ROSA KHUTOR, Russia (Feb. 17) – Athletes completed the final training for halfpipe skiing Monday despite fog at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. The lack of sunshine helped to preserve the snow conditions, and top U.S. athletes commented on the vast improvement of the halfpipe in the last few days, anticipating an exciting Olympic debut for their sport. The first-ever men’s medal event for halfpipe skiing at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games is scheduled for Tuesday Feb. 18, and both qualifications and finals can be streamed live on NBCOlympics.com starting at 8:45 a.m. EST.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Athletes completed the final training for halfpipe skiing Monday despite fog at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park.
- The lack of sunshine helped to preserve the snow conditions, and top U.S. athletes commented on the vast improvement of the halfpipe in the last few days, anticipating an exciting Olympic debut for their sport.
- Team USA starters for the men’s event included David Wise (Reno, NV), Torin Yater-Wallace (Basalt, CO), Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, CO) and Lyman Currier (Boulder, CO).
- The first-ever men’s medal event for halfpipe skiing at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games is scheduled for Tuesday Feb. 18. The women’s event is set for Thursday Feb. 20.
- Both men’s qualifications and finals can be streamed live on NBCOlympics.com starting at 8:45 a.m. EST Tuesday.
QUOTES
David Wise
The fog rolled in today but the pipe was the best it’s been. It stayed really consistent and cold, and I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be good.
We were here early. We’ve been having the Olympic experience and just getting a little bit distracted. So for the last couple of days I’ve receded back into my own zone and have been getting myself back into normal contest mode. I spend less time watching things and more time on my own, visualizing my runs. I’m thinking about skiing more often and just getting excited for it. I have a run that I’ve been hoping to do all year, and I’m looking forward to doing it here in Sochi. So I’m just going to focus on the things I can control and go out and enjoy it.
Torin Yater-Wallace
The halfpipe was kind of over-vert, but now it’s doing pretty good. There were a lot of flat landings earlier for everybody, but now it’s getting better.
I feel pretty good headed in. I don’t really like setting expectations for myself, but I’m hoping to just ski the best I can and feel good about my skiing.
Maddie Bowman
They’ve listened to us so much on how to fix the halfpipe. It really turned out well.
I just want to land my run. I expect all the girls to come out firing and I’m really excited to see how it goes.
Brita Sigourney
The halfpipe is probably the best it’s been yet. I had a really good practice and I’m excited. I’m sure they’ll figure out all the last kinks before we go and it’ll be good. I just want to lay down my run and I just want to ski clean and do what I’ve been doing all year. Hopefully it will put me in a good spot.
It’s definitely exciting. The Olympics are a huge deal, but I’m trying not to think of it like that. I’m just here to ski, enjoy the atmosphere, enjoy the huge crowd that’s going to be here and just have a good time.
Angeli Vanlaanen
I’m feeling awesome. I am loving the halfpipe. There are variable conditions here and there, but we’re used to working around that. I feel like I’ve gotten a lot done after some productive practices.
The experiences you go through in life give you perspective and I’m so grateful for the perspective I have. The gratitude I have for being here is immense. I couldn’t be happier. It’s the best feeling in the world to be here, to call myself an Olympian, especially after all my time off. It feels like the biggest triumph over Lyme disease. It was challenging to not be able to be active or compete in halfpipe for those three years. The Olympics was definitely a reach. It was a huge goal that I set, but anything is possible and I think my story really shows that with determination you can do anything you put your mind to.
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