FanHouse

Disaster for the U.S. Bobsled Team

Wina Sturgeon — 2009-11-16T07:00:00 00:00

Filed under: USA

The first bobsled World Cup of the season ended in disaster for the U.S. team, just three months away from the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.

Todd Hays, the former freestyle fighter, kickboxing champion and college football star, injured his hamstring badly as he jumped into his sled in the four-man bobsled race at the Park City, Utah, 2002 Olympic track. Hays and his crew were leading the race at the time. The track is the same one where Hays won the Olympic silver medal in four-man bobsled, the first bobsled win for the U.S. in nearly half a century.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Jeremy Bloom Retired to Grant Wishes

Wina Sturgeon — 2009-11-12T16:04:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: USA, FanHouse Exclusive

Mogul champion Jeremy Bloom has been training non-stop to get ready for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. So why did he suddenly announce his retirement from the U. S. team on Nov. 11, less than three months before the Olympic Games?

"It was a combination of a lot of things," Bloom told FanHouse. "Over time, the meaning and all the work of training six to eight hours a day didn't have as much purpose as it once did. Skiing still holds a very special place in my life, but my passions have shifted to other areas."

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Jeremy Bloom Retired to Grant Wishes

Wina Sturgeon — 2009-11-12T16:04:00 00:00

by Wina SturgeonMogul champion Jeremy Bloom has been training non-stop to get ready for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. So why did he suddenly announce his retirement from the U. S. team on Nov. 11, less than three months before the Olympic Games?

"It was a combination of a lot of things," Bloom told FanHouse. "Over time, the meaning and all the work of training six to eight hours a day didn't have as much purpose as it once did. Skiing still holds a very special place in my life, but my passions have shifted to other areas."

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

St. Onge Headlines Day Two at Deer Valley Freestyle World Cup

Wina Sturgeon — 2009-02-02T13:00:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding

The news quickly spread all over the world; Ryan St. Onge was back. He won the Deer Valley Freestyle World Cup aerials with a triple back flip and four twists -- called "double full full full" and while in the air with the risky jump, just hoped he could land with his skis on the ground.

"I knew that if I could somehow get my feet underneath me, it was going to be the biggest scoring jump that I could possibly do. I had a good takeoff. I stretched for my life, and somehow my feet got down, and I was so happy," St. Onge said. It was the U. S. Olympian's first World Cup win since 2006.

In the women's aerials, Emily Cook managed to take third place, despite the domination of the Chinese women, who went one-two. Nina Li won, followed by teammate Xinxin Guo. Of the 12 international women who qualified for the finals, four were from China.

The story of the second day of the annual World Cup is best told in a series of visual, behind-the-scenes moments.

While the aerialists soared into the night ski like acrobats without trapezes, a line of exhausted volunteers slowly moved up the mogul hill shoveling and chopping the snow, getting the dual mogul course ready for Saturday. They were fluffing up the snow to make soft landings below the jumps for the final day of competition.

Canada's Veronika Bauer was the first freestyler out for the women's finals, but hung on to her "first place" for nearly the entire competition, as skier after skier blew their landings, touching down with a hand, landing off center, or falling. Bauer ended up in fourth place, not because her trick was that difficult, but because she was one of the few who nailed her landing. Nice!

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Freestyle World Cup Underway at
Deer Valley

Wina Sturgeon — 2009-01-31T17:07:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding

It was a bluebird day on Thursday, and Deer Valley put on its usual excellent show. The opening day of the event featured moguls, with a bump course that was slightly in the shadows, and so remained firm, even icy, as the rest of the mountain was bathed in warm sunlight.

It was a good day for the American women. U. S. mogul skier Hannah Kearney won, solidifying her number one world ranking. Teammate Michelle Roark was second. Only the top 16 women made the finals, and seven of those were Americans, including Shannon Bahrke and Sandy's home town hero, Kayla Snyderman.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

'That's It, That's All' Dominates at X-Dance Film Festival

Wina Sturgeon — 2009-01-25T11:08:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding, Surfing

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

55-Year-Old Mountain Biker's Secret? 'Get Coached'

Wina Sturgeon — 2009-01-04T10:03:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Biking

Sal Ruibal is 55. This year was his best ever in mountain biking. He won the 55-and-older category in the prestigious and grueling "24 Hours of Big Bear Lake' in West Virginia, coming in 13th overall in a world-class field that included elite riders like Tinker Juarez and John Stamstad.

