Kingwill and Byrnes

It was a day of US victories and the first day of World Cup halfpipe competition for the Crystal Globes. The halfpipe conditions on the Grande Motte glacier were perfect on this second day of World Cup action at Tignes, France.

Rob Kingwill really made it his event with his first win since 1996 and coming after a year-long break from competing. He's happy to be back on the tour, and back on top. "It's just great. I'm stoked after a year off trying to heal my ankle up after breaking it last January," he said. "I'm stoked I finally won a contest."

Kingwill and Tommy Czeschin (USA), who took 2nd, had a little competition of their own going on. "It was really fun," said Kingwill, "we had kind of a little rivalry going between the American guys at the top." This added pressure gave Kingwill the boost he needed to win. "It was probably the sixth time I've done a frontside 900 flip ever," he said. "I've never crashed on it, I've just done it; it just scared the heck out of me. We were all like 'you got to do it, I'm gonna do it,' so it was a really good contest because everybody was just pushin' each other...it was fun."

"It's just great. I'm stoked after a year off trying to heal my ankle up after breaking it last January. I'm stoked I finally won a contest..."— Rob Kingwill (USA)

As for the pipe, Kingwill said, "The pitch is a little bit flat but the FIS did an awesome job. I was in a pipe two years ago and it wasn't that good...this year everybody is goin' above the banners, there's no more difficulties."

Czeschin agreed. "I think it was a great contest," he said, "a really good halfpipe and a lot of good riders out there."

France's Sébastien Vassoney managed 3rd place and was the only European to fight off US dominance. Americans Ricky Bower and Seth Wescott took 4th and 5th, respectively.

But it wasn't a flawless show for the states. Zach Horwitz crashed in both the first and second, final run and ended up 10th. "I have a broken hand," he explained, "in the practice run I hit it and it's been bothering me and in the final I fell on it twice. I tried too hard and did not make it very well. Bad luck, but I'll do it next time."

The '98-'99 Halfpipe World Cup Champion Tricia Byrnes was the number one contender for the season's first halfpipe, for sure. But she seemed to be the only one who had doubts. "I'm really excited," she said about her 1st place finish. "I didn't really expect it since I haven't been riding for a long time. I have taken some time off, stayed with my family, and this summer went by very quickly, but it's a nice way to start off the season."

Sabine Wehr-Hasler from Germany, a veteran of the tour, made it to 2nd place. "I didn't expect to start like this," she said. But she was pleased with her performance, including a clean 720. "The only thing I have to work on now is to make some height," she said.

	Fans

Anna Tillmann from Sweden made it to 3rd. But the most supported riders have been the Spanish with their fans lining up at the pipe and pulling fan banners whenever their fellow countrymen are up. When Agurtzane Otegi, 6th, made it to the finals today, her fans went mad, making her crashes in both final runs a little less painful.

It was a perfect start for the season and it's almost time for the next events: Tuesday, November 30 at Sestriere, Italy.

—Britta Semmler, MountainZone.com Correspondent