Steamboat was well represented at the X Games this weekend as two of the three podium finishers are originally from here.
In the wake of a series of winter storms that dumped nearly three feet of powder the preceding week, X Games Aspen 2017 celebrated it's 21st year in epic fashion as capacity crowds witnessed the world's best action sports athletes compete at Buttermilk Mountain. In addition to Snowmobile SnoCross and the Women's Snowboard Big Air event, most notable to the first day of competition was Shaun White's return to the SuperPipe after a marked absence in 2016.
However, the night belonged to Scotty James who took his first-ever gold at X Games with a score of 90.00 on the very first run of competition. Starting off with a massive backside air over 21-feet out of the pipe, the 22-year-old Aussie then took to the sky, launching consecutive 1080s before landing a clean frontside 900 and finishing off his run with a stylish backside double cork 1260. Last year's winner Matt Ladley, originally from Steamboat, took second on the final run of competition scoring a 80.00, while fellow Steamboat native Taylor Gold took third with a 79.00.
Steamboat native Taylor Gold flies out of the halfpipe at X Games 2017 en route to a third-place finish. Photo by Phil Ellsworth / ESPN
