Hannah Teter grabs superpipe title at X Games in Aspen

Hannah Teter grabs superpipe title at X Games in Aspen{mosimage}USSA — Qualifying first for the finals has its advantages. Just ask U.S. Snowboarding rider Hannah Teter, who stood ready to drop into her second run Saturday night in Aspen with thousands on hand and millions more watching live on television, knowing that her 92.0 point first run had already iced her first X Games halfpipe title.

Olympic gold medalist Kelly Clark finished second, 3.6 points back of Teter, followed by Doriane Vidal of France with 84.0 points and Lindsey Jacobellis with 82.33 points.

With a first run that included a lofty frontside 540, a McTwist and one of two 900’s landed on the night, Teter secured the win, yet hammed it up for the camera on her second run, vowing to go bigger. Then she did. The 540 was bigger, so was the McTwist, but she didn’t quite get the 900 around and ate some snow.

“Do it with some flare. I know I had a lot of fun,” said Teter, who will turn 17 on Tuesday. “It’s such a good feeling to know that people are rooting for you — it’s the best.”

The victory may was Teter’s first trip to the top of the X Games podium, but it was her fifth consecutive win; she’s won everywhere she’s competed this season. The string began September 13 with her second World Cup win in Chile, and she then returned to the States to win the first two stops of the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix and the first Triple Crown event.

Teammate Gretchen Bleiler, who won the 2003 X Games for her third straight win, went on to take eight-in-a-row last season but spent the 2004 X Games as a commentator due to a knee injury. “She’s having fun for herself and showing it to everyone else,” Bleiler said of Teter. “That’s what it’s about with Hannah.”

Stratton Mountain School rider Elena Hight, the only other woman to throw a 900, finished sixth, and her U.S. Snowboarding teammate Molly Aguirre finished 10th to round out the international field of finalists.

Action continues from Aspen Sunday as favorite Lindsey Jacobellis heats up the snow in women’s snowboard cross.

WINTER X GAMES
Aspen, Colorado
January 25, 2004
Women’s Halfpipe Final
1. Hannah Teter, Belmont, Vt., 92.0
2. Kelly Clark, Mount Snow, Vt. 88.33
3. Doriane Vidal, France, 84.0
4. Lindsey Jacobellis, Bondville, Vt., 82.33
5. Fabienne Rueteler, Switzerland, 81.66
6. Elena Hight, Zephyr Cove, Nev., 77.66
7. Mercedes Nicoll, Whistler, B.C., 72.66
8. Kjersti Oestgaard Buass, Norway, 62.0
9. Anne Molin Kongsgaard, Norway, 50.0
10. Molly Aguirre, Duluth, Minn., 50.0