WINTER X EUROPE Kaya Turski Takes Women’s Ski Slope, Anna Segal 4th

March 17th, 2011

Winter X | Women’s Slopestyle

Canadian Kaya Turski earned her fourth Winter X gold medal — two Winter X golds and now two Winter X Europe golds — in the Women’s Slopestyle finals on Wednesday in Tignes, France. Keri Herman took second place and Kim Lamarre was third.

Australia’s Anna Segal finished fourth, with a score of 84.00

After a botched first run, Turski took the lead on her second run, which included a tight rail section and a switch 720 mute grab off the last jump, earning a score of 89.66. Nobody earned a higher score than that, so Turski’s third run was a victory lap, one that earned an even higher score, a 92.00. “I was really glad my second run came together after that first run,” Turski said. “I’m stoked.”

This is the fourth time Herman, who’s from Breckenridge, Colo., has taken second to Turski at a Winter X event. “I’m starting to learn that second is my place,” Herman said. “I’m still really happy to be in second.” Herman’s highest scoring run, which included a rightside switch 720, earned an 89.00.

For bronze medalist Lamarre, from Quebec, Canada, this is her first time on a Winter X podium. Lamarre was leading after the first run, and on her third run she increased her score to an 88.3 for a run that included a backside switch up over the rail gap and a 540. “I was under a bit of pressure after that first run,” Lamarre said. “I knew for sure Kaya was going to land a run, so I just tried to keep focused and try to improve my score on my other runs.”

All 10 athletes skipped the final jump on the six-feature Slopestyle course. “You can’t get enough speed to hit the last jump, so they’re just not counting it,” said Devin Logan, who placed fifth. “The course has been changing everyday.”

Some skiers admitted that the changing course made it difficult to nail their runs. “They had a few issues with the Slopestyle course,” said fourth place’s Anna Segal. “It’s definitely frustrating when they expect us to perform our best and the course isn’t ready. But apart from that, it’s good to be here in Tignes.”