Forget his age; Ruibal is getting more skilled, and faster. His secret? "I got a coach," he said. He advises all serious weekend warriors to do the same. "I think that if people want to succeed in a sport, they should get a coach."

Ruibal, who began mountain biking in 1995, explains that he was stuck in the middle of the pack, "Trying to figure out what I needed to do to be a better rider and get closer to winning, to be with the fast guys at the front. That was important to me."

He first worked with Chris Carmichael, who is Lance Armstrong's coach. Carmichael runs an online coaching service called Carmichael Training Systems, for cyclists, mountain bikers, runners and athletes in numerous other sports. Ruibal said all athletes, from elite to novice, need a structured training plan. "When you have a coach who is your teacher and (training) organizer, then there's an order, a progression, and progress."

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Use a Nastar Course to Improve Your Skiing

Wina Sturgeon — 2009-01-03T11:59:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding

One of the reasons that running gates will make you a better skier is because the race course forces you to make exact turns. The more sloppy your technique, the more difficult it will be to make those turns with any precision.

The recreational pay courses of Nastar are perfect for practicing your turns. They're usually on mild blue runs, the sets are always a relatively easy back-and-forth giant slalom, and Nastar gates can be run without much concentration; so you can fully concentrate on how you are skiing and what you need to do to turn better or go faster.

This is especially true if you are a club or Masters racer. For example, the newest technique among World Cup racers is to hit GS gates like they were slalom gates. It's a more direct and faster line. But a lot of recreational racers are a little wary of getting that close to double-paneled giant slalom gates, or bashing them when they're not designed to give like slalom gates. Nastar is great for learning how to do it. You can run the same course over and over again, getting closer to the gate with each run. You'll learn the feel of hitting the gate without bruising your arm or shoulder (though some sort of padding is a good thing). You'll learn how to angulate over to hit the gate with your arm without hooking a ski. By practicing for several days, you'll get the technique wired in, so you can do it in a race and be a lot faster.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Tips on How to Kill It in the Park

Wina Sturgeon — 2009-01-02T14:50:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding

Shawn Lake started out as a racer. But once he learned to ride park, it was slopestyle all the way for Shawn. The 19-year-old has podiumed in several contests already, but his big thing is helping beginners learn to jump and ride rails -- without trauma. Here's some of Shawn's best tips, for both skiers and snowboarders:

BIGGEST MISTAKES

The biggest mistake most people make in the park is riding out of their ability. Start out in a small park with little jumps and rails. Learn on 'ride-ons,' rails that are real low to the snow. Work your way up slowly. Other snowriders will always be willing to give you help, just ask. Ask a lot.

BODY POSITION

You want 75% of your weight on your front foot, with your leading edge off the rail about a half inch or so. You want your head up, to be looking at the end of the rail. You want your knees bent, and a good wide stance. A lot of people keep their hands down and stand up straight on the rail. You want to be in a slight squat.

For skiers, since you're sliding sideways, turn your body facing down the hill for the landing. Your skis will follow.

This first-time park rider got tips from Shawn that let her ride with confidence after this photo was taken. He helped her eliminate the three biggest flaws for beginners: "Look ahead when you hit the lip of a jump, not down at your board or skis. Keep both hands forward. Knees should be bent."

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Keeping Feet Comfy in the Cold

Wina Sturgeon — 2008-12-30T11:54:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding

I was all ready for my friend Zara to pick me up to go skiing at Brighton Resort. She came in, handing me a belated Christmas package. I opened it and looked at the gift in total bewilderment. It was two brightly colored tubes of cloth, filled with something or other. "Rice," she explained with a big grin, adding, "Microwave them for two minutes."

Still puzzled, I nuked the tubes. When they were done, she was right there, armed with a potholder and my ski boots, which she had unbuckled. Pulling out the boot tongues, she slipped a tube deep into each boot, then buckled them again. "Your boots will be totally toasty when you put them on," she said.

