THIS BLOG HAS NOW CLOSED. YOU CAN READ BACK THROUGH IT (DON’T FORGET TO CLICK ON THE ‘READ MORE’ TABS AS YOU SCROLL DOWN) AND CHECK OUT OUR FULL REPORT ON THE MEN’S HALFPIPE FINAL HERE. DON’T FORGET TO TUNE IN FOR OUR LIVE BLOG OF THE WOMEN’S HALFPIPE FINAL TOMORROW.

Welcome to Whitelines‘ live blog of the 2014 Winter Olympics men’s halfpipe final in Sochi. We’ll be kicking off at 5.30pm GMT on Tuesday 11th February, commenting on all the action as it happens. Read our complete guide to the Olympic halfpipe here.

Here’s how the halfpipe final works:

• 6 riders have qualified straight from the qualification heats, and another 6 from the semi-finals.
• The 12 riders will have two runs each, with their highest score counting.
• Unlike previous Olympics, the running order will remain the same for both runs.

Watch the coverage on the BBC Two, or on BBC Online. Get involved by leaving comments, or by hitting us up on Twitter (@whitelinesmag) or Facebook using the hashtag #BackTheBrits.

Tuesday February 11, 2014

Ed:
Here we go people. It’s the big one. The men’s Olympic halfpipe final.
4:29

Duthie:
First run will be at 5.30pm GMT. Until then, send us your comments, predictions etc using the above form.
4:30

Andrew Hayward-Wright

Snowboarding about to kick off @farrockaway #BackTheBrits #WLsnowboarding
4:40

Ed:
An instagram from our live screening in London with @oneill

Daniel Thomas-Peter

What a bell-end, Snowboarding will be so much better when that ginger frigger hangs up his boots.
4:46

Simon Gray

Mr white is at the marmite stage in his career
4:46

Charles Kelly

Hopefully “The Dude” will show the world exactly how style is so much cooler than spin.
4:47

mattbarr:
I want the Chinese tindy kid to win
4:59

Ed:
Nice to see you Mr Barr
4:59

Duthie:
Hi Matt – if he wins, I think the Olympic boycott movement might finally gather some pace.
5:00

mattbarr:
I think he’s a WST plant. I’ve got it on good authority he’s got a tailfish in the locker for the final
5:02

Duthie:
Thought they were outlawed under the Geneva Convention.
5:02

Ed:
So if anyone’s interested, I found frankly ridiculous odds of 21/1 on Ayumu at Bwin. But being the gambling rookie I am, I managed to bet both my brother and I’s combined stake on him (40 quid) instead of a tenner each on him and Danny Davis. Basically, if Ayumu wins, I’m quids in to the tune of 800 quid! Shaun still clearly the man to beat however, but his odds are just not worth a flutter. So says your new betting expert. #JohnMcCririck
5:08

Come on Ayumu!
5:09

BBC Sport@BBCSport

Watch live snowboarding – men’s Halfpipe qualifying 2nd heat is on @BBCRedButton nowbbc.in/1gjYdxq #bbcsochi pic.twitter.com/IwwrI5ABHb

Ed:
T-minus 15 minutes.
5:16
Maciej Jodko

#shaunwhite #olympic #winter #games #halfpipe #sochi #sochi2014 #go4gold #olympics #shaun #white #highscore #legend #hero #pipe
5:19

saki ito

???????????? 15????????????? ??????????????????????????????*\\(^o^)/* ??????????????????????? #snowboarding#halfpipe#sochi #sochiolympics#ayumuhirano#????#??????#??????#????
5:20

Comment From Joe
Interesting seeing the Shaun White spot with Ed after THAT article…
5:20

toddrichards@btoddrichards

Oh what? Halfpipe goin down sahn ! #oldspoice #sagewouldgo #igot16thin98instagram.com/p/kSKcLFlMmi/
? ?

Hope @travelindan and @gregbretzz get a medal today???? #dannydavis #gregbretz #halfpipe #final #sochi
5:20

Extreme

Who watch the #halfpipe go off at the #sochi2014 #olympics this morning? Fuck it’s was good! Looks like hard work though! #JustHuckIt #snowboarding #shaunwhite
5:20

Comment From Guest
5 minutes to go ;)
5:20

David Brighton

This could change halfpipe forever. Watch out
5:21

David Pulman

Shaun hater for sure!!! Bring it on!!!
5:21

Nick Bennett

triple cork triple cork triple cork!
5:21

Paul Daley

Danny – the true essence of boarding. And massive smile too.
5:22

Duthie:
Just enough time to whizz through our Sochi Showdown profile kids before Go Time:http://whitelin.es/TheSochiShowdown
5:22

Comment From Joe
I wanna see some more Napan action from the Chinese…
5:22

Ed:
Yes! Go on the napan!

