was putting down sick runs equipped with switch back Rodeo’s and sick switch front seven tails all floaty and poppy. 2002 Slopestyle gold medalist, Travis Rice went double backflip 180 over the gap, and pushed for a double cork 1080 over the Last Chance Kicker but laid it down putting him down in 8th place. Silver medalist, eight time X Games competitor, and rad dad, Jussi Oksanen took second place with a first run score of 84.66, and a seamless run chock full of spins of every size and variation. After four consecutive Slopestyle gold medals, Shaun White’s run didn’t come together, and ended in White sliding out on a 1260 attempt on the Last Chance Kicker. Shaun came out of the event bronze medal in hand.

It all came down to Andreas, who was coming in hot off a recent win at the Vail Session two weeks ago. Early on in the day during practice Wiig took a serious slam to the head going frontside 1080 on the second jump, only to recover, ride out and catch his heel edge once more slamming down on his dome again. “Mandreas” described it as one of his worst falls ever, riding down with a bruised heel, a concussed and seeing double. Rumors were circulating and no one was sure if Andreas would come back to compete after going down. After spending two-plus hours in the medical tent, Andreas emerged, putting down his flawless winning first run, which included a perfect Rodeo 900 over the gap jump, and a frontside 1080 on the Last Chance Kicker. That winning run being his third run of the entire day. What’s he gonna do now? Andreas says he’s gonna take a break, rest up, and do some surfing in So Cal ¦ that is right after some serious partying which is in order for the evening. back rodeo nine over the gap and a frontside ten on the bottom.

Men’s Slopestyle Final Results:

Rank. Athlete: Run 1, Run 2, Best Score

1. Andreas Wiig: 89.66, 42.00, 89.66
2. Jussi Oksanen: 84.66, 41.33, 84.66
3. Shaun White: 83.33, 75.00, 83.33
4. Antti Autti: 83.00, 35.66, 83.00
5. Mathieu Crepel: 48.00, 80.33, 80.33
6. Danny Davis: 77.66, 44.00 ,77.66
7. Danny Kass: 47.33, 77.00, 77.00
8. Travis Rice: 43.33, 68.00, 68.00
9. Hampus Mosesson: 54.33, 63.66, 63.66
10. Chas Guldemond: 37.33, 43.66, 43.66

story by Evan(Transworld Snowboarding)

Torah Bright wins the gold at Winter X-Games Eleven Superpipe Finals. Roxy had also just announced that snowboardings’s shining star Torah Bright has officially chosen Roxy as her sponsor from head to toe with the addition of hard goods. Having joined the team in 2000, the deal marks the continuation of a successful collaboration between brand and athlete.

The party for one of the most intense showdowns in women’s Winter X superpipe history kicked into gear with Kelly Clark’s gargantuan straight airs and Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas’s healthy air to fakies.

When’06 Aussie Olympian and Winter X silver medalist Torah Bright came out spinning like a 45 EP on her first run, it became clear that a few Aussies were in the house. Every move was out of the lip, but a minor sit down left her with a score of 85 for run one.

In the name of getting the jollies while still pushing the sport, several girls threw a 9. Elena Hight landed it backside, while a few ladies made attempts, but washed out in a cloud of crystal.

Not hometown girl, Gretchen Bleiler, though. Last year Bleiler skipped WX in her own backyard, and while the Aspen town folk may have enjoyed watching Bleiler in Torino, they seemed giddy to have her back at Buttermilk. “Last year was incomparably strenuous. Now I can mix it up and have a little fun,” said Bleiler.

For the first time, all four of Bleiler’s brothers watched Winter X in person. The trick vixen recognized and busted out a frontside 900 on her first hit, added a stylish grab to her crippler, threw in a 540 and a smoking method. While her cheering section (from Snowmass to Aspen Village) went into a frenzy, the judges awarded her a 91.

The stage was set. The local celeb had set the bar, and Lake Tahoe’s Elena Hight seemed the obvious candidate for the coup. From run one of elimination, Hight boosted effortlessly and landed with authority, traveling further across the Rocky Mountain sky than any other competitor. But even her back 9 and front 7 were just enough for a bronze accessory.

While Australia Day was being celebrated on the south side of the world, Torah Bright stepped up in her final run to do her country proud. Tail grab air to fakie. Cab 720. Proud they were. Frontside McTwist. Backside 3. Truckdriver grab. Backside 540. Another shrimp on the Barbie, put to rest with a switch backside 540. Good on ya, mate. Before she could lay in to a celebratory carve, an inflatable kangaroo draped with an Australian flag materialized in the crowd. Gold for the saucy Aussie. Oi, oi, oi for Tina Dixon’s mic on TV.

“I’m pretty ecstatic right now. It’s good to have so many Aussies out here with me. I came here to put on a show,” said Bright. But was the weight lifted from the five rings? “Ahhh, I have fun every year.”

Final Results:

1. Torah Bright”94.66
2. Gretchen Bleiler”91.00
3. Elena Hight”88.00
”
4. Hannah Teter”85.33
5. Kjersti Oestgaard Buaas”73.00
6. Mercedes Nicoll”67.00
7. Manuela Pesko”66.00
8. Molly Aguirre”65.00
9. Sophie Rodriguez”60.66
10. Kelly Clark”45.66