Tignes, France – U.S. Snowboarding rider Louie Vito captured halfpipe snowboarding gold Friday night, topping a talented halfpipe field at the European X Games in Tignes, France. The gold was the Sandy, Utah resident’s first at the X Games – USA or Europe – and he did it on the grand stage, delighting the Friday night crowds with a run that featured three stylish double corks.n”I’ve always liked the pressure that’s why I like doing contests,” said Vito, originally from Bellefontaine, Ohio. “I just wanted to put down a run and land a run I’m happy with.”

Vito beat out Switzerland’s Iouri Podladtchikov and Christian Haller. Podladtchikov was last year’s Euro X halfpipe champion. Greg Bretz of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., Thursday’s top qualifier was unable to duplicate his halfpipe success and had to settle for fifth.

But it was another standout result for U.S. Snowboarding, rookie Matt Ladley of Steamboat Springs, Colo. Ladley, who won the Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix in Mammoth Mountain two weeks ago, was fourth.

The conclusion of the men’s halfpipe snowboarding event signaled the end of the 2011 European Winter X Games.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
European Winter X Games
Tignes, France – March 18, 2011
Halfpipe Snowboarding

Gold: Louie Vito, Sandy, UT, 93.00
Silver: Iouri Podladtchikov, Switzerland, 91.33
Bronze: Christian Haller, Switzerland, 82.33