The USA's Jamie Anderson (South Lake Tahoe, CA) put together a solid run to clinch the 2011 European X Games slopestyle snowboarding gold medal Friday morning in Tignes. The men's event was scheduled to follow directly after the women's but was canceled due to weather.
Anderson, who was the back-to-back Winter X Games champion in 2007 and 2008, regained the top spot Friday throwing down her trademark backside 540 to boost her to the win. Although her run didn't include the popular 720, Anderson's style and consistency separated her from the field.
Joining Anderson on the podium were Norway's Siljie Norendal and Finland's Enni Rukajarvi taking silver and bronze. Both women competed two of the five 720s that were launched during the contest. Norendal pulled a 720 frontside rodeo, while Rukajarvi dropped a cab 7.
With the men's slopstyle snowboarding event canceled, on tap next for the European X Games is women's halfpipe skiing and men's halfpipe snowboarding finals Friday late afternoon.
Snowboarding slopestyle is one of the events being considered by the International Olympic Committee for 2014 inclusion, along with halfpipe and slopestyle skiing.
OFFICIAL RESULTS European X Games Tignes, France – March 18, 2011 Slopestyle Snowboarding
Gold: Jamie Anderson, (South Lake Tahoe, CA), 95.33 Silver: Silje Norendal, Norway, 94.00 Bronze: Enni Rukajarvi, Finland, 93.66 - 10 Jordie Karlinski, Snowmass Village, CO, 43.66
For complete results:espn.go.com/x-games/winter/2011/europe/results/ # # #