Duthie:
He brings much dishonour to his family with those grabs.
5:23

Comment From Guest
MON’ DAVIS!
5:23

Comment From yanneck
5 minutes
5:23

Bliss Snowboards

Sweep stake has been drawn. Backing japan & china! You can do it boys #sochi #snowboard #halfpipe #wlsnow
5:23

The pipe is ready…. kinda.
5:25

Sam:
And here comes the BBC jargon buster… #cringe
5:25

Sam:
Please make it stop.
5:25

Neal Johnson@Onetoomanytweet

Shaun White. With a name like that you’d better win gold! #TeamUSA #ShaunWhite

Duthie:
Just as well Taylor didn’t make the final then.

Ed:
Cheese cake? A cake? Of cheese? No ta, not in my life time.
5:26

Sam:
Tim Warwood talking out his backside wall
5:26

Comment From Joe
Totally gnarly rad whirlybird dude!
5:27

Sam:
Wonder when they’ll cover those terms

Duthie:
This BBC thing is the cheesiest halfpipe thing I’ve ever seen.
5:27

A V

@lvinberg du har så otroligt många fina sidor. Att t ex göra en halfpipe av osten här hemma, under OS.. Vilken känsla du har. #halfpipe #os #sotji #snowboard
5:28

Duthie:
No wait, this is.

Jakob Schmidt

#shaunwhite #halfpipe #final in 5 minutes på #dr3 #sochi
5:28

Sam:
And you though Seamus was shameless?

Sam:
Here we go, Ed Leigh back on the box
5:28

Someone give Ed Leigh some new gloves
5:29

Comment From Barry Parker
who looking forward to danny davis doing a method while wearing a chip hat up with the seagulls…..
5:29

Comment From Joe
TKR is a bauss! Such a versatile rider!
5:29

That Daily Mail verdict again.
5:29

Duthie:
TK Ravnjak will be first to drop. Slovenia on course, 2014 men’s halfpipe final is underway!
5:30
John Stanislawiak

#halfpipe#finale ????
5:30

Ed:
Here. we. go.
5:30

Sam:
Predictions on a digital postcard please
5:30

Sam:
First run has been put down
5:31

Tignes Spirit@TignesSpirit

TIME TO TUNE IN FOR THE MENS The Olympic Games SNOWBOARD #HALFPIPE. Excitement building here in the Tignes Spirit… fb.me/2J4Fr35d5

Duthie:
And he puts it down! Maybe we’ll actually see some more landed runs this that we did in the semis and qualifiers? Massive backside air, and everything else is smooth.
5:31

Duthie:
Is it just us or does the pipe still look mince?
5:31

VaBeach BikingBanner@BikingBannerVB

Men’s #Halfpipe #RIGHTNOW #Sochi2014 #GoTeamUSA #VirginiaBeach #VaBeach #vbLocal#hrva #hrweather #hrsnow #itaddsup pic.twitter.com/pUrlRSRaCT

Ed:
In case Ed Leigh’s gloves didn’t explain it clearly enough for you.

Sam:
Wancheng Shi now, the non-tindying Chinaman
5:32

Becky@beckyloujenks

So excited for this half-pipe final. #bbcsochi

Sam:
Just watch out for his mate
5:32

Jonathan Weaver@Jonathan_Weaver

Men’s Pipe Finals. Let’s go.

