PARK CITY, Utah — The penultimate U.S. Olympic snowboard qualifying event made only one thing clear: If the Olympics were held today, Shaun White would remain the gold medalist.
The reigning Olympic halfpipe champion left no doubt at the 2002 Olympic halfpipe venue, dominating Friday night’s U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix competition by landing what is likely the most difficult trick ever done in a halfpipe. White notched the top score of 49.0 points (out of a possible 50) after a first run that included back-to- back double-cork 1080s and was capped with a double McTwist 1260.
“For me it’s (the hardest trick ever done), for sure,” White said. “I don’t envy the guy that’s going to learn it after me.”
The double-cork 1080, the must-have halfpipe trick this season, is best described as two off-axis back flips combined with a 360-degree spin that add up to a 1080-degree spin across two axis.
The new trick adds a 180-degree rotation and ups the difficulty level by swapping to two front flips.
“I was scared to do this trick. I’ve never admitted that, but it’s really intimidating,” White said. “It’s such a commitment right off the bat. And to not know what the outcome is going to be before you go into it just takes all your energy and focus. I’m just happy to have that trick now. It’s the best trick I’ve ever done.”
Of course, the Olympics are not today. But the final U.S. Olympic snowboard team qualifier is. And based on the jumble of results to emerge from the first four of the five Grand Prix events, little more was learned Saturday. Other than White, who clinched his Olympic spot two weeks ago at Mammoth, Calif., no other men are a mathematical lock to go to Vancouver. Louie Vito of Ohio has two second-place finishes in qualifying events, putting him on solid footing. But he could do no better than sixth place (43.30) Friday.
New Hampshire’s Scott Lago made a case for himself with a second-place finish to go along with a third place in Mammoth. And Mammoth rider Greg Bretz put himself in striking distance with a third-place finish.
