Halfpipe finals

Switzerland’s Iouri Podladtchikov returned from Winter X Games 14 with a silver medal, a fourth place finish from the Olympics in Vancouver, and can now add gold to that list from his win today at Winter X Games Europe. France’s Mathieu Crepel, who finished tenth at the Vancouver Olympics, was close behind to land the silver.

“The Double McTwist 1260 is a trick I started training for last week,” Podladtchikov said about a trick that won him the competition. “After the Olympics, I took one week off to rest, and started to practice the McTwist, so landing it tonight was a gift.”

When interviewed after the competition, he was asked how many times he did it before he landed it for the first time, his answer was 2.

Crepel was at the top of his progression in 2007 where he landed the first ever frontside 1260 in Big Air history, and he pulled it out again in tonight’s final. USA’s Louie Vito took home the bronze with the first ever double cork 1080 done three times in a row.

“Being in my home country of France does add some pressure,” Crepel said about performing in France. “All the media and fans here in France has been amazing, and you want to do the best you can in front of them.”

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final results

1. Iouri Podladtchikov 197 Zurich, Switzerland 98.00
2. Mathieu Crepel 101 Anglet, France 95.00
3. Louie Vito 220 Bellefontaine, Ohio, USA 92.33
4. Markus Malin 127 Lahti, Finland 90.33
5. Aluan Ricciardi 268 Risoul, France 86.66
6. Christian Haller 103 Zernez, Switzerland 85.00
7. Luke Mitrani 128 Mammoth Lakes, Calif., USA 82.33
8. JJ Thomas 130 Breckenridge, Colo., USA 79.66