Photos by: Mike Yoshida & George Crosland

Fresh snow graced Dew Tour Breckenridge for day two of qualifier events, and men’s snowboard superpipe started things off in the white stuff. However, new snow means new conditions. The superpose riders could feel and see the difference, with slightly slower speeds and less visibility due to higher snows. The result, anything but anticipated.

To start things off we saw a seemingly new trend of less straight airs to start off rider runs. Still, staples of the superpose community maintained their opening hits such as Ayumu Hirano and Shaun White. Ayumu, for example, sent the highest air of the qualifier with a backside indy that started off one of the cleanest runs where he landed each trick high on the wall for maximum pump through the transition.

White, however, saw a different result. Following incredible opening methods around the 25’ mark, White had difficulty lower down the pipe. On his first run, he seemed to have linked together a run strong enough to qualify first, but on his final hit he went for what has become his signature closing trick of a double McTwist. Unfortunately he scrubbed the landing. White then had a fall on his third hit during his second run, which resulted him a non-advancing position. White will be missed in the final.

As for the top qualifiers, it was a total Ferg Fest. The brothers Ferguson, Ben and Gabe, dropped in back-to-back in their qualifying runs, which resulted in Ben qualifying first and Gabe third. Ben’s best run included; a giant air to fakie, switch 1080 double cork, a double crippler, backside 360, a switch McTwist, switch double backflip to forward also known as a double B-roll. The second place qualifier was Jake Pates. Pates pulled two full pulls with his second run slightly bumping his score higher. Pates was one of the first riders of the day to throw a double Michalchuk, which seems to be on trend this season with a lot of riders working it into their runs.

Other notable mentions from qualifiers include Danny Davis, Louie Vito, Iouri Podlatchikov and Ryan Wachendorfer. Davis qualified ninth with his first run and on his second run attempted a McTwist upward of 20’ that nearly resulted in a deadly deck check. Somehow he squeaked into the transition and rode straight down. Vito, in contrast, did not find his way back into the transition as he hit the deck on both runs while attempting a cab double cork 1080 on his second hit. Iouri–the 2014 Sochi Games gold medalists–found a fifth place qualifying position by way of smooth runs and a backside rodeo straight into an alley-oop rodeo. Wachendorfer may be a name you are not yet familiar with but, due to White not finding his way into the final as the last person to drop in, he did sneak his way into the final.

Tune-in tomorrow, Friday, December 15 at 12:30pm MT and watch the action live on DewTour.com.

Men’s Snowboard Superpipe Results
1.) Ben Ferguson (USA) 83.33
2.) Jake Pates (USA) 81.66
3.) Gabe Ferguson (USA) 78.33
4.) Scotty James (AUS) 76.33
5.) Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) 73.66
6.) Ayumu Hirano (JPN) 73.00
7.) Greg Bretz (USA) 72.00
8.) Chase Josey (USA) 65.00
9.)  Danny Davis (USA) 63.33
10.) Markus Malin (FIN)  60.00
11.) Jan Scherrer (SUI) 53.33
12.) Ryan Wachendorfer (USA) 50.00

Ferguson Brothers Qualified 1st, 3rd, Shaun White Misses Transfer Spot to Final

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Younger brother Gabe Ferguson finished close behind his brother Ben to qualify 3rd for Friday's final. Expect more double Michalchuks and major amplitude to come.
Ferg Fest here at Dew Tour Breckenridge qualifiers. Ben Ferguson dropped in back-to-back after brother Gabe and emerged in 1st.
Pulling hard on grabs and doubling up on his Michalchuk, Jakes Pates scored himself a second-place finish.
Danny Davis took his first hit McTwist to new heights today. After locking in his ninth place qualifying position in his first run, he attempted to go even higher in his second run—something to look for in Friday's final.
Greg Bretz locked in a 7th place qualifying position into Friday's final with solid grabs well above the lip on every hit.
A quick pep talk to the young Gabe Ferguson from his manager Ryan Runke. Word on the hill is that if Gabe and Ben finish 1-2 in the final, Runke will be flying them home in style by way of a private jet.
After four consecutive switch tricks, Chase Josey qualified 8th for Friday's final.
Sending it higher than anyone on his first hit backside indy, Ayumu Hirano kept his speed and momentum on every trick by always landing high on the walls and pumping through the trannys.
The 2014 Sochi Games gold medalist, Iouri Podlatchikov brought serious amplitude and creative tricks to ride out and qualify 5th for Friday's final.
Dubbed the "Tan Man," Jan Scherrer dropped into the pipe switch before unleashing cab on his first hit.
Coming in hot and sending it huge on his first hit, Markus Malin took this frontside air straight to the final with a 10th place qualifying spot.
Ryan Wachendorfer snuck into Friday's final by way of the 12th place bubble position. Watch out for more double Michalchuks from this one.
A classic shot of Scotty James' classic style. Without even dropping in for his second run, James qualified 4th for Friday's final.
Keep the pipe fresh, skiers slip the center so snowboarders can send it off the lips.

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