Tag: snowboarding

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Sochi recap: Snowboarding, men’s parallel slalom

Beau Dure

American-born Russian Vic Wild loves his new country, and they love him. He took his second Olympic gold in a thrilling final over Zan Kosir, who also took his second medal of the Games. As unpredictable as this sport may be, each of the medalists was a repeat — Benjamin Karl reached the podium in parallel giant slalom in 2010. Date: 22-Feb Sport: Snowboarding Event: Men’s parallel slalom Medalists: Vic Wild (Russia), Zan Kosir (Slovenia), Benjamin Karl (Austria) SportsMyriad projections: Andreas Prommegger (Austria), Roland Fischnaller (Italy), Rok Marguc (Austria) How U.S. fared: Justin Reiter, a World Championship silver medalist, missed … Continue reading Sochi recap: Snowboarding, men’s parallel slalom

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Sochi recap: Snowboarding, women’s parallel slalom

Beau Dure

The first Olympic parallel slalom — just like parallel giant slalom but slightly smaller — was as unpredictable as ever. But a solid rider, Austria’s Julia Dujmovits, came up with the clutch performance to win gold. Germany took the next two places, with Amelie Kober adding parallel slalom bronze to the parallel giant slalom silver she won in 2006. Date: 22-Feb Sport: Snowboarding Event: Women’s parallel slalom Medalists: Julia Dujmovits (Austria), Anke Karstens (Germany), Amelie Kober (Germany) SportsMyriad projections: Ekaterina Tudegesheva (Russia), Patrizia Kummer (Switzerland), Hilde-Katrine Engeli (Norway) How U.S. fared: No entries What happened: Qualifying tripped up all three … Continue reading Sochi recap: Snowboarding, women’s parallel slalom

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Sochi recap: Snowboarding, women’s parallel giant slalom

Beau Dure

Plenty of surprises in the first parallel event of these Olympics, including a heartwarming medal for Russia, but two favorites dueled in a thrilling final. Date: 19-Feb Sport: Snowboarding Event: Women’s parallel giant slalom Medalists: Patrizia Kummer (Switzerland), Tomoka Takeuchi (Japan), Alena Zavarzina (Russia) SportsMyriad projections: Isabella Laböck (Germany), Tomoka Takeuchi (Japan), Marion Kreiner (Austria) How U.S. fared: No entries What happened: World champion Isabella Laböck and 2010 bronze medalist Marion Kreiner failed to qualify for the elimination rounds, in which 16 riders face off head to head. Kreiner, also the 2009 world champion and 2013 World Cup champion, had finished in … Continue reading Sochi recap: Snowboarding, women’s parallel giant slalom

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Sochi recap: Snowboarding, women’s slopestyle, 2nd heat

Beau Dure

A couple of favorites struggled, and American Ty Walker did the bare minimum to keep going. But Jamie Anderson lived up to her favorite status. Date: 6- Feb Sport: Snowboarding Event: Women’s slopestyle qualifing, second heat How U.S. fared: Gold medal favorite Jamie Anderson was smooth as silk in the air and on all her landings in her first run, posting a massive 93.50. With her qualification safe, she opted not to take her second run. Ty Walker was the first rider, but she bypassed every ramp. Her score: 1.00. (One judge gave her a 2.) Then she skipped her second run. Why? She’s … Continue reading Sochi recap: Snowboarding, women’s slopestyle, 2nd heat

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Sochi recap: Snowboarding, women’s slopestyle, 1st heat

Beau Dure

Torah Bright and Isabel Derungs posted the top scores, while contender Kjersti Buaas had a painful accident. Date: 6- Feb Sport: Snowboarding Event: Women’s slopestyle qualifying, first heat How U.S. fared: They’re in the second heat, coming up next. What happened: Three-event threat Torah Bright (Australia) laid down a conservative first run and was as surprised as anyone else when she got the top score of 85.25. Switzerland’s Isabel Derungs took over that top spot with 87.50 in the second run. Qualifying straight to the final: Derungs, Bright, Canada’s Spencer O’Brien and Finland’s Enni Rukajarvi. Everyone else in the heat must go … Continue reading Sochi recap: Snowboarding, women’s slopestyle, 1st heat

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Monday Myriad, March 4: Nordic state of mind

Beau Dure

Headlines from the week: – Slovenia’s Tina Maze is having the best Alpine skiing World Cup season of all time. – Norway’s Maret Bjoergen had one of the best Nordic World Championships of all time. – Shaun White was back in action with another U.S. Open title. – Milers Mary Cain and Will Leer stood out at the USA Indoor track and field championships. – At the same meet, pole vaulter Jenn Suhr broke five meters and the indoor world record. The only other women’s pole vaulter to clear five meters is Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva. Isinbayeva’s outdoor record: 5.06 meters. Suhr indoors: 5.02. – Speedskaters Brittany Bowe and Brian Hansen won World Cup … Continue reading Monday Myriad, March 4: Nordic state of mind

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2014 medal projections: Snowboarding

Beau Dure

Updated Dec. 31; overhauled, really. Other updates Jan. 21 and Feb. 3. And again when Shaun White withdrew from slopestyle Feb. 5. Not the easiest sport to predict, given that the top halfpipe and slopestyle folks often don’t bother with FIS World Cup events or even World Championships. We have to compare across the X Games and other events. Thankfully, the World Snowboard Tour computes something like that. The parallel events at least have a bit more info available, though I’ve yet to find any real trends in which some people are better at “special slalom” (do they eat Big … Continue reading 2014 medal projections: Snowboarding