I silently scoffed. But when we reached the resort an hour later and I pulled out the gizmos, they were warm. And so were my boots. The warmed plastic even allowed my feet to slip in easily, with no grunting tugs. And the boots felt like heaven.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

The Best Snow on Earth

Wina Sturgeon — 2008-12-30T11:49:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding

Utah claims to have the "Best Snow On Earth." Snowriders must believe it, because every year, there are more tourists visiting the vast snowfields of the Wasatch Front. But it may be more than the snow that draws them.

One big draw is easy access. Salt Lake City's airport is only about 40 minutes away from most of the major Utah resorts. Put your boots on in the van, grab your gear and you can be on the lift less than an hour after your plane lands.

The other draw is personality. Each Wasatch Front resort has a different personality, a different ambiance. Instead of choosing a resort just for its famous name, you can find one that perfectly fits your desires and style. Here's some inside info on the major resorts, to help you make the decision.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Ski Channel Launches

Wina Sturgeon — 2008-12-28T15:00:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding

Steve Bellamy gave himself the biggest gift anyone could ask for on Christmas day -- the coming true of a lifelong dream. That's the day the Ski Channel came on air.

Bellamy, originator of the Tennis Channel, says, "It's the next generation of television networks. It's video on demand (VOD). When you go to the ski channel, you see a menu of all the shows, it lets you pick what you want to watch when you want to watch it."

The 44-year-old entrepreneur, still a major shareholder in the popular Tennis Channel, actually started out with the idea for the Ski Channel 13 years ago, six months before he began the Tennis Channel. "But (ski) racing doesn't translate to TV as well as tennis," he said.

In its original form all those years ago, the Ski Channel went nowhere, while the Tennis Channel was immediately successful. But Bellamy, a passionate skier for 30 years, never gave up on his dream. Time became his friend, as adventure and action sports grew more and more popular, and VOD became a reality. Suddenly, in 2009, it was the right time to make his dream come true. Bellamy explained, "Skiing really lends itself to VOD, whereas tennis doesn't."

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Bode Miller: Big Mouth or Truth Teller?

Wina Sturgeon — 2008-12-28T14:09:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding

Bode Miller has never been afraid to speak up. He often says what others have been whispering, but are afraid to say. For example, he loudly criticized the International Ski Federation, the powerful governing body of ski racing, for allowing unsafe race courses after several disastrous crashes last season. US racer Scott Macartney ended up with a bruised brain and severe concussion, Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal smashed his face and got a life-threatening four-inch deep laceration in his groin area and Austria's Matthias Lanzinger broke his lower leg so badly it had to be amputated.

The field of World Cup racers quietly muttered to each other, but only Miller spoke up suggesting changes that would lead to safer race courses. But he said the FIS wouldn't listen to the racer's opinions. "We have very low expectations (about any FIS action)," he said.

After his statement, the FIS got defensive and did make some loudly heralded changes, but not enough for Miller, who indicated that the new safety measures were mostly talk. "There wouldn't even be any change (if) one of us dies," he said.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Stretch Your Training

Wina Sturgeon — 2008-12-28T13:48:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Biking

Arielle Martin is one of the top female BMX riders in the world. At her level, the sport requires incredible conditioning, with finesse being just as important as strength and quickness. But BMX is a summer sport, hard to do on snowy terrain. How does she stay in competitive shape during winter?

"I snowboard. I can ride anything, I love challenging terrain, and I'm not afraid of speed. I can shred," she says, laughing. She adds that snowriding, whether skiing or snowboarding, is good cross training for any kind of biking, especially the adrenaline jumps of BMX. "I think there's a little bit of cross over as far as fear factor goes. But mostly it's good for the legs."

If you can't get to the slopes, Martin advises going to a gym for a spinning class. She says, "You're still spinning pedals, and you're keeping your legs used to the sensation of pedaling. Spinning is also good for conditioning."

But one of the biggest parts of staying in shape is something that many athletes and weekend warriors skip during winter- stretching. Martin, whose muscles are naturally tight, says that every active person should know how important it is to stretch regularly.

