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X Games Aspen 2018 Day 2 Recap – January 26, 2018

Action continued on the slopes of Buttermilk Mountain for day two of X Games Aspen 2018 with a record-setting performance in Jeep Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle as well as Snowmobile Freestyle and The Real Cost Men’s Snowboard Big Air on Friday (January 26).

A crowd of 32,000 was treated to a full day of competition along with interactive games and giveaways at the X Fest village before musical guest Martin Garrix sent the night off with an electric performance at the GEICO music stage following the events.

As a mild winter storm pushed through the area early in the morning, the Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle competition was subsequently delayed a couple of hours until the snowfall subsided.

Aspen, CO – January 26, 2018 – Buttermilk Mountain: Jamie Anderson at the medal ceremony for Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle during X Games Aspen 2018
(Photo by Eddie Perlas / ESPN Images)

However, the wait was worthwhile as the most decorated rider in X Games Slopestyle history, 27-year-old Jamie Anderson, made her return to the top of the podium after six silver medals in a row. In a run that saw the regular-footed rider move through the upper rail section with ease, Anderson then launched into a series of big airs highlighted by a cab double cork 900 and a smooth frontside 720. For Anderson, this was not only her fifth gold in the discipline but her 14th medal in as many Slopestyle starts at X Games.

“It feels soooooo good to have X Games Gold again!” Anderson said after securing the gold medal spot. “I think for about five years I’ve only had silver. I’ve been working so hard the past few months and today I wanted gold really, really, really bad!”

Taking silver was last year’s winner Julia Marino who threw down her own variation of the double cork 900. Finnish rider Enni Rukajarvi rounded out the podium with a bronze medal finish.

Aspen, CO – January 26, 2018 – Buttermilk Mountain: Gus Kenworthy competing in Men’s Ski Slopestyle during X Games Aspen 2018
(Photo by Gabriel Christus / ESPN Images)

Meanwhile, the Jeep Men’s Ski Slopestyle qualifiers saw last year’s sliver medalist in both Slopestyle and SuperPipe Gus Kenworthy land in pole position where he will face off against the likes of James Woods and Nick Goepper heading into Saturday’s finals.

Aspen, CO – January 26, 2018 – Buttermilk Mountain: Brett Turcotte competing in Snowmobile Freestyle during X Games Aspen 2018
(Photo by Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images)

The Snowmobile Freestyle Finals proved as thrilling as ever with a repeat of last night’s performance in Speed & Style as Brett Turcotte and Levi LeVallee battled it out for gold and silver, respectively.

Though it was Turcotte’s second run that left little question as to who the victor was with an entirely unique approach to the course including his signature Cali Roll to no handed landing. Earning a score of 92.00, he easily beat out Minnesota rider LaVallee’s 88.00.

“I’m freaking out right now! Double gold?! Are you kidding me!?” Turcotte said.

Justin Hoyer, meanwhile put together a bronze medal effort earning 84.33 points. Turcotte, who won his first X Games gold in last night’s Speed & Style competition is looking for the hat trick as he competes in the Snow Bike Best Trick Final on Sunday night..

Aspen, CO – January 26, 2018 – Buttermilk Mountain: Max Parrot, Marcus Kleveland and Yuki Kadono at the medal ceremony for The Real Cost Men’s Snowboard Big Air during X Games Aspen 2018
(Photo by Eddie Perlas / ESPN Images)

Set as a 25-minute jam session, it was Max Parrot who once again who proved most dominant on the 80-foot jump in The Real Cost Men’s Snowboard Big Air. Repeating his gold medal performance from last year, Parrot brought an onslaught of progressive tricks including a switch frontside triple cork 1440 and a frontside triple cork to take a combine high score of 75.00.

”I’m very, very happy to back up my win from last year,” Parrot shared. “We get the most perfect jump and the most air-time of any contest all year here in Aspen — it’s really the best!”

Young Norwegian rider Marcus Kleveland also repeated his silver finish from 2017 with a a score of 73.00 with Yuki Kadono scoring 68.00, taking bronze. It should be noted however, that Kadono attempted a backside quad cork 1980, a trick never seen before in competition.

X Games Aspen 2018 continues tomorrow with the busiest day of competition. Finals to watch include the Jeep Women’s Ski Slopestyle, Women’s Snowboard Big Air, Jeep Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle, Snow BikeCross, The Real Cost Men’s Ski Big Air and the SoFi Women’s Snowboard SuperPipe as well as musical performances by Method Man & Redman and LCD Sound System.

Author

  • Juliet Schroder

    Juliet is the founder and executive producer/host of Celeb Secrets and Celeb Secrets Country. When not reporting on the latest news in pop culture and country music, she enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, watching sports and exploring the latest fashion trends. Juliet holds a B.S. in marketing from St. John's University.

Juliet is the founder and executive producer/host of Celeb Secrets and Celeb Secrets Country. When not reporting on the latest news in pop culture and country music, she enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, watching sports and…

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