It finally happened at this Winter X Games Europe, SPY ’s Louie Vito took top honors as he emphatically earned the Gold Medal in Tignes, France, in front of an impressed and energetic 22,000 crazed fans. The roars and sighs undulated throughout the attentive crowd as Louie threw down his final run, a double crippler to Michalchuk to frontside double cork 1080 to cab double cork 1080 to frontside 1080, moving him into first place with a 93.00 over last year’s Gold Medalist Iouri Podladtchikov’s 91.33 best score.

When asked about his victory, Louie said, “I’ve always had the technical tricks, and haven’t had the amplitude, so I’ve been working on that. Last year I didn’t go as big, and it showed in my score.”

The first run for everyone during that awkward twilight hour that made the Super Pipe walls was really a challenge for all but Podladtchikov who nailed it. His second run was even better and moved him into first place with a 90.33, but it was short lived as Louie killed it.

Louie took home the gold with a 93.00, Iouri Podladtchikov grabbed silver with 91.33 and Christian Haller took bronze with an 82.33.

“It’s great! This is my first X Games gold medal. So obviously, I’m stoked,” said Vito.

Congrats LV on your huge win!

JF Houle Wins Slopestyle Gold at Winter X Europe

Photo: ESPN Images

JF Houle’s career-long dreams of standing atop the X Games podium came true this past week in Tignes, France, where JF’s consistency and technical mastery earned him a gold medal in Ski Slopestyle.  Earlier in the week, JF laid down runs that put him first in the qualifying heats, and then again on top of the heap in the finals, despite challenging weather conditions that forced competitors to battle speed and visibility issues throughout the event.

JF tamed things down for his first run, with a nosebutter 450 onto the flat-down box, a rodeo 7 on the first jump, a 450-on 270-off the flat-down rail, a180 over the snow gap to switch 270-on 270-off on the down box.  He closed out the final two jumps with a double cork 1080 japan and 1 right 900 reverse mute.  While he and the rest of the field had bigger plans for their following runs, the worsening weather conditions put a damper on things, and JF’s first run score ended up keeping him in the top spot for the remainder of the day.

JF commented on his Facebook page:  ”I think I’m dreaming still. Since I’m a little kid, I have been dreaming about this day! Can’t believe it still! It happened! Gold medal at X Games. Thanks to everyone of you who always support me! LOVING LIFE as always!”