Comment From Joe
I once had a sauna with TKR…
5:32

Sam:
Big front air in the middle of the run and a massive 7 at the end, another run, boom!
5:33

Gregor@GregzMo

Would love to see an underdog win but we all know what’s happening #halfpipe

Sam:
Sorry, those were Ming-ing napan grabs
5:33

Sam:
81.00, in the lead after two
5:34

Duthie:
Now it’s Tindyana Jones, aka Zhang Yiwei. Run 1.
5:34

Comment From Geoff
In Whistler and relying on TSNs coverage, currently still showing luge, arse
5:34

Shield your eyes!
5:34

Ed:
What just happened? Four dubs in a row? WTF?!
5:35

Sam:
NEXT LEVEL DOUBLES!
5:35

Duthie:
Oh dear god – FOUR dubs in a row, and not just Louie Vito style either. Proper amplitude!
5:35

Duthie:
All clean as well – will be very interesting to see the score.
5:35

Ed:
Forget Ayumu it could be Shaun vs Xhang, USA vs China. It’s the 2014 version of Rocky IV!
5:36

Duthie:
87.25 – he’s in first, but can’t break the 90 mark.
5:36

Sam:
Kent Callister, THE METHOD MAN! Dropping now
5:36

Hannah Campbell@hanmcamp

loving the #halfpipe – mad skills #Sochi2014

Clairebear@minimadclaire

Amazing viewing!! #halfpipe #Sochi2014

Comment From Hinahou
Disliking these Tindys and Tailfishes, maybe next run we’ll have a fashion air and the elusive “Cloud 9”?
5:36

Duthie:
Snow at the top looks right out of the Milton Keynes snowdome.
5:37

LIQUID SNOWBOARDING!
5:37

Sam:
There it is! Going for the back-to-back dubs but stacks it, the riders stepping it up for the finals!
5:37

Duthie:
“I’ve used my entire quota of Alan Partridge quotes in one run” – Tim Warwood. Glad to see the 300 complaints haven’t put him off!
5:37

AJ@alexstuartjohno

These snowboarders on the #halfpipe must have bollocks the size of melons #wouldnotdare#Sochi2014

Duthie:
Now it’s Greg Bretz, Run 1. USA, USA, USA…
5:38

Comment From Barry Parker
USA USA USA!
5:38

Doesn’t matter what his final score is, the man with THAT method is a hero of 2014
5:38

Ed:
The triple is gonna go down. I’m calling it now. They’ve really stepped things up.
5:39

Duthie:
Dang! Double cork straight off the bat, but didn’t get the rotation down for the next one.
5:39

Sam:
Greg hurt his bum, oh dear
5:39

Sam:
iPod dropping now, reset for the finals and fully charged
5:40

Duthie:
21.75 for Bretz.
5:40

Sam:
Dressed in stealth mode, he’s dropping.
5:40

Double cork to arse split. It’s a new trick, so he gets to give it a name. Suggestions?
5:40

Duthie:
Interestingly, iPod’s not rocking the Swiss uniform. He’s gone for all black instead.
5:40

Duthie:
Got to hand it to iPod, he knows how to ride – and how to claim.
5:41

Sam:
Three triples including the tomahawk, back to back, our editor reckons sthat’s in the 90s and without the YOLO
5:41

Sam:
Not a boot grab in sight!
5:41

iPod is the king of the claim
5:42

Sam:
86.50, only enough for second for now
5:42

Duthie:
“Worst job at the Olympics goes to the halfpipe judges” – funny, we thought the worst job was done by the halfpipe shapers.
5:42

Ed:
Wow, I was sure that’d be in the 90s – but my mistake, that’s the pipe.
5:42

Comment From Joe
I can’t believe the harshness…
5:43

Comment From Joe
94 i reckon…
5:43

Sam:
What was wrong with the judges this time Joe?

Comment From Barry Parker
add in the YOLO and he is sorted!
5:43

Comment From iai7
has it started already??
5:43

Sam:
No, we’re still enjoying the curling

Duthie:
David Habueztel, the Swiss prodigy, next to drop in. Run 1…
5:43

Whitelines@whitelinesmag

Pipe looks like it’s running WAY better! Apparently they had downhill skiing experts out helping make it more icy. It seems to be working!

Comment From Barry Parker
perhaps the halp pipe filmers from earilier today in contention for worst job of the day?
5:44

Comment From Joe
David took second at the O’Neill Pleasure Jam as well…
5:44

Duthie:
Slashes the wall at the end of a solid, albeit not medal-threatening, run from David.
5:44

Comment From Barry Parker
im waiting for a switch method!
5:44

Sam:
So am I Barry!

