Chevrolet freestyle JOs: Schwartz, Falcone rule pipe

The ski halfpipe competition kicked off the week of competition at the Chevrolet Freestyle Junior Olympics on Wednesday.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colorado — The ski halfpipe competition kicked off the week of competition at the Chevrolet Freestyle Junior Olympics on Wednesday.
    The competition featured 56 men and 25 women. Each athlete took two runs, with the best score for each athlete counting.  
    On a classic Steamboat bluebird day with super warm temperatures — near 50 degrees in the afternoon — the pipe held up pretty well, although the second run was pretty slow and mushy. Most athletes had their best run on their first run.  
    For the women, Sophia Schwartz was a repeat winner, holding off Kim Sharp to duplicate her effort from last season. Both Sharp and Schwartz are going to world juniors next week and will represent the United States in the halfpipe event. Schwartz competes in all five freestyle disciplines.  
    For the men, Ross Falcone saved his best for his last run, barely beating out Taylor Seaton. Falcone had really challenging tricks while Seaton had impressive amplitude. Jack Sullan, a young up and comer from the strong Aspen program, was third.  
    Falcone is a combined skier, meaning that he will be competing in halfpipe, moguls and aerials.
  

Freestyle Junior Olympics
Skier halfpipe results

Women
1. Sophia Schwartz — 32.9 — age 16, Waterville Valley, hometown Sun Valley, Idaho
2. Kim Sharp — 30.5 — age 17, Park City Freestyle, Park City, Utah
3. Siena Palmacci — age 14, Park City Freestyle, Salt Lake City, Utah
Men
1. Ross Falcone — 45.0 — age 18, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, Ketchum, ID
2. Taylor Seaton — 44.3 — age 16, Copper Freeride, Summit County, Colo.
3. Jack Sullan — 42.1 — age 16, Aspen Valley Ski Club, Loveland, Colo.

For complete results, go to www.rockymountainfreestyle.com.