ASPEN, CO (Jan. 30, 2016) – American Matt Ladley (Steamboat Springs, CO) earned his first X Games medal on Saturday night and it was golden. Teammate Ben Ferguson (Bend, OR) snagged silver, also his first X Games medal. Scotty James of Australia took bronze.
The biggest story of the night was Mother Nature. A large winter storm was bearing down on Aspen as the competition began and conditions deteriorated quickly. By the time the riders tried to drop in for their second runs, the snow was so wet and heavy that the athletes weren’t even able to make it from the top of the drop to the halfpipe. The decision was made to cancel the rest of the competition and results were determined by first-run scores.
Ben Ferguson scored silver. (Getty Images-Brent Lewis)
It was not to take away from Ladley and Ferguson, who both had runs with which they were very happy. “It turned into a one-run final and fortunately I put down a run I was really happy with,” Ladley said after the competition was called. “I did probably the biggest backside 900 I’ve ever done in my life. And that was my biggest goal coming into tonight—I just wanted to go really big and ride smooth. It was definitely a stand-out run for me and to do it tonight was just kind of a dream come true.”
Ferguson was equally as stoked. “It’s insane. I’ve been watching X Games since I was 6 years old, so to be here is insane and to be on the podium is just messed up,” said Ferguson. “It’s rad. I’m so stoked.”
Watch Ladley's gold medal run.
Rounding up the rest of the Americans in the field, Brett Esser (Breckenridge, CO) was fourth, Gabe Ferguson (Bend, OR) fifth, Danny Davis (Highland, MI) ninth and Chase Josey (Sun Valley, ID) 11th.
Snowboarding continues at X Games on Sunday with women’s SuperPipe and snowboarder X.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Matt Ladley won gold. His first run scored an 82.33: backside 900 mute, frontside 1260 tailgrab, backside air, frontside 1080 tailgrab, Cab double 1080 melon, frontside double 1080 stalefish.
- Ben Ferguson earned silver. His first run scored a 79.00: frontside 720 Japan, Cab double 1080 mute, double crippler, backside 900 mute, frontside double 1080 nosegrab, Elguerial.
- Next up, women's SuperPipe and snowboarder X wraps X Games on Sunday.
QUOTES
Matt Ladley
I wasn’t expecting this to happen—the contest getting called off. It’s kind of crazy. But I’m happy—I put down a great run; I was stoked on it. Maybe it’s not how I wanted it to happen but it’s one of those things—weather happens and there’s nothing you can do about it. That was for you Peyton Manning! (Ladley competed in a Manning Broncos jersey.)
Ben Ferguson
It’s crazy the way it happened but I’m pumped—I’m stoked I landed my first run. I’ve been doing that run in contests for a while and I’ve never really landed it that sick, so I’m stoked to put it down when it mattered. I hadn’t even looked at the weather so I thought we were going three runs—I had two other runs I wanted to do but we never got a chance to do those. It’s insane. I’ve been watching X Games since I was 6 years old, so to be here is insane and to be on the podium is just messed up. It’s rad. I’m so stoked.
RESULTS
Men’s Snowboard SuperPipe Results