"Stretching is an integral part of any sport. A lot of people think of stretching as staying loose, but it really helps prevent injury. When your muscles are tight, there's a greater chance of you pulling things out of joint. The most common injury is tearing, tearing a muscle or tendon because it's too tight," she explains.

A muscle that hasn't been stretched out tends to instantly tighten even more if extended past its limited range of motion. That makes a serious tear or painful pull even more likely.

Martin, who is sponsored by Formula Bicycles and Action Sports Depot; a distributing company for BMX equipment, says, "I always feel tight, so I'm always stretching. I don't spend an hour a day stretching, I'm always stretching for two or three minutes at a time. I like to stretch out my back a lot. If I'm standing at the counter and doing dishes, I'll take a few steps backward and bend at the waist, holding on to the counter top. The whole upper body is elongated doing that, and it stretches the whole back."

She also recommends a standard quad stretch for any active person whose sport requires a lot of leg strength. To do it, bend your foot back and grab your ankle. Slowly and gradually bring your heel up to your butt. This stretches out all the muscles in the front of the thigh.

Most athletes on every level know they can't allow their conditioning to lapse during winter. But Martin, an Olympic level athlete, says that when it comes to conditioning, stretching is one of the most important things you can do.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

After Disaster, He's Back

Wina Sturgeon — 2008-12-24T20:22:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding

Alex Schlopy was the big underground buzz in free skiing slope style two seasons ago. He seemed like many of the budding phenoms that excite the sport, then disappear. Maybe they can't stand the pressure. Maybe they never got better than their first flash of brilliance. In Schlopy's case, it was disaster that derailed him.

First, he suffered a severe concussion in a car accident last autumn. Back on skis and training for the US Open in January, he blew out his knee and got another concussion, leaving him bedridden with vertigo. At 15, Schlopy had to deal with a double lesson of his own mortality.

That was then. Now he's back. His big sponsor, Dynastar Skis, stuck with him.

"It was kind of weird at the beginning of the season, but now feel I'm getting back to the state of mind I want to be in. I'm catching up, getting back to where I feel I'm ahead of where I was before the accident," the now-16-year-old said.

So did he choose some small, out of the way contest to make his comeback? Nope. He started big, trying for the first Winter Dew Tour stop at Breckinridge. But open qualifying was full. Schlopy was put on the waiting list. The night before the contest, one of the organizers called. A last-minute slot had just opened up. Schlopy was in.

"It was the first contest I'd been in since two years ago. I was a little scared, but at the same time I felt like it would be good to get back in. We got two hours of training before the contest. It felt good to be hitting big jumps on a nice course and I was ready. They were pretty big jumps, anywhere between 60-70 feet, but well built. I'd been off jumps that high, but not that well built," he said.

Any action athlete coming back after down-time knows how hard the first contest always is. Schlopy didn't put down the run he wanted. He came in 17th. But only the top 16 would go on. Then he got another nighttime call. One of the top 16 athletes was injured and dropping out. Again, Schlopy was in. But contest day was a windy blizzard snowstorm. "You couldn't even see the jumps," he said.

Dew Tour organizers called it a day after the first heat and rescheduled the contest for two days later. Each athlete would have only one run to qualify for the finals. It was during his run that Schlopy learned that he'd made a mistake. "I didn't wax my skis, which was kind of stupid. I couldn't get speed, I was having trouble with the course and landed five feet short off the first jump. That was sort of it for me," he said.

But he's ready for the rest of the season. "I feel that I'm back, so I'm not too disappointed. But watching the contest, I saw how far the sport has come in the past two years. If I want it, I'm really going to have to train and go after it. And I will. If I want to go to X Games, I'm going to have to train really hard. The next Dew is in Vermont and hopefully I'll be able to go to that one. We'll see if I qualified to go," he said.

He's spending time practicing his favorite trick, switch sevens with different grabs. "That's getting the roots down for bigger spins. It's always good to have the roots," Schlopy said.

