Wise Second, Blunck Third at Dew Tour Halfpipe
On a bluebird, pristine day, Dew Tour held its first event: the men's freeski halfpipe finals, where 2x Olympic gold medalist David Wise took second and teammate Aaron Blunck was third. Canadian Brendan Mackay took the win.
Wise earned his silver medal with a score of an 87.00 with a run that included a switch right 900 tail grab, into a switch double 1080 Japan grab, into right 900 tail grab, into a left double 1260 mute grab, and ending it off with a right double 1260 mute grab. After landing his first of four runs, Wise said, "I have three more runs to go; I don't know what to do next." Thankfully for him, this run secured him into that second place for the entirety of the event.
Wise now flies to the Bakuriani World Championships tonight. "I like when the competition schedule is tight like this, because it gives me a little less time to overthink things," said Wise. "It's like, alright, we're going to show up and there is one day of practice, there's the finals, then we're going to get on an airplane to go to Georgia. Then there is one day of practice in Georgia, then there's qualifiers, and then were going to take a day off, and then there's finals. It just goes boom, boom, boom.
"I kind of excel in that chaotic environment, maybe because I'm a parent and I have raised children. So, I am stoked. I really was just happy that the sun was out and that the pipe was nice today. So to put down some solid runs felt good!"
Blunck claimed his third place with a score of an 84.00 with a run that included a right 1080 tail grab, into a switch down the pipe double cork 900, into a switch right 700, into a left double cork 900, and ending the run off with a right double cork 1260 tail grab.
"Conditions out here today in Copper were all time," said Blunck. "It was a beautiful, bluebird day. It has been a busy week up here at Copper, so we're stoked. To finish my season off with a podium is huge for me. It's been a really rough season battling injuries, so it is nice to have one finish on top and now go finish the season skiing in deep snow and build some jumps."
Alex Ferreira just finished off the podium in fourth with a score of an 82.33. Hunter Hess placed sixth with a 70.66 and rookie team member Matt Labaugh placed seventh in his first ever Dew Tour appearance.
RESULTS
Men's halfpipe
