The world of skiing is becoming bowled over by the introduction of the Big Air comp. I say introduction but we all know it’s been around for a while. But it seems that this season the comp has reached a new level of popularity and this year’s Winter X Games was no exception with a crowd that would take the roof off of the Sydney Opera House.

It started off with 2 heats and five out of ten riders from the heats advancing to the finals. First up was PK Hunder, Kai Mahler, Jacob Wester, Gus Kenworthy and Elias Ambuhl. You may remember that Elias and Kai went toe to toe in the final of Freestyle.ch with Elias coming out on top but this time it was a little different. All riders were allowed two jumps with their total score from both creating a total to beat. Results were:

PK Hunder – Switch 1260 // Double cork 1260 – Score: 63
Kai Mahler – Double cork 1260 // Switch double misty 1440 – Score: 83
Jacob Wester – Double cork 1260 // Switch 720 – Score: 53
Gus Kenworthy – Double cork 1260 // Switch double cork 1080 – Score: 74
Elias Ambuhl – Switch double cork 1260 // Double cork 1260 – Score: 72

One hell of a heat that saw Kai beat Elias with Gus Kenworthy taking the second spot by two points. What was left? Heat 2. Skiers and results were:

Andreas Hatveit – Switch 1260 // Corked 1260 – Score: 63
Henrik Harlaut – Bio 1260 // Double flatspin 1260 – Score: 72
Jossi Wells – Switch double cork // Double cork 1260 – Score: 79
Sammy Carlson – Double cork 1260 // Switch double cork 1080 – Score: 73
Bobby Brown – Double cork 1260 // Switch double cork 1440 – Score: 84

With some big hitters being knocked out (Andreas Hatveit after his podium finish in the slopestyle) and Elias Ambuhl after nailing a couple of big air comps already. It seemed that double corks was the flavour of the day so what was to be served up in the finals?

Of course.

Final results and tricks were:
Sammy Carlson – Switch double flatspin 1080 // Double cork 1260 poke – Score: 72
Gus Kenworthy – Double cork 1260 // Double cork 1260 – Score: 72
BRONZE MEDEAL – Jossi Wells – Switch double cork 1080 // Switch double cork 1440 – Score 83
SILVER MEDAL – Kai Mahler – Double cork 1260 shifty // Switch double misty 1440 – Score: 84
GOLD MEDAL – Bobby Brown – Switch double D-Spin 1260 // Switch double D-Spin 1440 – Score: 88

So the big man himself, Bobby Brown, took the victory by 4 points over Jossi Wells and Kai Mahler. There was no Alex Schlopy to deny Bobby this year so he grabbed the gold and held onto it pretty firmly.

We’re looking towards the superpipe finals now…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnFrp_xlzco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxCrLMFI_Dw