When finding a Gold medalist, how do you choose between a double backside rodeo 10 (Travis Rice) and a switch backside 1260 (Torstein Horgmo)? After all, they’re both obscene tricks in their own right. So, how do you pick who gets the hardware? You leave the decision to the text messaging fans, of course. T.Rice was chosen the winner tonight, edging out his DC teammate Torstein for the Gold medal in the final head to head battle in snowboarding Big Air.
Here’s the nuts and bolts of how it went down: only four riders were graced with an invite to compete in Big Air. The format was head to head elimination, with each rider getting two hits before the texting gates were opened, letting ESPN viewers worldwide pick the winner. The first heat saw Tor taking on Andreas Wiig. Andreas fell victim to Torstein’s switch back 12. The second semi saw Mikkel Bang taking on Travis. Travis persevered, despite Mikkel’s valiant efforts and makes.
So the scene was set for the final. Travis vs. Torstein. Two DC riders. Two guys with defined, different, and unique styles. The veteran vs. the defending Big Air Gold medalist. Torstein went way bigger this round, washing out on his signature switch back 12 on his first go but absolutely stomping a switch back 10 on his second go, holding his grab till the very last second. But, the combo of Travis’ double backside rodeo 10 proved too much. The fans texted and chose T.Rice the winner tonight.
Perhaps more impressive than Travis’ Gold tonight was what he had to overcome to take it.
In what Todd Richards referred to as a “That’s It, That’s All” crash the day before, Travis came up short on the channel transfer during slopstyle practice. He took the knuckle to his belly, then free-fell down between (footage by following this link). A crippler crash for most, but T.Rice got up and made it down to the medical tent. He looked like he’d been in a bar fight, and today (a full day later), he said he felt like he’d been in a car crash.
Coming into the evening Rice was listed as 50-50% to compete.
But as we know now, Travis did in-fact compete. And he won. Only a gnarly, naturally gifted rider like him could pull off a bounce-back and win like that. From the DC crew, congrats Travis!
Tune in tomorrow as both Travis and Torstein (plus Chas) hit the Slopstyle course!
