X Games Aspen 2019 Day One Recap

Thursday’s medal run started in Women’s Ski SuperPipe where Monster Energy’s Cassie Sharpe was looking to improve on last year’s bronze finish. After taking a harsh slam on a 1080 attempt, Cassie sealed the deal on her third and final run: high-flying 900s both ways followed by a flawless Flair, right 720, switch left 360, and a massive 9.9-foot 1080 finisher earned the 26-year-old Canadian shredder 94.00 points and the gold medal, her second gold in Ski SuperPipe at X Games. Monster’s Brita Sigourney looked like a podium favorite after claiming silver at last year’s X Games Aspen, but had to settle for fourth place as the battle intensified.

Next it was time for Men’s Freeski SuperPipe where it all came down to the wire for defending gold medalist David Wise from Reno, Nevada. After losing the handle on his first two runs, the 2018 Winter Olympics gold winner posted a perfect run on his final attempt: Multi-directional double cork 1260s, right 1080 and a switch left double cork 1080 netted the 28-year-old tech wizard 90.33-points for a strong silver finish, boosting his X Games medal count to six (4 gold, 2 silver). Upcoming Monster Army rider Birk Irving held his own against the world SuperPipe elite and posted difficult tech tricks like down the pipe double flatspin 720 for a strong fourth place finish.

When the action moved into Women’s Snowboard Big Air, Monster Energy’s Jamie Anderson battled head-to-head against X Games rookie Laurie Blouin from Canada. Anderson is known as the most decorated woman in X Games history and a fierce Slopestyle competitor but has been constantly upping her Big Air game. This year, she sent a new Cab double 900 over the 82-foot gap as her first trick, followed by a clean frontside 720 for a combined 67.00-point score. But after suffering a heavy slam on a frontside 1080 attempt, the 28-year-old from Lake Tahoe had to settle for bronze, bringing her total X Games count to 16 medals.

Stay tuned for more winter sports action as Day Two of X Games Aspen presents a heavy line-up featuring Women’s Ski Slopestyle and Big Air, Snowmobile Freestyle, Men’s Snowboard Big Air and the first-ever Jeep Wrangler X Challenge.