Copper halfpipe World Cup: Qualifications Results
Aug 31, 2018·Freeski Park & Pipe
After more than a three-month brake following the first event of the season in Cardrona (NZL) back in August, the halfpipe World Cup season has kicked off for good in Northern Hemisphere with the qualifications staged here at Copper Mountain (USA) on Wednesday.
More than 30 ladies and 40 men showed up on top of the Copper's 22-foot superpipe to fight for top spots in what was exciting and sort of unpredictable qualification round that saw some of the big names like Gus Kenworthy (USA), Kevin Rolland (FRA) or Cassie Sharpe (CAN) surprisingly not being able to make the cut into the Friday's finals.
In the ladies' competition it was Kexin Zhang (CHN) and Marie Martinod (FRA) that came on top of their respective heats with the US contingent of Devin Logan, Brita Sigourney and Annalisa Drew rounding out the Top 4 from Heat 1, and Maddie Bowman, Charlie Margulies (both also representing the host nation) and Sabrina Cakmakli from Germany advancing to the finals from Heat 2.
"I'm stoked to be back in Copper and get the sensation of the butterflies in my stomach," said Martinod after the qualifications, "With the Olympic Games on the horizon, I'm working on my new run with some new tricks in it, but it's a process so let's see how it goes here in Copper first".
On the men's side of the event it was the US duo of David Wise and Torin-Yatter Wallace who came on top of the pack, leading the way for top 10 men into the finals. Nico Porteous (NZL), Birk Irvin (USA) and Noah Bowman (CAN) qualified from Heat 1, while Mike Riddle (CAN), Beau-James Wells (NZL) and Ben Valentin (FRA) filled the bill in Heat 2. Two remaining spots were granted to the highest scoring athletes outside the top 8 and were respectively taken by Aaron Blunck (USA) and Simon d'Artois (CAN).
"I'm really happy to land both of my runs," said Wise, who set the highest score on the day, "Two first contest run of the year down so I'm super stoked. My goal is not to come out of the gate firing super hard, but it's a long game and I just want to get a little better day by day while getting ready for the Olympics".
The finals are slated to begin at 11:00 local time on Friday.
TOP RUNS
Ladies
HEAT 1
Kexin Zhang - Left @360 Safety, Switch Right 540, Switch Right @540 safety, Switch Left 180, Left 540 Mute.
Devin Logan - Mute Grab, Right 540 Japan, Left 540 Safety, Left @ 180 critical, Left 720, Switch left @ Flatspin 540.
Brita Sigoruney - Safety Grab, Left @180 , Left 900, Right 540, Left 540, Right 720.
HEAT 2
Marie Martinod - Left 540 Tail, Right 540 Mute, Left Flair Safety, Right Flair Safety, Left 900 Tail.
Maddie Bowman - Mute grab, Left 540 Mute, Right 720 Mute, Switch Left 720, Right 540 Safety, Left 720 Tail.
Carly Margulies - Left 900 Safety, Safety Grab, Left 540 Mute, Right 540 Mute, Left 720, Switch Right 360.
Men
HEAT 1
David Wise - Switch Right 720, Left Dub 1260 Mute, Right 1080 Tail, Switch Left 720 Taipan, Right Dub 1260 Mute.
Nico Porteous - Left Dub 1080 Seatbelt, Switch Right 900 Mute, Switch Left 720 Safety, Right Dub 1260 Safety, Left Dub 1260 Safety.
Birk Irving - Left 1080 Tail, Switch Right 720 Safety, Left Dub Flair 900 Safety, Right 900 Stalefish, Left Dub 1260 Safety.
HEAT 2
Torin Yatter-Wallace - Right Dub 1260 Mute, Left 1080 Tail, Switch Right 720 Mute, Right @ 540 High Safety, Right 900 Tail.
Mike Riddle - Left Dub 1260 Mute, @ Flair Bow & Arrow, Switch Left 720, Right 900 Tail, Left Dub Flatspin 900 Safety.
Beau-James Wells - Switch Left 720 Tail, Right Dub 1260 Safety, Right 540, Left Dub 1260 Safety.
**QUICK LINKS
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TV SCHEDULE (FINALS)
Asia - Eurosport 1
Europe - streaming on Eurosport player
China - CCTV
France - SFR 3
Korea - SBS
USA - streaming on nbcsports.com
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