Halfpipe, Men

This was the début for halfpipe as a freestyle skiing event at the Winter Olympics, although it had been contested at the World Championships since 2005. The last three World Champions in the event were David Wise (USA-2013), Mike Riddle (CAN-2011), and Kevin Rolland (FRA-2009) and they were all entered in Sochi. At the recent Winter X-Games, Wise and Rolland had gone 1-2 with Riddle fourth, American Alex Ferreira taking bronze. Wise was a solid favorite, having won the event at the last three Winter X-Games.

Poor weather greeted the skiiers as qualifying was held in heavy snow, and the final was contested early in sleet and freezing rain, which changed back to thick, heavy snowflakes as the event progressed. The three medal favorites all came thru in the first run of qualifying to make it to the final. On the first run of the final Wise blasted a 92.00 with a run that included both right- and left-sided double corked 1260s. Rolland stood second after the first run, but Riddle came back on the second run with a flawless run, but with slightly less difficulty, scoring 90.60. Wise would win the gold medal, giving him the Triple Crown of Olympic, World Championship and X-Games gold. Riddle took silver and Rolland bronze, with Rolland joining Wise as medalists at the Big 4 halfpipe events of Olympics, World Championships, Winter X, and Winter X Europe.