Faulhaber stands out to secure gold
WIND had the final say as the Winter Games halfpipe finals were abandoned at Cardrona yesterday.
Hopes were high for a dazzling display of acrobatics at the 22foot superpipe but they were dashed by the conditions, and the decision was made halfway through the first run to cancel the finals.
That meant the medals were dished out based on Thursday’s qualifiers.
The US team made a clean sweep of the women’s freeski halfpipe with Hanna Faulhaber claiming top spot with an impressive score of 92.67, 13 points clear of Carly Margulies in second place. Riley Jacobs rounded out the allAmerican podium in third.
Head judge Tori Beattie explained that Hanna’s huge backtoback flares, consistent amplitude and strong grabs made her stand out from the rest of field.
“I definitely laid down the run I was doing at the Winter Olympics and X Games,’’ Faulhaber said.
‘‘Sometimes you save stuff for finals to surprise the judges but from hearing that we might not have finals, I pushed through and gave it all I had on Thursday.”
Beijing Winter Olympian Gustav Legnavsky (16) delighted his Wanaka fans with victory in the men’s freeski halfpipe category with a run that included three double corks, scoring 94.33.
He was disappointed that the finals were cancelled, but pleased to take the win.
“Since the Olympics, I’ve been getting fired up wanting to have those better results,’’ Legnavsky said.
‘‘Definitely feels a lot better, and I have been more consistent. I am pretty excited — it’s great to get another gold back at my home mountain.”
Fellow Kiwi Ben Harrington was second place, right behind Legnavsky with a score of 93 flat, and American Matt Labaugh was third with 92.
South Korean star Gaon Choi dominated the women’s snowboarding from the second she dropped into the halfpipe, impressing with her amplitude and her ability to hold her grabs for the duration of her tricks.
Tsuki Yamazaki and Mion Kamimura, both of Japan, rounded out the podium.
Chaeun Lee, also of South Korea, won the men’s snowboard halfpipe with Konosuke Murakami (Japan) right on his heels.
New Zealand teenager Campbell Melville Ives was third, revelling in the chance to face international opposition at home.
‘‘We haven’t had any international athletes in a few years now so it’s really sick to be back competing with them.”