Normal Service Resumed As Eileen Gu and Alex Ferreira Take Wins In The Copper Halfpipe

The conditions in Copper this morning were perfect – bright sunshine and no wind – giving the riders no excuses. They took advantage and the level of competition was high as everyone put down impressive runs. The lowest score in the men’s field was Aaron Blunk’s 77.25 – it was a seriously good run that only earned him 10th place and dead last.

The Women

Run One

Zoe Atkin was the first to break into the 80s with her signature amplitude but was pushed into second by Svea Irving who landed a clean run: left alley-oop 540 japan, left 540 safety, right 720 safety, switch left 360 mute, followed by a low right 5 safety, which lacked some amplitude. She then put the rocket boosters to full thrust and did a massive left cork 900 safety seemingly out of nowhere. She took the lead with a 85.75, which stood until the ever-impressive Eileen Gu dropped in. 

With the sort of consistency you would expect from a chinese rubber duck factory, Eileen laced the same run that gave her the win in Secret Garden – right 900 buick, left 900 japan, right 720 lead blunt, switch left 360 japan, left alley-oop flat 540 mute finishing with an alley-oop 180 blunt. Like quality controllers checking their 4000th duck, the judges gave it a 90.50.

Run Two

Zoe improved on her safety run landing a run with all four take-off directions, good amplitude and good grabs – starting with a massive left 540 high mute, right 720 safety to switch left 720 japan, right 540 lead blunt to right alley-oop 720 touch safety finishing with a switch right 720 safety. A huge run, with lots of variety, but not enough to take out Eileen, scoring her a 88.00. 

Next up, Cassie Sharpe’s run caused some clear discussion between the judges. To kill time, the broadcast switched to the camera in the booth and there were some brows furrowed as deep as the halfpipe itself. Cassie started with back-to-back cork 900s with safety and tail respectively – super progressive in the women’s field – into an air-to-fakie japan, switch left 360 mute to right flare safety, finishing off with a left 1080 tail. An incredible run from the veteran, only being let down somewhat by the small air-to-fakie and a dodgy flare. When the judges eventually made up their minds it came in as a 89.00 – above Zoe but still just below Eileen. If they could clean up aspects of their runs, Cassie and Zoe both had room to improve. Eileen certainly knew this and for the first time this season tried to add the back-to-back flares at the bottom of her run but could not put them down – was she feeling the pressure?

Run Three

Eileen suspicions were proved right almost immediately when Zoe boosted bigger than I can remember seeing any female go in the halfpipe. She held her amplitude all the way down the pipe but maybe struggled to hold her grabs long enough to upset Eileen. Zoe is also only doing upright spins, no corks or flatspins, which hurts her variety compared to Eileen – she moved back up to second place with a 89.75. Cassie made some mistakes on her final run handing Eileen another victory lap. However, taking it on herself to progress the sport, she tried again to add the back-to-back flares at the bottom, this time taking an even nastier slam. There can be nothing but respect for Eileen who clearly is not content with doing the same winning run every week. She bounced up with her trademark, money-making smile proving once again that she is harder to break than most stocking fillers that are “Made in China”.

Cassie and Zoe showed glimpses of runs that could beat Eileen – especially if she is struggling on the right flat 540 – if one of them can get all their ducks in a row, we could see an upset.

The final women’s podium: Eileen Gu in first, Zoe Atkin in second and Cassie Sharpe with her first podium since giving birth in third.

The Men

Run One

Finley Melville Ives started off the running order and set the tone for the contest. Easing himself in with a switch right 720 safety the run quickly ramped up with a huge left double cork 1260 short mute into his very cool looking left alley-oop double flatspin 1080 mute to switch left double 1080 japan, finishing with a right double cork 1260 safety. Probably the best run Finley has put down in contests, the length of grab on the left 1260 the only thing to really pick apart, it scored him a 87.75 – a massive score for the first rider of the day. That score held for the whole first run, as the rest of the field made some small execution errors – Alex Ferreira had a questionable grab on a switch 1080, Brenden Mackay missed his critical, Nick Goepper crashed and Birk Irving’s 1620 was a little sketchy.

Run Two

Trying to put himself further out of reach, Finley upped the 1260 to a 1620 but landed low and pulled out the run. He had another issue on the same trick in run three, but when he puts this run together it is going to be electric. He is the only rider doing the 16 with a mute and the axis is really proper – it is going to score well – the future is exciting. 

The past is still relevant however, and David Wise did as he always does and landed his run pretty flawlessly. He started with a switch right double 900 tail to switch left double 1080 japan then linked his back-to-back double cork 1260 mutes finishing with an alley-oop flat 540 blunt – a beautiful trick but probably the weak point of the run. He went into second with a 87.00. 

Brendan Mackay turned up the amplitude on his run boosting on every hit, starting with a switch left alley-oop double 900 critical which he held long enough for the image to burn onto the judges retinas, into a switch left double 1080 double japan, back-to-back double cork 1260s with safety and tail respectively finishing with a lofty left alley-oop flat 540 poked out mute. Long grabs and massive amplitude were enough to overtake the Kiwi and score him a 91.25 for first place. 

It was short lived however, as Alex Ferreira took command of the contest. Dropping in switch for a switch right double 1080 double japan, a massive left double cork 1620 safety to right 1080 lead tail, to switch left 1080 tail finishing with a right 1620 lead blunt (the first time this has been landed in competition) – a serious exclamation mark on an already crazily technical run. Celebrating like a man who was not happy with second place finishes in the last two contests, Alex erupted as the judges hooked him up with a 94.75.

Out to prove expensive ski gear isn’t a prerequisite for skiing, a jean-clad Nick Goepper dropped in with a mammoth switch left double 1080 japan into a right double cork 1620 safety, to left double cork 1260 mute, he then lost some amplitude on his right 1080 lead tail and finished with his unique switch right alley-oop 900 bone roll tail. A small bobble on the last trick and the low amplitude on the 1080 meant this week the run was only good enough for third and a 89.25. Nick’s grabs are so good compared to the rest of the field and this was what kept him above Finley despite some small errors. These small errors were what the judges saw prevented his run for bettering Brendan’s, who had more consistent amplitude all the way down the pipe.

Run Three

Pushing for more amplitude or stepping up their tricks, none of the top six were able to improve their runs, so the results stood from run two. Special mention to Hunter Hess – the tunes that he is listening to must go seriously hard, he was bopping at the top of the drop in. He laced an incredible run but had some tiny errors; a couple of low landings and possibly missed a reverse mute on his switch right 1080. The way he is able to land low and still generate massive height out of the next wall would impress any leg day loving gym monkey. Speaking to the judges afterwards Hunter said that was maybe the best he has ever executed that run, and it was only good enough for 7th, speaking volumes to the level of riding today. 

Final men’s podium: Alex Ferreira in first, Brendan Mackay in second and Nick Goepper in third.