Maddie Bowman claims Women’s Ski SuperPipe gold at X Games 2013
America’s Maddie Bowman put on an excellent performance to clinch Women’s Ski SuperPipe gold medal at X Games Aspen 2013 that continued in Aspen, Colorado, on Friday, January 25.
The remaining podium was filled up by Canadian skiers, with Roz Groenewoud walking away with the silver medal, while Megan Gunning claimed the bronze medal.
With the world’s best freeskiers in contention for the top honours at what is regarded as the biggest stage in action sports, the crowd in attendance expected nothing but a heavy dose of enthralling action and mesmerising performances.
With the skiers still holding the memory of late half-pipe specialist and four-time X Games gold medallist Sarah Burke close to their heart, all eight finalist put on a determined performance to honour her and the sport that she so strongly loved.
Bowman, who had to settle for a silver medal last year, managed to secure the highest spot on the podium this year, thanks to an unbeatable first-run that featured a pair of 900s. The run earned her a decisive score of 91.33 points.
During the post-final interview, the South Lake Tahoe native said, "It means a lot (to honor Burke). Sarah would have wanted us to ski as hard as we did."
Burke’s former teammate and close friend Groenewoud was unable to defend her throne and instead had to settle for a silver medal this year after scoring an 86.66 off her second run, a massive improvement on the performance and score from the first run.
"They did the tribute (to Burke) right before my run," she said. "My eyes teared up, my goggles fogged."
The 20-year-old Gunning claimed the last remaining spot on the podium after putting on an impressive performance in her third and final run to post an 85.00 on the score-board.
"This feels so good, because it's just been so hard coming back from my knee and a lot of other things to overcome," Gunning said. "Just some mental obstacles, like a new way of looking at life. I'm more spiritual now."
It turned out to be another exciting yet emotional Women’s Ski SuperPipe final at the winter edition of X Games.
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