Sam:
Christian ‘Hitch’ Haller next up, another great method coming up!
5:44

Duthie:
80.75, David is in 4th for now. But he’s stoked!
5:45

Smooth
5:45

Sam:
Haller’s out, Danny Davis is dropping, I’ll be watching the screen not the keyboard for this
5:46

Sam:
That was a run right there! If he’d ridden out of that last trick he could have had an amazing score there
5:46

That switch method is sex.
5:46

Sam:
The switch method, oh my god…
5:47

Taff Jones@MrTouchscreen

Not just loving the Halfpipe, but the #bbcsochi commentators #hilarious Making great sport even better

Comment From Barry Parker
nicest run hands down!
5:47

Duthie:
WL HQ just erupted again – first with joy, then with despair. Guess we’re unashamedly Team Danny in this final.
5:47

The Dude goes down…
5:47

Duthie:
Sometimes you eat the bar… and sometimes, well, he eats you.

Duthie:
Now it’s time for Chrisitan Haller – Run 1.
5:48

Rob Lawrence@616photography

That half pipe is a fucking shambles! #WinterOlympics #halfpipe #snowboarding

Duthie:
Backside 5, frontside double cork, then a couple of wobbly straight airs. Looks like something went awry, so the rest of the run was a right-off.
5:49

Danny D – style for DAYS!
5:49

ZOZI@zozi

Awesome first run from @theDDeadshow … until that little slip up at the end… #halfpipe

Sam:
Taku Hiraoka now, Japan’s first medal hope. Can he step it up to Ayumu?
5:49

jellymann@elizabethgough9

Oh this is gonna be close #halfpipe #Sochi2014

Comment From Barry Parker
now duthie dont be biased…the brittish dont like biased commentry….
5:49

Comment From _Pengwinning
The football equivalent can get bent.
5:49

mattbarr:
I just can’t get over how bad this pipe is. Proper criminal.
5:50

Duthie:
Tindy man is in the lead! For how long?
5:50

Sam:
HUGE back 5! Slow and styly from Taku, a butt check scupering him near the end
5:51

Sam:
This final is going off the chain!
5:51

Almost 12 metres off the flat bottom – ridic!
5:51

Paul Williams@MotorracingP

What a word #whoppertron is! #BBCSochi #Sochi2014

Barry Kenny@barrykenny

“The height on that McTwist was absolutely whoppertron.” Actual sports commentary line on#BBCSochi just now. #Sochi2014

Lee Gawne@disciple72

My favourite new word from the #sochi games, “whoppertron” #bbcsochi Love these guys commentating #bbcsnowboardingloonies

Kirmie@Kirmie

I’m going to start using “whoppertron” in my everyday speech #bbcsochi

Duthie:
Ayumu Hirano dropping next. Anyone who’s followed Ed’s betting stories will know what it might mean if the Japanese rider gets the gold. Beers will be on him!
5:52

Peter B Mason@PeterBMason

The @BBCSport snowboarding commentary is like listening to Radio 1 doing winter sports. Whoppertron! #bbcsochi

Comment From _Pengwinning
Unlucky Japlan B now for Japlan A
5:52
Hitomi.M

?Ayumu Hirano?Shaun White? ??????????????????????????????????????????VTR???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Good luck??#Olympic #halfpipe #ayumuhirano #shaunwhite #???? #??????
5:53

Ed:
What happened to the cameraman on that first hit?!!
5:53
rumini63

Final!!Go Japan??#olympic#halfpipe
5:53

Simmo…nuff said

Just found this on twitter, snowboarding Gundam… #JustHuckIt #SOLID! #McTwist #Sochi2014 #Snowboarding #WinterOlympics #Halfpipe #TeamGB
5:53

Sam:
Probably too sketchy for a big score but so good to watch, Ayumu!
5:53

Duthie:
Ayum-azing! He went so big the cameraman couldn’t keep him in the shot, then put down a beast of a run. One potential disaster was recovered with superhuman skill – he’s a machine!
5:53

Charli Morris@paintpants

Absolutely whoppertron! #sochi #halfpipe #commentary

BEAST!
5:53

Duthie:
90.75, Ayumu into the gold medal position! Just one rider to go…
5:54

Ed:
It’s the lead, but it’s not enough for the gold I doubt. Ayumu has more than that in his locker.
5:54

Ed:
Over to you Mr White.
5:54

Sam:
Shaun White, El Blanco, dropping. Four years of work coming up…
5:54

Duthie:
Look at Shaun, he’s so ridiculously pumped for this.
5:54

Ed:
HE”S DOWN!!!
5:55

mattbarr:
Was it wrong to cheer that?
5:55

Duthie:
I can neither confirm not disconfirm that we did the same.

