All news

Second Pro Podium for SVSEF's Tai Barrymore

1/23/2012

 

Yes, he do.

 

Sun Valley Gold Team member Tai Barrymore climbed the podium for the second time at a professional event, finishing second in the men's skier halfpipe at the second Dew Tour stop at Killington, Vermont.

 

In an interview after the event, Barrymore said, "I feel awesome, this is the first time I’ve ever been in a Dew Tour final and I’m speechless."

 

Competitors faced challenging conditions in the men's skier halfpipe with ice in the semifinals and new snow for the finals, but the 19-year-old Barrymore maintained his mojo, getting major amplitude out of the pipe.

 

"He skied very dynamically and found a way to carry speed - plus my wax job," coach Ben Verge joked, and added. "Nobody gets more air than Tai. Nobody." 

 

The finals were held under the lights on Saturday night. 16-year-old Torin Yater-Wallace became the youngest Dew Tour winner, earning a 93.7 on a run that featured a double cork 12 mute, left 9 tail, double flare mute, alley oop flat 3 safety and a switch 9 mute. Barrymore countered with a left 900 to right 900 to left cork 5 to an alley oop double flat 9 to a 1080, earning an 88.5. Tucker Perkins (85.7), Justin Dorey (83.0) and defending champ Kevin Rolland (80.5) rounded out the top five.

 

Sun Valley Freestyle Director Andy Ware remarked, "Tai has taken his skiing to a new level and has been working so hard to get into the finals of these big events. It is really exciting to see him competing with the best in the world and having such success."

 

SVSEF teammate Colter Brehmer finished 14th in the quarterfinals, but a mechanical malfunction knocked him out of contention.

 

"Colter ripped his binding off his ski which ended his day. He is not far behind Tai. One day, both he and Tai will both be in the finals at these events," Ware said.

 

The third and final stop on the Dew Tour is Ogden, Utah, February 9-12. But before then, Barrymore will compete in his first-ever Winter X-Games this week in Aspen, Colorado. The first round of the men's skier halfpipe will be held on Friday, Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m. with the finals at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28.