Miguel Porteous goes from X Games Rookie to Silver Medallist
Aspen, USA (27 January 2017) – 17-year old freeskier Miguel Porteous (Christchurch) has gone from X Games rookie to
silver medallist in one night, taking out second place in men’s superpipe in Aspen.
As the sport’s big names came crashing down one after the after, the young Kiwi – who was initially only invited to the
competition as an alternate and gained his spot a few days ago when the USA’s Kyle Smaine was sidelined by injury – not
only put a run to his feet but landed on the podium.
“I just can’t really fathom it right now,” he said moments after the competition. “It’s unbelievable!
“I was excited to get a chance to compete but was really sad to hear about Kyle’s injury and I wish him all the best. My
goal was just to put a run down in the X Games environment which is unlike anything I’ve experienced before.”
Following three days of training in snowy conditions the pipe had turned icy and the field of eleven competitors
struggled to land their tricks. After the first of two runs only one competitor, Canada’s Noah Bowman, had been able to
land a full run. His first run score of 71 points would eventually see him finish in the bronze medal spot.
Miguel Porteous crashed on one of his first hits on run one. “I wasn’t really in the right head space to start with,” he
explains. “I was still feeling a little bit of disbelief about being there and it was cold. After the first run I got
back to the top of the pipe and just tried to relax. I dance around a bit and listened to a song I like before I dropped
in.”
The strategy worked and Miguel executed a technical run, spinning both ways down the pipe incorporating three double
flips. His personal highlight was the left double 1260 on the second to last hit.
“It’s a trick I’ve had a bit of difficulty with but I’ve been working hard on it at a recent Snow Sports NZ training
camp in Calgary.”
The X Games men’s superpipe gold medal went to USA’s Aaron Blunck.
Results here: http://xgames.espn.com/xgames/events/2017/aspen/results/
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