And it's also good, when you come back, to have already paid your dues.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Resorts Offer More Than Slopes

Wina Sturgeon — 2008-12-24T17:00:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding

Are you stuck in the same old ride-the-runs rut? Do you get off the lift, do the groomers and consider it enough? How about trying something different and adding more excitement to your snowriding.

I'm not talking about renting a ski instructor for an hour or so. Check out what else is available- you might be surprised. Nearly every resort offers something special for snowriders. It could be as simple as a "Lady's Day" discount lift ticket, like the one offered at Vermont's Okemo Resort for $39 on most Tuesdays, is also offered by many other resorts throughout the country. (Why the ladies always get a discount on Tuesdays still bewilders me, but hey, money saved is good on any day).

Many small local resorts offer special rental and lift pass rates for beginners. You can spend the day on the bunny runs on rented skis or a snowboard from $10 to $20 and up. This is a great deal for skiers who want to try snowboarding.

A few resorts offer "Mommy Days" where a child's lesson or nursery is offered along with the lift ticket. It gives harried parents a chance to spend some time on the slopes while someone else takes care of the little one. Even though they may be called "Mommy Days, dads can take advantage of the deal too.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Deadly Snow

Wina Sturgeon — 2008-12-24T16:15:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding

The sudden snowy storms over much of America created dangerous conditions in the mountains. What are your chances of being caught in an avalanche? Or more to the point, how do you save your life when snow is ready to slide?

Bruce Tremper, Director of the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center, is one of the most famous avalanche experts in the country and the author of "Staying Alive In Avalanche Terrain." He says that snow sliding down from the top of a mountain is a myth.

"Avalanches can happen anywhere, wherever you have a slope that's steeper than 30 degrees. Fatalities have occurred on the sides of gullies in the flat lands of Montana, on Mt. Everest and everything in between."

Another myth is that snow starts to slide by itself and thunders down on victims. Tremper explains a surprising fact, "It's very rare to be killed or caught in an oncoming avalanche(from above); 93% of avalanche accidents are triggered by the victim or someone in the victim's party."

Back-country experts all know to test the snow layers before heading outside resort boundaries, especially on steep slopes which are more likely to slide. Tremper, a former ski racer who loves the untouched snow in the back-country, says, "When I go back-country skiing, I do snow profiles, as they're called. Basically, you dig a hole in the snow and make the back smooth and vertical and then cut out isolated columns of snow. Then you do various kinds of stress tests to determine the stability of the snow layers."

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Nastar Hooks Up With Masters

Wina Sturgeon — 2008-12-24T15:45:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding

If you won a gold or platinum medal in Nastar last season, you may have gotten a recent letter of congratulations from USSA, home of the US ski team, inviting you to jump up a level and try Masters racing.

Bill Skinner, the USSA Masters National Coordinator, said there were 5,000 invitational letters sent to gold medalists, and 1,200 sent to platinum winners, the top two levels of Nastar. "We work closely with Bill Madsen (head of Nastar) because we're both involved with recreational racing," he said.

While most snowriders know that Nastar is recreational racing, there's a mistaken impression that Masters is somehow limited to professionals. That's not true. Yes, Masters is the highest level of recreational racing, and yes, it's a lot more challenging than Nastar, but it's open to every adult over the age of 18. Not everyone is an expert racer.

"Regular Nastar racers will find a lot of people who enjoy racing just like they do. The courses are more challenging and on steeper slopes. Similar to what you see on TV in World Cup races. They are definitely longer and more technical than your average Nastar venue, but with Masters, there's camaraderie as well as competition. We all encourage each other" Skinner said, adding that anyone who would like to talk to him about Masters racing can give him a personal call at USSA,(435)646-2633.

While many snowriders don't take Nastar seriously, Skinner does. An international and national Masters champion himself, he said, "I run NASTAR courses for practice. I consider any course with a time at the top and bottom to be a race." Anyone who has seen him on one of his frequent runs down a Nastar course knows he speaks the truth. As a head Masters coach, he also has his racers practice on Nastar courses because it's easier to work on technique improvements on less technical courses.

