COPPER MOUNTAIN — Quick, what’s 9.9 times five?
Answer: It’s about as close to perfection in a snowboard halfpipe contest as you can get.
Reigning Olympic gold medalist Shaun White used back-to-back double-corked tricks Friday on the final qualifying run at the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix competition to again raise the standard of the sport he has dominated for years.
They’re going to have to change the scoring system soon, or the judges just may run out of points.
White’s score of 49.50 (out of a possible 50) edged out fellow American Louie Vito’s 48.60 for the top qualifying score heading into today’s finals. This event is the first of five contests used to determine the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team. Vito’s own rendition of the back-to-back double-corked 1080s had established the score to beat in the talent-stacked third and final heat just one lap before.
“Those scores are crazy. You can just tell that the riding has been stepped up so much. It’s an Olympic year and it always happens that way,” Vito said. “Finals will be throwing down, for sure. You gotta go for it. You’re not going to make the Olympic team placing fifth.”
White left Friday’s event without talking to the media.
Sixteen men advanced to today’s finals from the starting field of 80 riders, including Coloradans Zach Black and Steve Fisher of Breckenridge, and 2002 Olympic bronze medalist JJ Thomas of Golden.
At a point in the superpipe show when it seems there isn’t any room left for improvement, riders say the second act will be even better.
“There’s always room for more,” Vito said. “I know Shaun has a few extra tricks, and I can step my riding up a little bit. It’s just that you have to land it when it counts, that’s what it comes down to.”
Turned away.
Evidence of U.S. Snowboarding’s deep talent pool heading into Olympic qualifications can be seen in the names left off the list for today’s finals, which begin at 11 a.m. Among the casualties: 2006 Olympian Mason Aguirre (fourth in Turin), 2008 Winter X Games silver medalist Kevin Pearce and 2006 Olympian Andy Finch.
Making a move.
The spectacular double-cork moves (two off-axis flips with one or more full twists) making their way to halfpipe competition as so-called “must do” maneuvers for Olympic medal contenders aren’t for everyone. Fisher finished second behind American Danny Davis in his qualifying heat Friday using a pair of 1080s as big tricks worthy of a 43.30, seventh overall.
“I think he feels like his run is working for him pretty well as it is, and he doesn’t need to do them yet,” U.S. Snowboarding director Jeremy Forster said. “It was good enough for second today.”
Autti out.
Former FIS halfpipe world champion and X Games gold medalist Antti Autti of Finland did not compete Friday and likely will miss the season after suffering a severe injury while training Monday at Copper. Autti cracked three ribs, partially collapsed a lung and may have damaged his spleen after crashing and falling to the bottom of the 22-foot superpipe.
Scott Willoughby: 303-954-1993 or swilloughby@denverpost.com
