iPod Plugs In To Olympic Gold In Sochi

The pipe at Sochi’s Rosa Khutor Extreme Park was reportedly terrible, possibly the worst Olympic Halfpipe since the debut of snowboarding in the 1998 Nagano Olympics. But 12 snowboarders soldiered on through the sugar and sand flats, over holes in the walls, and three of them prevailed on Tuesday night, February 11, 2014. Sadly for US fans it wasn’t the American dream team let by two-time Gold Medalist Shaun White. It was the Swiss and Japanese.

While Americans Danny Davis, Greg Bretz, and Shaun White where shaken by the rough pipe in both their final runs, Iouri Podladtchikov and Japan’s Ayumu Hirano put down two solid runs (their second runs scoring highest) and Taku Hiraoka pulled it out in a clutch second run save. Luckily, the judging didn’t seem to be a factor at all (for once). Follow the jump for complete results.

Men’s Olympic Halfpipe Results

1. Iouri Podladtchikov, Switzerland 94.75
2. Ayumu Hirano Japan 93.5
3. Taku Hiraoka Japan 92.25
4. Shaun White USA 90.25
5. David Habluetzel Switzerland 88.5
7. Shi Wancheng China 81.00
8. Tim-Kevin Ravnjak Slovenia 72.25
9. Kent Callister Australia 68.5
10. Danny Davis USA 53
11. Christian Haller Switzerland 51.5
12. Greg Bretz USA 26.5