Ettala's First Run Wins Gold in Men's Snowboard Slopestyle
Aspen, CO - On his way to the Winter X Games, Eero Ettala had plenty of time to think on his plane ride across the Atlantic Ocean. Most of his thoughts stemmed around his run on the Snowboard Slopestyle course. He decided that the ideal run would include a backside 1080 double cork, double backside rodeo 900 and a switch double back flip.
- Chas Guldemond
That thought turned into execution in the finals as Ettala executed that ideal run on his first run scoring a 93.33 and winning Snowboard Slopestyle god.
"When I was flying over here from Europe, I was thinking that this would be my ideal run," Ettala said. "I just knew I had to go for it and I did it. Whether I finished eighth or first, I had to go for it. I was super lucky to land everything so I am super happy. "
Winter X Games rookie Eric Willett's score 86.33 won the silver and Chas Guldemond took the bronze with a score of 84.33.
- Eric Willett
"This is my first X Games ever," Willett said. "Until now, I have just been sitting on the couch watching it at home. To be here is a dream come true and then to get on the podium just tops it all."
Snowboard Slopestyle tests a rider's ability to handle a variety of terrain by executing freestyle maneuvers down a course filled with a variety of features. The Winter X Games 14 contains rails, hips, tabletops and a variety of jumps, allowing the riders to combine big air and technical tricks into one run.
- Mikkel Bang
Winter X Games 14 Slopestyle Men's Finals Results:
Name Bib # Hometown Score
1. Eero Ettala 329 Helsinki, Finland 93.33
2. Eric Willett 305 Breckenridge, Colo. 86.33
3. Chas Guldemond 334 Reno, Nev. 84.33
4. Torstein Horgmo 346 Oslo, Norway 83.00
5. Sage Kotsenburg 304 Park City, Utah 80.00
6. Mikkel Bang 311 Oslo, Norway 62.66
7. Tim Humphreys 371 Basking Ridge, N.J. 51.66
8. Halldor Helgason 312 Akureyri, Iceland 45.66
Check out Eero Ettala' winning run video below: