Winter XGames 14

I think all sports enthusiasts out there can attest that this past weekend was an epic weekend in sports. Florida hosted the Probowl on Sunday which was won by the AFC. The Lakers vs. Celtics game was a nail biter and came down to the last second with a come behind win from none other than Mr. Kobe Bryant from the Lakers. The Australian Open, which played live for us west coasters at midnight on Friday and Saturday night, featured two beasts and reigning champions, Serena Williams and Roger Federer. For those of you who turned on the t.v. this weekend, you were bound to see some pretty kickin' sports entertainment.

I've got to say though, the most entertaining of all, was the Winter X games which consumed most of ESPN's air time over the past four days. Thank god for Tivo, because without that, I would have missed some classic never before seen tricks on both the men and the women's side!

The girls competed Saturday night in Aspen, CO in front of a record attendance. The air was crisp, the skies were clear, the pipe was icy but the girls came to bring it. Gretchen Bleiler and Kelly Clark stole the show and provided for an intense, fist pumping rivalry between two fellow teammates in the Women's Finals of the Super Pipe.

Gretchen, the home town favorite started her first run of three, throwing down her signature move, the frontside 720 inverted, better known as The Crippler. She scored a 90.00, which set the bar pretty high for the rest of the competition. It wasn't high enough though, for Vermont native, Kelly Clark who came out and killed her first run, scoring a 94.66 with massive amplitude, the biggest on the girls side by far. There were now two runs left for the two and although there were four other contenders, Gretchen and Kelly were really the only two in the competition. Gretchen picked up her second run by incorporating a backside turn, and nailing every other trick with some big air off the 22 foot walls, which scored her a 96.66. Umm...96.66, are you kidding me? The highest womens score in the super pipe is held by 2009 XGames Gold Medalist, Torah Bright with a 97.76. Kelly was left with no choice but to go big or...get silver (Bummer). So, naturally Kelly went big on her second run, but fell in her attempt at the gnarly Frontside 900.

The competition was on and Gretchen and Kelly came to play. As Elena Height unsuccesfully attempted her final run, Gretchen set the playlist on her ipod, zipped it snuggly into her jacket and got set up for her last run of the night as well. Gretchen's third run didn't last long as she crashed at the top of the pipe, which left the last and final contendor. Kelly Clark was left now to bring the heat and score above a 96.66 in order to take the gold at the XGames 14 and bring it she did. Gretchen nailed her run, and put everything she could possibly into every turn, landing and air. She was almost flawless.

As she slid into the bottom of the run to await her score from the judges, she was greeted with accolades and congratulations from opponent and teammate Gretchen Bleiler with an embracing hug. The two exchanged kind words and turned to look up at the scoreboard to see the fate of their position on the podium. 96.00 was quickly posted under Kelly Clark's name. .66 of a point below Gretchen Bleiler, which put Gretchen in Gold and Kelly in Silver.

The competition was tight all the way up to the finish and the level of athletisicm was at an all time high in Aspen this weekend. Imagine if former Australian Super Pipe champ, Torah Bright was healthy for this event? Let's just say I can't wait for the Olympics. You know that Torah Bright is going to be amped and ready to compete after sitting on the sidelines for the X Games. If this is any testament to how the Olympic Super Pipe will be, you better believe I will be tuned in.

Check back for event updates, summaries and highlights of upcoming events. Stay tuned for the Winter Olympics 2010 in Vancouver, Canada! February 12th, 10 days and counting.