ROSA KHUTOR, Russia (Reuters) — Joss
Christensen led a United States podium sweep in spectacular fashion to
win the first Olympic gold medal in men's slopestyle skiing at the Sochi
Games on Thursday.
Another bumper crowd at Extreme Park were treated to a thrilling
display of acrobatics as the freestyle skiers pushed their routines
to the limits against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and blue
skies.
Christensen led the pack after qualifying and his 95.80 on his
opening run of the final, which he capped with a stunning switch
triple-corked 1440, assured him of the title even before his second
attempt.
Reflecting the have-a-go spirit of the sport, though, the
22-year-old nailed another spectacular flurry of flips, spins and
tricks for a score of 93.80, which would have been enough for gold
in itself.
"I can't really believe it right now, this is pretty crazy. It has
been just an amazing day," said Christensen.
"I am shocked. I am stoked to be up here with my friends. America,
we did it!"
Gus Kenworthy took silver with a score of 93.60 on his second run
after falling in his first, while teenager Nick Goepper, the
pre-competition Favorite, settled for bronze with 92.40.
Despite being encumbered by all their gear, the beaming minor
medalists managed to lift Christensen into the air on an improvised
chair to celebrate only the third U.S. podium sweep at the Winter
Olympics.
"I am so stoked about an American one-two-three," said Kenworthy.
"Nick is always the guy to kind of beat in a contest, he is so
consistent and so incredible and Joss is really killing it right
now. He is one of my best friends and I am stoked."
It was a third gold medal for the United States in slopestyle after
Sage Kotsenburg and Jamie Anderson won the snowboarding events,
which were also making their debut at the Sochi Games.
Goepper, who won the last two X-Games titles in slopestyle,
reflected a general consensus that the skiers had taken the sport to
a whole new level in Sochi.
"I feel amazing," said the 19-year-old. "It think today was the best
display of skiing we have ever seen in our sport, so I am so happy."
While Christensen learned his tricks on the best facilities in the
world in his home town of Park City, Utah, James Woods had to make
do with a dry slope in the unglamorous British industrial city of
Sheffield.
Woods made it through to the final in third place but, hampered by a
hip injury he sustained in a crash last week, was unable to produce
the sort of triple-cork trick that might have delivered Britain
their second Olympic medal on the snow.
"I can do triples. I've got them," said Woods, who finished fifth
behind Norway's Andreas Haatveit.
"I got slammed in practice and, to be honest, on any other regular
occasion, there is no way I would be anywhere near my boots and my
skis at the moment.
"But I am incredibly proud to be here in such an immense final. It's
the Olympics and Joss is the nicest guy on the face of the earth, so
I couldn't be happier for anyone else."
