White misses the Dew Tour halfpipe final

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. – Making the U.S. men’s Olympic halfpipe team is a feat in its own, and it got a little more difficult for Shaun White on Thursday.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist failed to advance to the finals at the Dew Tour at Breckenridge Mountain. In snowy conditions, White butt checked the lip of the halfpipe on both his qualifying runs and finished in 14th.

The event is the second of four qualifiers to determine the U.S. team for Pyeongchang. While a win here would have effectively locked up a spot for White, he has two more chances in events next month.

White finished third overall and was the second American in the U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain last week that served as the first qualifier.

Riders must record a top-three finish in one of the four qualifiers to be considered for the team. In the likely event that more riders do than there are spots, they’ll be judged on their top two finishes.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard allots three spots for the team and would likely use a fourth discretionary spot for men’s halfpipe given the strength of the American field.

Fellow American Ben Ferguson continued his hot start to the season in trying to make his first Olympic team.

Ferguson finished second last week and was the top American before leading in qualifying here at the Dew Tour.

Gabe Ferguson, Ben’s younger brother, was third in qualifying. Olympians Greg Bretz and Danny Davis also made the final, as did fellow Americans Chase Josey and Ryan Wachendorfer.