Back on Top

Burke Reclaims The Podium with Gold in Skiing SuperPipe

 

Aspen, Colo. – After a sixth place finish in 2010, Sarah Burke is back atop the podium winning the gold medal in Women’s Skiing SuperPipe at Winter X Games 15.

Last year was one to forget for Burke. The reigning queen of the Skiing SuperPipe had won three consecutive gold medals coming into last year, but a disappointing finish had her determined to return to the top. But the path to victory wasn’t easy, as she was the final qualifier for the finals.

“This comp was very fun to watch,” Burke said. “Qualifiers were hard, but tonight I was relaxed and having fun. My run felt really good especially my 900. It just clicked and I think that set me apart.”

The winning score came on her second run where she executed the 900, back-to-back flairs and a 720 for a score of 91.33.  The gold is her sixth X Games medal and her fourth in Skiing SuperPipe.

Winter X Games rookie Brita Sigourney captured the silver medal with a top score of 86.00.

“I tried not to let the nerves get the best of me,” an excited Sigourney said.  “I came out here to have a blast and that’s what I did. So I’m just stoked with the result because I was enjoying every minute of it.”

Calgary, Alberta, Canada native Roz Groenewoud won her second-consecutive bronze medal with a score of 84.00.

The Skiing SuperPipe event at the Winter X Games represents the progression of the sport and showcases the best pipe riders in the world.  The 567-foot long, 22-foot deep SuperPipe is 75 feet from lip-to-lip with a pitch of 18 degrees. That translates into maximum amplitude and speed for the athletes to perform their tricks.

For Winter X Games media information, including press releases, logos and additional images from past events, log on to www.espneventmedia.com. To view medalist runs, visit the Winter X Games You Tube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/xgames and follow the X Games on Twitter at Twitter.com/xgames

 

WINTER X GAMES 15

Winter X Games will celebrate its 15^th anniversary in Aspen/Snowmass, Colo. January 27-30, 2011, with live coverage on ESPN and ESPN2. This will mark the 10^th consecutive year Winter X Games will be held in Aspen and will feature new events, more than 200 athletes and primetime coverage on ESPN on Sun., Jan.30. In addition to 24 hours of live programming on ESPN, Winter X Games 15 will be offered for the first time on ESPN 3D, as well as on ESPN International, XGames.com, ESPN360.com, SportsCenter and ESPN2’s X Center.

-30-

Contacts:    Alex Rozis (Broadcast media), 415-609-0749, [email protected]

Danny Chi, (Print Media), 310-491-6131, [email protected]

Crystal Yang (Radio Media), 310-491-6735, [email protected]

Grace Coryell, 310-956-5098, [email protected]