History for Hight, Gold for Clark

ASPEN, CO (Jan. 26) - Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT) showed the savvy of an Olympic champion, coming from behind on her third run to win one of the most hotly contested women's superpipe battles in X Games history leading a USA sweep. While Clark claimed gold, Elena Hight (South Lake Tahoe, CA) stole the hearts of the crowd with her show-stopping double backside rodeo on run number one - first time ever in competition! Teenager Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO) wrapped up the podium with bronze, just days after winning the FIS Snowboard World Championship halfpipe and getting the nod into finals as an alternate. X Games wraps up Sunday with men's superpipe.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT) came from behind on her final run to take X Game superpipe gold - the fifth of her career.
• Elena Hight (S. Lake Tahoe, CA) made history on her first run, putting down the first ever double backside rodeo in competition.
• Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO) took bronze just days after winning the FIS Snowboard World Championships halfpipe. Gold came to Aspen as an alternate and got her chance to ride when veteran Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO) withdrew.
• The Saturday evening battle was one of the most intense in X Games history, with medals going back-and-forth on each of the three runs.
• Action wraps up Sunday evening with men's superpipe.
• Clark run: Frontside 1080, cab 720, frontside 900, backside 540, frontside endurance.

QUOTES
Kelly Clark
I tried to maintain amplitude and my technical trick in the first hits. The level of competition tonight was at an all time high. What Elena did for the sport was incredible tonight. I was so excited for Elena. Regardless of what the competition does I always go out to do my best run. Having a first run fall isn't ideal, I went basic run for my second run and liked the pressure on my third. Dropping last was great and I played on my strengths, amplitude and execution. I might need to go back to the drawing board a bit. A few years ago learning a 1080 was a huge step and I am really looking forward to the future.

Elena Hight
I'm very excited, I've been thinking about doing the double since last May when I landed it in training. This is what I came here to do. I am going to work on dialing this in, obviously doubles are the way the sport is going and it's inspiring. As women we are a step behind them but totally capable. I think Kelly rode amazing tonight and I wanted to go all out, but I could have gone bigger, grabbed my tricks longer and rode a bit better. I'm just happy that I landed it.