.Seppe Smits (BEL) and Laurie Blouin (CAN)
conquest slopestyle gold medals
 Both win first snowboard gold at Sierra Nevada 2017
Six obstacles, six opportunities along the way to show all tricks, techniques and skills
in order to make the necessary points to be World Champion in Sierra Nevada. Two
attempts for each competitor, 8 ladies and 16 men, to reach the podium.
The Slopestyle course included a couple of jumps, a large pipe known as “the
butter”, another big jump to achieve altitude, and the rails and roofs of the “Andalusian
village”, so spectators and fans enjoy the competition.
Two of the top favourites for the podium were the title holder Miyabi Onitsuka
(JPN), and Laurie Blouin (CAN) who took her throne. The Japanese turned out to be the best
of the first run, making 70.85 points, along with the North American Karly Shorr (68.15) and
the Swiss Isabel Derungs, with a discreet 63.85.
In her second attempt, the main favourite Laurie Blouin scored 78 points to win the
gold medal with a switch backside 180 indy, frontside 540 indy, cab double cork 900 mute,
backside 360 melon, backside air, 50-50 frontside 180 out. Hot on her heels was the New
Zealander Soi Sadowski (77.50), who reached the silver medal, leaving Onitsuka (77.40)
behind in the third position, in probably the closest finish of a slopestyle final in the recent
years.
On the men's side, Seppe Smits (BEL) made also his second run worth to achieve the
gold with a final score of 91.40, after a backside double cork 1080 nose, frontside 900 mute
(on side hit), switch backside double cork 1080 mute, cab 1260 stalefish, backside 450 off,
switch ollie to half 50-50 to backside 360 off. Nicolas Hubber (SUI, 83.25) and Chris Corning
(USA, 82.50) finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Close to podium positions stayed Sebbe De Buck (81.20), Ville Paumola (77.50),
Niklas Mattson (74.85) and the New Zealander with Spanish origins Carlos García Knight
(74.49) whose sensational supporters spiced the stands up.
The sunny weather and the attendance of non-skier spectators made the most of the
day in Sierra Nevada, where Spain's King Felipe VI joined the crowd and the authorities on
the stands to watch the finals.