Sam:
He’s down! Boom! The pressure has got to him!
5:55

Comment From Barry Parker
ooooftta…
5:55

Ed:
Pressure. Pressure. Pressure!!!!!
5:55

Ed:
Snowboarding. Bloody hell.
5:55

Vanessa@vplo

Whoah Shaun White whipeout! #halfpipe #OS2014

Sam:
This whole competition will come down to the last run
5:55

Joel Goldman@mightyscoop

Wow. Shaun White just threw a whitey. #BBCSochi

mattbarr:
I would live Hirano to win, the kid is a legend
5:55

Duthie:
Well if the semis were a bit dull, the final is just about the most dramatic we’ve ever seen! And we’re only halfway through….
5:56

Duthie:
Shaun White, 11th place. When have we ever seen that before…
5:56

andrewmackay@andythebaboon

ooft,wasnt expecting that from shaun white #halfpipe

Maikki Sinkko@MaikkiSin

Whoa! Didn’t see that coming!! #ShaunWhite #Sochi2014

michael howarth@MikeHowzer

Easily the best thing I’ve watched at Sochi #halfpipe

Henry Oliver

Loving x ups #xup#scooter#faggit#australia#blunt#huge#halfpipe#dream#myfuturehome#nofilter#robf321#complete#my#life#to#live#here#tomanyhashtags
5:58

Sam:
Shaun White, to much time spent developing scooters?

Comment From Guest
haha shaun
5:58

Bloody hell, that is fierce! You have to wonder how his legs can take that.
5:58

Comment From Rowan Hargreaves
Is it too late for Shaun to pull out of this one?
5:58

Dexter Reeds@DexterReeds

Shaun White… you done messed up! That 15 year old Japanese kid had an awesome run!#Sochi2014 #halfpipe

Comment From Barry Parker
whos the money on then boys?… im up for danny D!
5:58

Sam:
Got a tenner riding on him!

Ed:
It really is a cauldron, the halfpipe. What an atmosphere there is in this room, never mind in Sochi.
5:58

Sam:
Our little shed in Cornwall is having it’s foundations screamed down
5:59

Ed:
How will Shaun react to that? He’s chasing the leaderboard now – all or nothing.
5:59

Sam:
Thoughts so far dear readers? Predictions?
5:59

Sam:
TK Ravnjak just scuffed his second run, its over for him
6:00

Jessica Williams@jesswllms

just in complete shock #Olympics2014 #ShaunWhite

Sam:
Wancheng Shi dropping next
6:01

Katie Ormerod@OrmerodKatie

Loving the Halfpipe final!!! Great commentary @SnowEdLeigh @Tim_Warwood

Comment From FromTheAndes
White will pull it off. He’ll take the gold.
6:01

Mhairi Spence@MhairiSpence

Absolutely hooked watching the #halfpipe! Unbelievable!!!!!!!! I thought tumble turning in the pool was hard to learn…… #amazing #TeamGB

Sam:
Hooked up on the pipe and not afraid to show his frustration, grrrrrrr!
6:02

AAAARRRRRGGGH!!!!!
6:02

Duthie:
Had his ‘Willem Defoe in Platoon’ moment there.
6:02

Hamish Livingstone@Flufball_

Darth Vader-esq screaming there. #bbcsochi #Sochi2014

Comment From Barry Parker
maybe the should of consulted the guys at the cairngorms before shaping the pipe?
6:02

Comment From Barry Parker
maybe the should of consulted the guys at the cairngorms before shaping the pipe?
6:02

Comment From Rowan Hargreaves
Shaun is lulling us into a false sense of security – here comes the quad
6:02

Comment From Rowan Hargreaves
Shaun is lulling us into a false sense of security – here comes the quad
6:02

Duthie:
Now it’s grabbing’s Public Enemy Number One, Zhang Yiwei.
6:03

Sam:
The coping revealing his gaper gap…
6:04

Comment From _Pengwinning
quad dubs again.. s’il te plait
6:04

Duthie:
Wow!! He hits the coping on his fourth double cork, but keeps going! Not that it’ll matter – his first score will be his best, and he’s still in 2nd.
6:04

Sam:
Dub cork to 5050, next level pipe tricks here
6:04

ninnakirkegaard

Kom nu skat!!!! Elsker og hader halfpipe ? #shaunwhite #loveyou #ginger #theonlyone #halfpipe #snowboard #soshi #winterolympics
6:05

