Tait ‘stoked’ but fails to qualify

Kiwi snowboarder Rakai Tait has failed to get through the qualification rounds of the men’s halfpipe at the Winter Olympics.

The 19-year-old was given a lesson by some of the best snowboarders in the world at his first Olympics, with world number one Shaun White taking out the top qualifying spot.

Tait said he was pleased with his runs overall and wasn’t going to dwell on his 26th place out of 29.

‘‘[I’m] just really stoked I got that far and really stoked how I am riding and just happy with how I am riding.’’

Tait said it was a great sign for his future and he would aim to compete at more Olympics. The youngster represented New Zealand at the 2016 Youth Winter Olympics, but realises now there is a big step up between those and the real deal.

‘‘I’m gutted I didn’t land a solid run, but it’s been an unbelievable honour to represent New Zealand and wear the fern. I wanted to put one down, but just how it goes . . . Really stoked to be here, but you live and learn.’’

Judges rewarded Tait for his effort in the first run with 36.50, but after clipping the front of his board on the second he was only able to get a polite 25.75 from the panel.

‘‘With the first run I undercooked the double at the end...I’m happy, stoked to try some stuff.’’

Tait resides in Eagle, Colorado but also spent part of his early life in Hawaii and Switzerland. He finished 20th at the World Cup event in Cardrona last year and 17th at the most recent event in Aspen.

White and Scotty James will be favourites to fight out the final on Wednesday.

White scored a near perfect 98.50, Australia’s James 96.75 and Japan’s Ayumu Hirano 95.25.