Colorado’s Willett Takes the Gold in Snowboard Slopestyle
USA Takes One and Two Spots with Full International Field
Tignes, France – Last month, Breckenridge resident Eric Willett took home a silver medal from Snowboard Slopestyle at Winter X Games 14 in Aspen. Today in the men’s final in Tignes, France, Willett upgraded and will bring gold back to his hometown in Colorado.
“I wasn’t really landing my tricks in practice, but somehow it all clicked and came together for me in the final,” Willett said about his win. After his second run put him in the lead, he said, “I had no idea what I was going to do, and I’m so stoked right now. The course is perfect and the riding level is insane.”
Willett threw down a solid second run that put him in the lead for the gold medal with his mixed tricks of backside 720, frontside double cork 1080 and switch backside 900. USA’s Sage Kotsenburg followed close behind to win silver. Marko Grilc of Slovakia took the bronze.
“Winter X Games Europe has lived up to my expectations,” said Grilc. “It is so great to see the biggest event in action sports come to Europe.”
There were four previous Winter X Games medalists in the final field: Travis Rice, Iouri Podladtchikov, Eric Willet and Chas Guldemond with seven medals among them. Podladtchikov and Christian Haller of Switzerland competed at the Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Final Results from Tignes on Thursday, March 11, 2010
Name Bib # Hometown Score
1. Eric Willett 200 Breckenridge, Colo., USA 91.00
2. Sage Kotsenburg 195 Park City, Utah, USA 85.33
3. Marko Grilc 102 Ljubljana, Slovakia 83.66
4. Stephan Maurer 196 Zikers, Switzerland 82.66
5. Chas Guldemond 193 Reno, Nev., USA 70.66
6. Christian Haller 103 Zernez, Switzerland 67.66
7. Travis Rice 198 Jackson Hole, WY, USA 50.33
8. Iouri Podladtchikov 197 Zurich, Switzerland 49.33
Find great deals on Queenstown Hotels Hotels from Expedia