And here we have it! The first ski freestyle event of the NZ Winter Games was able to go ahead despite days of unprecedented snowfall! But that being said, there was no way that anyone expected the action that we received!
After a long battle, the two Americans Gus Kenworthy and Devin Logan came out on top and their dominance did not stop there, but we’ll look at that a little later!

Kenworthy’s winning run was made up of a left cork nine with a tail grab, ride side cork 7 with tail grab, two switch left 7 mutes, alley-oop flat spin 540 Japan finishing with a left cork 10 tail grab. This gave him 85 points and the lead. He was biting his nails as he was pressured by Kiwi native Jossi Wells. His run comprised of a left side cork nine safety to a left flair tail grab, right side 7 tail grab and then finishing with a switch 7 mute shifty. It wasn’t enough to take the lead but it secured him second place with 78.25 points. Completing the trio was David Wise who claimed third with 75.25 points. His run of a left flair safety, right side cork 9 tail grab, left cork 9 nose to an alley-oop flat 360 mute, switch left dub Japan grab and then an alley-oop flat 540 mute.

“The biggest competition today was the weather,” said Kenworthy.  “I saw that the competition was big with Jossi Wells and David Wise pulling some big amplitude and tricks during practice so knew I had to give it my all and I did.”

To the women’s comp! Devin Logan claimed the top spot with a straight air to left 540 tail grab, right side flair, straight air to straight air and a left side 7 tail grab, leaving her with a score of 80.25. Jen Hudak grabbed second with a left side 540 mute to alley-oop mute, straight air to straight air, left side 7 and ending on a switch alley-oop 360, giving her a score of 75.50. In third place was newbie, Maddie Bowman, with a left side 540 safety, right side 540 to left side 540, straight air to left side 7. She ended up with 72.50 to get a spot on the podium.

What a great start to the 100% Pure NZ Winter Games 2011 and I hope it’s the start to something special. Did the freestyle comp hold anything on the halfpipe event? Click through to find out…