Wise Spins to Win First Olympic Ski Halfpipe Gold

ROSA KHUTOR, February 18 (R-Sport) – David Wise of the United States became the first-ever winner of an Olympic ski halfpipe gold medal Tuesday.

Even though Wise fell on his second run, his first-run score of 92 points was enough to secure him the first ski halfpipe gold, 14 years after the sistersnowboard event debuted at the Games.

The silver medal went to Canada’s Mike Riddle on 90.60, with bronze for France’s Kevin Rolland on 88.60.

Wise now holds the discipline’s three most prestigious titles, having won last month’s X-Games ski halfpipe event in Aspen and last year’s world championships in Oslo.

His gold medal also brings the U.S. level with Canada on three gold medals in the freestyle skiing medal table in Sochi.

The women’s ski halfpipe at Sochi's Rosa Khutor Extreme Park is Thursday.