WINTER GAMES NZ. WANAKA, New Zealand (August 18, 2011) – The clouds parted over Snow Park today for the 100% Pure NZ Winter Games Freeski Slopestyle where America's Gus Kenworthy and Devin Logan were once again the winners after winning yesterday's halfpipe competition at Cardrona.

Gus Kenworthy of the United States of America competes in the Free Ski Slopestyle Mens Final during day six of the Winter Games NZ at Snow Park on August 18, 2011 in Wanaka, New Zealand. (Photo by Camilla Stoddart/Getty Images)

The course included an urban rail set with three rail options for the first platform followed by a jib jump platform with a pole jam, tractor tyres and a 45 foot jump, next a 55/45 jump, a 65/55 jump and then finally the Air New Zealand Lily Pad at the bottom.

Competitors prepare to qualify for the Mens Free Ski Slopestyle during day six of the Winter Games NZ at Snow Park on August 18, 2011 in Wanaka, New Zealand. (Photo by Camilla Stoddart/Getty Images)

The men's finals kept spectators at the edge of their seats with most of the field throwing clean linked left and right doubles and flips off the lily pad.

The first run saw Gus Kenworthy (USA), Jonas Hunziker (SUI) and Nicholas Goepper (USA) in the top three spots.

Matt Soundy of New Zealand competes in the Free Ski Slopestyle Mens Qualification during day six of the Winter Games NZ at Snow Park on August 18, 2011 in Wanaka, New Zealand. (Photo by Camilla Stoddart/Getty Images)

In the end it was Gus Kenworthy in the top position once again, with a first run score of 87.75 a score that proved hard to beat.

Kenworthy's dub cork twelve mute on the first jump was a standout. The flow of his run was incredibly technical with a rodeo six thirty off the cannon box straight into a double cork twelve sixty mute into a switch right ten tailgrab into a switch 540 onto the lily pad and a rodeo 540 out.

Having already switched focus to the next competition on his schedule Kenworthy said, "It felt great to win again today, fingers crossed I'll do the same on Saturday in the Big Air."

Christopher Laker of the United States of America competes in the Free Ski Slopestyle Mens Final during day six of the Winter Games NZ at Snow Park on August 18, 2011 in Wanaka, New Zealand. (Photo by Camilla Stoddart/Getty Images)

In second was hometown boy Jossi Wells.  "Jossi's trick on the cannon box was unique and creative," said Beattie.  "He ollied on from the side with a four fifty off and then he went into a switch right side ten eighty tail grab to a switch left double cork ten and then he also did a switch 540 onto the lily pad with a nose butter five forty off."  Wells who also podiumed yesterday in second place, ended with a score of 83.00 today.

Erik Hughes of the United States of America competes in the Free Ski Slopestyle Mens Final during day six of the Winter Games NZ at Snow Park on August 18, 2011 in Wanaka, New Zealand. (Photo by Camilla Stoddart/Getty Images)

Rounding out the podium with 81.25 points was America's Nicholas Goepper. Goepper was the only person in the top three who linked left and right doubles. It was his second run that bumped him into third taking the spot from Jonas Hunziker (SUI) who crashed on his second run.

Nicholas Goepper of the United States of America competes in the Free Ski Slopestyle Mens Final during day six of the Winter Games NZ at Snow Park on August 18, 2011 in Wanaka, New Zealand. (Photo by Camilla Stoddart/Getty Images)

(L-R) Second place Jossi Wells of New Zealand, first place Gus Kenworthy of the United States of America and third place Nicholas Goepper of the United States of America pose on the podium for the Mens Free Ski Slopestyle Final during day six of the Winter Games NZ on August 18, 2011 in Wanaka, New Zealand. (Photo by Camilla Stoddart/Getty Images)

The women's field of ten elected to go straight to a three run final with AFP's overall champion Logan topping the podium for the second day in a row having won yesterday's halfpipe competition.

Devin Logan of the United States of America competes in the Free Ski Slopestyle Womens Final during day six of the Winter Games NZ at Snow Park on August 18, 2011 in Wanaka, New Zealand. (Photo by Camilla Stoddart/Getty Images)

"Her run today was solid," said judge Victoria Beattie.  "The cork seven was a stand out trick."

Logan started her run with a lip slide to switchout on the downrail, then frontside to two seventy out on the up cannon box and then a switch five to cork seven to a straight on 360 out of the last feature and scored 79.75 points.

An amped Logan was thrilled with her win, "I'm more stoked than ever right now.  The switch five was new to me and I'm happy with how it went.  The competition with Kim Lamarre was strong; she put me to the test and I knew I had to give it my all to win today."

In second, it was Kim Lamarre , the top ranked slopestyle skier in today's competition.  Lamarre was tight on the heels of Logan with less than one point separating them. Her run which oozed with style included a lipslide to switch on the downrail and then switch on to switch out of the cannon rail to a switch five safety to a big five forty mute to switch one in to a one eighty out on the bottom lily pad.   She ended with 79.25 points just .5 off of Logan's top score.

In third place was Canadian Dara Howell finishing her day with 70.5 points.

New Zealand's up and coming skier Rose Battersby just missed the podium, skiing strongly and hitting the big side of the jumps with a big seven twenty on the final jump.  She's someone to watch out for in the future.

The day started with 41 men vying for a total of 12 spots in the finals.  The first men's heat was heavily dominated by the Swiss with three of the top six spots going to Kai Mahler, Cyrill Hunziker, Yannic Lerjen.  Number one through the Heat One qualifiers was yesterday's halfpipe winner Gus Kenworthy (USA) followed by PC Fosse (NOR.

The second heat of the men's qualifiers saw USA's Joss Christensen, Christopher Laker and Nicholas Goepper first, second and third respectively followed by New Zealand's Jossi Wells and Canada's Vincent Gagnier and the final two through were Erik Hughes (USA) and Jonas Hunziker (SUI).

(L-R) Second place Kim Lamarre of Canada, first place Devin Logan of the United States of America and third place Dara Howell of Canada pose on the podium for the Womens Free Ski Slopestyle Final during day six of the Winter Games NZ on August 18, 2011 in Wanaka, New Zealand. (Photo by Camilla Stoddart/Getty Images)

"After the qualification rounds we were expecting Joss Christensen to do well in the finals,," said Beattie. "Unfortunately he couldn't put a clean run down and finished in eighth place."

www.wintergamesnz.com
Thu, August 18, 2011 8:33 am

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