Some Nastar racers may think Masters is too high a level of racing. That's also not true. The first time I entered a Masters race, I was terrified. It was a giant slalom and I was intimidated just by the fact that it was an actual (gasp!) Masters event. My heart pounded as the starter counted me down. But after a few gates, though I was going uncomfortably fast, I realized, "This is fun!" I've been a Masters racer ever since and a Masters race does feel more like being a real racer than a Nastar course does.

While a Masters GS course will seem more familiar to Nastar racers, it's exciting to try different disciplines like slalom or super G. There are even Masters downhills for those who love speed.

To become eligible for Masters racing, you must first purchase a competition license from USSA, which costs $110. But that fee helps support US ski team racers. It includes a subscription to Ski Racing, Ski Magazine, a US ski team pin and ski team ball cap. However, it's not a cheap sport. Each Masters race costs between $25 and $35, depending on the event. But anyone who enjoys racing will find a whole new dimension in their skiing by becoming a Masters racer.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Last-Minute Easy Gifts for Snowriders

Wina Sturgeon — 2008-12-22T10:45:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding

What can you get for someone whose passion is snow? You can't afford to buy them new skis or snowboard or a season pass. The thoughtful thing is to purchase for their passion, but how can you do that when everything, from clothing to gear, costs hundreds of dollars?

Not to worry. When it comes to buying for snowriders, it really is the thought that counts. Don't go for the obvious, like goggles or gloves. Instead, go for something your friend will really need, if not at the moment, then eventually.

You can think the economy thoughtful gift or the gold standard. For example, one thoughtful gift is wax. Ask to buy a block of shop wax; you can get it for about $15, and it's enough to last a whole season. Or, go for the gold and get them a wax iron to go with the wax. Those start at about $25, though a thrift store iron is pretty inexpensive. If you're feeling generous and you want to get something for a friend who ski races or competes in the pipe, get them a fluorocarbon wax. It will set you back more than a hundred dollars, but your friend will love you for it.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Winter Dew Tour Breaks Records

Wina Sturgeon — 2008-12-22T10:37:00 00:00

by Wina Sturgeon

Filed under: Skiing-Snowboarding

The first stop of the Winter Dew Tour wrapped up Sunday in Breckinridge, Co., and six athletes are each $15,000 richer.

It's a record setting event---the first winter tour for the huge Dew/Alli empire, the first exhibition for women freeskiers, and unlike the one-week, one-stop X Games, there are three stops in the Winter Dew, where repeat winners can total up huge prizes to rival the heavy money X Games. In addition, women winners in snowboard pipe and slopestyle will get paid the same as the men.

Shaun White got his loot for winning Saturday's snowboard slopestyle contest, while nearly unknown Canadian rider Spencer O'Brien had the run of her life and ruled women's snowboard slopestyle, scoring seven points higher than her closest competition.

But gasps of awe and screams of joy went to Breck local Bobby Brown, who won freeski slopestyle with ever bigger tricks as he rode his run, most of them switch, including a switch misty 1080---upside down and twisting---to a switch double rodeo 900 from the top of one jump, and spinning like a gyroscope off the others.

The show continued Saturday night under bright lights, when freeskier Tanner Hall shook off all the rest to land the first 1080 of his career---at the bottom of the superpipe. He went on with back to back nines, and tricked all the way to the bottom.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

FanHouse

Disaster for the U.S. Bobsled Team

Jeremy Bloom Retired to Grant Wishes

Jeremy Bloom Retired to Grant Wishes

St. Onge Headlines Day Two at Deer Valley Freestyle World Cup

Freestyle World Cup Underway atDeer Valley

'That's It, That's All' Dominates at X-Dance Film Festival

55-Year-Old Mountain Biker's Secret? 'Get Coached'

Use a Nastar Course to Improve Your Skiing

Tips on How to Kill It in the Park

Keeping Feet Comfy in the Cold

The Best Snow on Earth

Ski Channel Launches

Bode Miller: Big Mouth or Truth Teller?

Stretch Your Training

After Disaster, He's Back

Resorts Offer More Than Slopes

Deadly Snow

Nastar Hooks Up With Masters

Last-Minute Easy Gifts for Snowriders

Winter Dew Tour Breaks Records

Freestyle World Cup Underway at
Deer Valley