Words by Jeff Schmuck
The fourth and final day of X Games in Aspen, Colorado kicked off with one of the biggest events of them all, Men's Ski Slopestyle Finals.
Following Friday's elimination round, where the field of 16 invited athletes was narrowed down to eight, the best slopestyle skiers in the world took to the course to lay it all on the line in the biggest competition of the year.
In eighth place was Joss Christensen, who's run was highlighted by some of the most massive double corks of the day and an absolutely gorgeous switch right cork 10 japan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTpBtwE3Gfs
Joss Christensen
Taking seventh was Alex Schlopy, who fresh off his head spinning (literally) performance in last night's big air wowed the massive crowd in attendance with a run that included a hug double cork 16 on the money booter at the bottom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2qrAxINXDA
Alex Schlopy
Sixth place went to Bobby Brown, who as always, laid down a series of left and right double corks like they were a walk in the park, along with boasting some of the biggest airs of the week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1yyZljV4w0
Bobby Brown
In fifth was Andreas Håtveit, who once again showcased why he's one of the smoothest and most technical skiers in the game on both the rails and the jumps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktAhkKl2o0g
Andreas Håtveit
Just missing the podium in fourth was Alex Bellemare in his first appearance at X Games, who's ultra smooth run (which was highlighted by both way dubs and inverts on and off the rails) absolutely boggled the minds of everyone in attendance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLckjArybNE
Alex Bellemare
In third was skiing's nicest man James 'Woodsy' Woods, who's impressive rail trickery to left double cork 10 to right double cork 12 truck driver to switch right double cork leading mute left everyone scratching their heads in admiration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRTf3BCsxos
James Woods
In second, just 12 hours after his mind boggling feat in big air, was Henrik Harlaut, who's butter 450 on, 450 off the top rail and switch right 9 to left double cork 12 to switch left double cork 9 to nose butter left double cork 12 blunt helped score him his second X Games medal of the week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VnwjyXOxLQ
Henrik Harlaut
But in the end, the top spot on the podium belonged to Nick Goepper, who laid down the most technical run of the day, which consisted of four doubles (left dub 10 leading tail to right dub 12 blunt to switch left dub 10 japan to switch right double misty 12 mute) on the jumps, which was more than enough to secure him his first X Games gold medal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2dtCgMH3cs
Nick Goepper
Results
1) Nick Goepper - 94.00
2) Henrik Harlaut - 92.66
3) James Woods - 92.00
4) Alex Bellemare - 90.66
5) Andreas Håtveit - 90.33
6) Bobby Brown - 88.66
7) Alex Schlopy - 87.33
8) Joss Christensen - 85.00
To see how this event affects the AFP World Rankings, go to afpworldtour.com.
http://www.newschoolers.com/watch/605258.0/Behind-The-Scenes-at-X-Games---Day-4
Behind The Scenes at X Games - Day 4
This concludes our coverage on X Games in beautiful Aspen, Colorado. Big thanks to ESPN and Aspen/Snowmass for putting on the best X Games yet and for all of their generous hospitality over the course of the week, and for more information on X Games, be sure to visit xgames.com.
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