Issue Date: 2/13/06
U.S. women go 1-2 in halfpipe
By Charean Williams
KRT News Service
KRT News Service
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It was Teter's day from the start.
The Belmont, Vt., native had the gold medal won on her first run in the finals, with a frontside 900 scoring her a 44.6. But her victory lap was even better.
Teter turned "Strive Roots" on her iPod and put on a show.
Jumping into a crystal-clear blue sky, Teter hit a frontside 540 followed by a frontside 900 to wow an estimated crowd of 7,000 and the judges. She scored a 46.4.
"I was standing up there, and Gretchen went and just threw down so hard, and I thought she had me," Teter said of Bleiler, who had her final run immediately before Teter. "So I was like, `Whoa, I'm going to have to step it up.' Then, my coach, Bud, was like, `OK, victory lap.' I was like, `No way, a victory lap.' I just wanted to step it up and do my thing and go as big as possible and totally represent. My brother, Abe, has helped me with my style so much throughout my career. Thank you family."
Bleiler's 43.4 on her final run allowed her to leapfrog Buaas. The Snowmass Village, Colo., resident, had been in third place after Buaas surprised even herself by knocking Clark off the medal stand with the run of her life.
"All of us were hoping for a (U.S.) sweep," said Bleiler, who was kept out of the 2002 Olympics on a tiebreaker. "But Kjersti stepped it up. She rode an amazing race. She deserves it. It's disappointing because Kelly and Elena (Hight, who finished sixth) are amazing riders, too. . . . On any given day, any of us could have gotten on the podium."
Buaas admitted she "never thought it was possible" to prevent an American sweep. The U.S. team had the rest of the riders right where they wanted them.
"We definitely were in the other teams' heads," he said. "When these girls come rolling into a halfpipe competition, we're rolling in like a freight train. It scares the crap out of everybody. You see the way they ride. It's head and shoulders above the rest of the competitors."
It was Teter who led the way Monday.
The Belmont, Vt., native had the gold medal won on her first run in the finals, with a frontside 900 scoring her a 44.6. But her victory lap was even better.
Teter turned "Strive Roots" on her iPod and put on a show.
Jumping into a crystal-clear blue sky, Teter hit a frontside 540 followed by a frontside 900 to wow an estimated crowd of 7,000 and the judges. She scored a 46.4.
"I was standing up there, and Gretchen went and just threw down so hard, and I thought she had me," Teter said of Bleiler, who had her final run immediately before Teter. "So I was like, `Whoa, I'm going to have to step it up.' Then, my coach, Bud, was like, `OK, victory lap.' I was like, `No way, a victory lap.' I just wanted to step it up and do my thing and go as big as possible and totally represent. My brother, Abe, has helped me with my style so much throughout my career. Thank you family."
Bleiler's 43.4 on her final run allowed her to leapfrog Buaas. The Snowmass Village, Colo., resident, had been in third place after Buaas surprised even herself by knocking Clark off the medal stand with the run of her life.
"All of us were hoping for a (U.S.) sweep," said Bleiler, who was kept out of the 2002 Olympics on a tiebreaker. "But Kjersti stepped it up. She rode an amazing race. She deserves it. It's disappointing because Kelly and Elena (Hight, who finished sixth) are amazing riders, too. . . . On any given day, any of us could have gotten on the podium."
Buaas admitted she "never thought it was possible" to prevent an American sweep. The U.S. team had the rest of the riders right where they wanted them.
"We definitely were in the other teams' heads," he said. "When these girls come rolling into a halfpipe competition, we're rolling in like a freight train. It scares the crap out of everybody. You see the way they ride. It's head and shoulders above the rest of the competitors."
It was Teter who led the way Monday.