Ed:
You know what, this pipe (which they’ve done their best to rescue) is starting to cut up badly. It’s gonna be tough for Shaun to throw down anything super progressive now, but we’ll see. Pretty sure he’s gonna go full Morgan and huck it.
6:05

Duthie:
58.50 is his second run score. Now he plays the waiting game.
6:05

Sam:
Kent Callister dropping, can’t wait for that first hit #methodjunkie
6:05

Simon Hahn@si_hahn89

The half pipe in the winter olympics is sickkk! #halfpipe

Tyler Corum@gtylercorum

How does the Olympics let this happen? When half your athletes can’t make it through the course you’ve got an issue. #halfpipe

Sam:
Massive method, again, a couple of dubs but sketching the last one. Not gonna get a medal but we’ll see him again
6:06

Duthie:
Thanks for coming Kent, 6 incredible methods from 6 runs. Don’t ever change.
6:06

makoto

superstar #sochi #olympics #2014 #halfpipe#snowboard
6:07

Andrew Thomas@AndyThomas_

Great effort by @kentcallister – 68.5 he’s in 7th at the moment #halfpipe final #GoAUS #Sochi2014

Another gratuitous method shot. Kent you slag, that’s just filth.
6:07

NBC News Pictures@NBCNewsPictures

Multiple exposure photo of @shaun_white on #HalfPipe in #Sochi via @GettyImages:nbcnews.to/1fdEv34 pic.twitter.com/hngsjqJP3g

Katie Williams@kowillia

There’s nothing like real love. Nothing. #ShaunWhite #youwillbemissed ??

Duthie:
Erm, he’s not dead…

Sam:
bestmethod@theolympics is terje’s email right? Oh wait….
6:07

Ed:
It’s all gone wrong for Greg Bretz. Only 6 riders to go. Phew. No time to draw breath.
6:08

Duthie:
Greg Bretz, Run 2. He was feeling the pressure… and he bottles it. There’ll be no American sweep, and no medal for him.
6:08

Comment From the woods
Sam….. your a Helmet
6:08

Sam:
Hi Morzine!

Sam:
iPod to drop next, running in sync with this pipe…
6:09

Joshua Godfrey@JoshuaGodfrey

Does it help if you have long hair if you snowboard? #bbcsochi #Sochi2014

Ed:
Given Shaun and iPod don’t have long hair, I’d say… no

Sam:
You only live once Iouri
6:09

Duthie:
Is it YOLO’clock?
6:09

Ed:
What a run from iPod. History.
6:10

mattbarr:
Best claim ever
6:10

Sam:
BAM! iPOD slayed that! Stolen El Blanco’s back-to-backs!
6:10

Comment From Rowan Hargreaves
If iPod plays the right track, a medal might be on the menu #punbelievable
6:10

Comment From Barry Parker
YOLO!
6:10

Best claim of the Games.
6:10

Sam:
He’s stoked, he couldn’t have put down a better run there
6:11

Duthie:
He’s absolutely over the moon. He went nuts the first time he landed that, and didn’t even finish his run. So we should have probably expected that reaction.
6:11

Comment From _Pengwinning
YOLOoking good i-Pod
6:11

matthew barr@barrmatt

Still want Hirano to win. Even though that claim was pretty special

Comment From Barry Parker
should he of done one more hit? 94…tough to beat!
6:12

That is quite a score to beat.
6:12

Sam:
94.75! That’ll take some beating, this might not be the Tomato party the world thought it could be, the Russians going mad for it!
6:12

Shanice Archer@ShaniceAlexia

Iouri deserves 1st after that! #halfpipe

Cooro Snow-Fox@CooroSnowFox

Shaun can still beat that… 96 in Quali… so its still open #Halfpipe #bbcsochi

makoto

Accident… #sochi #olympics #2014 #halfpipe #snowboard #shaunwhite
6:12

Nathan Stubbs@Nathan_Stubbs

YES IPOD #WinterOlympics #Sochi2014 #halfpipe

Axe Murderer 14.1

#Sochi2014 una delusione sopra l’altra ????#snowboarding #DannyDavis #halfpipe #like4like #likeforlike #follow #followme #picoftheday
6:12

Duthie:
Now it’s the automatic qualifiers’ last run. David Habluetzel of Switzerland dropping in…
6:12

