Killington, VT – France’s Kevin Rolland has consistently landed on the podium throughout his Winter Dew Tour career, but during Saturday’s men’s freeski superpipe final at Vermont’s Killington Resort, the 21-year-old finally earned the top podium position for the first time. The victory also secured Rolland as a lead Dew Cup contender, placing him neck and neck with New England’s Simon Dumont in overall Tour rankings heading into the final stop of the season at Snowbasin in Utah.nReports from Killington put the temperature for the competition at a frigid 6ºF as the skiers threw down. Gus Kenworthy, 19, of Telluride, Colo., was in the lead heading into run two after throwing a standout run complete with a double flat spin 9, but Rolland was able to overtake him with the trifecta of doubles. After taking a fall on his first run, Rolland came out strong in his second by throwing out a double flair mute grab, alley oop flatspin, switch 7, double flair and a double cork 12 to jump him from 11th to first place with a score of 92.50.
Kenworthy came in second with an 87.75, giving him his first-ever podium finish in his first-ever Winter Dew Tour final. Dumont, age 24 of Bethel, Maine followed behind in third with an 86.75. Dumont jumped into second during his first run with two doubles and hoped to top it in the second, but the loss of a ski near the bottom of the run kept him from the top.
Dumont and Rolland, each with a first and third place finish under their belts this season, head into the Toyota Championship tied for first ensuring a tight battle for the Dew Cup at Snowbasin Resort.
“I was so scared at the top of the pipe because I crashed on my first run, but my second run was cool so it makes me feel confident for the next contest,” said Rolland. “I’m so good in my mind now. It’s just incredible for me. Now my goal is to win the Dew Cup, and I have to try my best to get it.”
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2011 Winter Dew Tour
Killington, VT – Jan. 22, 2011
Men’s Halfpipe Skiing
1. Kevin Rolland, France, 92.50
2. Gus Kenworthy, Telluride, CO, 87.75
3. Simon Dumont, Bethel, ME, 86.75