After a hot start, Wing Tai Barrymore's season has been cut short due to an unfortunate fall at X Games semifinals. He went massive and bottomed out on an alley-oop double flatspin 900. Word on the street is that Barrymore has torn both ACLs. Luckily, he's young and athletic, so he should be back and strong next season. heal up, Tai.
Kaya Turski, the alpha female of the slopestyle scene, completed the Dew Tour with a win in Snowbasin, which also secured her a Dew Cup. Since she lives in Mammoth, she'll likely be at the Grand Prix and you should consider her a must-buy if you can afford her.
Nick Goepper finally took the win in Snowbasin at the Dew Tour, after coming up just short in Killington (3rd) and Breck (2nd). Nick is on fire right now, almost as bankable as Tom Wallisch. Expect the two of them to be top-ranked slope skiers as the season continues.
JF Houle was seen today clutching his shoulder after slopestyle practice, apparently re-disclocating it. While we know he's had some issues with it, this might be the straw that broke the camel's back and he might have to get his surgery a little sooner than planned. Consider him questionable for now.
Duncan Adams, who injured himself in X Games superpipe practice and needed the aid of crutches to get around, is rumored to be close to returning to Superpipe action. While we're unsure at this time if Duncan is ready to go for Dew, he should be ready to go by the US Grand Prix at Mammoth.
Tom Wallisch, X Games slope champ and current Dew Cup leader, is in the midst of a three-event win streak, dating back to the Breckenridge Dew Tour. With the Dew Tour concluding this weekend in Utah, can Tom compete a Dew/X sweep, something that's never been done? Or will youngster Nick Goepper finally overtake Wallisch? Tune in this weekend to find out.
During X Games Superpipe semifinals, Wing Tai Barrymore went huge on a double alley-oop flatspin 900, but came down hard at the bottom of the transition. Tai couldn't take his second run, citing knee pain. While it doesn't seem too too serious, we'll keep an eye on the situation.
In big air finals at Winter X Games this past weekend, Sammy Carlson went down hard during a double corked 1620 attempt. The crash looked major, but Sammy said on twitter that, "No surgery needed. A few months of rehab and I will be back stronger than EVER!!" The silver lining is that Pasty needs no surgery. Consider him out for the immediate contests.
Alex Schlopy, the Winter X Games 15 Big Air Champ, pulled out of the contests in practice, due to knee pain. Schlopy has come forward saying that he's had a small operation to repair some meniscus in his knee, and he should be good to go by the US Grand Prix in Mammoth.
Justin Dorey, amidst what many believed to be the gold medal run in Winter X Games 16 superpipe finals, crashed on his final trick, falling hard. After many agonizing moments, Dorey walked off course, apparently due to a shoulder injury. This might not be a super long term hit, but it should take him out of contention for Dew Tour. Consider him doubtful for now.