Sam:
Where did that come from? Smooth as Swiss cheese!
6:13

Double fist pump/hip thrust from the Swiss coach.
6:14

Duthie:
And he stomps his run! A lot of doubles, and bags of style. Just holds on to his run at the end, but he crossed the blue line on his feet so it’s all good!
6:14

Tedlar@andrews_ted

The Swiss are owning this Snowboarding Half-pipe #bbcsochi

Clare Watson@vivatbella

Holy Shit! Beat that Shaun White #sochi2014 #halfpipe

Duthie:
There are three Swiss riders in this final – and currently 2 of them occupy medal spots! David in 3rd!
6:14

Simon Lloyd@sl5459

Shaun White is being asked the question! #Sochi2014 #halfpipe

Sam:
Tindy’s don’t get medals after all
6:15

Baby face is on the podium at the mo
6:15

Sam:
Danny Davis dropping again, c’mon…
6:15

Duthie:
And we’re talkin’ about the Dude here…
6:15

Ed:
Ah fuck it. Let’s go bowling.
6:16

Sam:
Danny boy… Still our favourite. Abide
6:16

mattbarr:
Team Hirano all the way now
6:16

Ed:
Yes Ayumu! Come on kid!!

Duthie:
The wind of the windows on the switch method was our concern Dude – and he just couldn’t hang on to his run.
6:17

Sam:
That’s my tenner gone
6:17

Sam:
It was worth it
6:17

Sam:
The Swiss are on a roll
6:17

Duthie:
Little Switzerland on screen there, aka the medals area.
6:17

Duthie:
Christian Haller, hoping to go halla big.
6:18

El duderino.
6:18

Sam:
Taku Hiroaka, can he Tak charge?
6:18

Duthie:
But he’s down! He was clearly giving it his all, but it came unstuck on the last hit. Still, Switzerland has plenty to smile about now.
6:19

JustJae23@MzCupcake_Jae

Can’t wait to see what Shaun White is gonna do on his final run… the pressure! #bbcsochi#Sochi2014

Danielle Tysall-Blay@DanielleTB13

SHIT ME!!! YOLO indeed! #WinterOlympics #halfpipe

Sam:
Taku dropping, this is tense
6:19

Comment From _Pengwinning
He’s Taku-ing it to the pipe…
6:20

Sam:
Oh my word! Taku sends it! Smooth as you like.
6:20

Duthie:
Japantastic.
6:20

92 for Taku. Wow!
6:21

Sam:
Podium score? …. He needs something big to bump him from 11th? 92.25! Ayuu is now in third and Taku takes silver again, for now…
6:22

Ed:
Ed Leigh: I have a feeling Ayumu is gonna take oxygen tanks
6:22

Duthie:
Look at that focus. Ayumu Hirano dropping – triple cork maybe?!
6:22

Duthie:
That was a phenomenal run. So big, so clean. But is it enough to top the podium?
6:23

Sam:
No triple but that could put him closer to the top?
6:24

Duthie:
Most of Whitelines HQ has had a flutter on Ayumu, so we’re looking quids in right now.
6:24

Ed:
Is this better than iPod? Big wait…
6:24

Sam:
The Assassin has struck…
6:24

Duthie:
Where’s that score…. iPod is bricking it too….
6:24

6:24

Sam:
iPod has done it! Only El Blanco can spoil the party now!
6:25

Ed:
Shit. It’s all on Shaun now.
6:25

Duthie:
It’s a 93.50 for Ayumu – iPod is top of the charts still. Only one man can unseat him. The tension is crazy…
6:25

Sam:
Ayumu still has a few Olympics left for the gold though…
6:25

Comment From _Pengwinning
Whiey boy is BRICKING IT!
6:25

Comment From _Pengwinning
HUUUUUOOOOWWWGE.
6:25

Comment From _Pengwinning
Ayumu thinking what im thinking?!
6:25

Sam:
Shaun White, dropping now
6:25

Ed:
Shaun thrieves under pressure. One last hurrah?
6:25

Duthie:
In the words of Bud Keene, its up to him.
6:26

Ed:
He’s claimed it, but he’s surely not won this.
6:26

Sam:
He landed that but it wasn’t pretty, we’re pretty sure that hasn’t done it…
6:26

Duthie:
Lord knows how he landed that last hit!! He thinks he’s got it, but surely that’s a bit sketchy?!
6:26

James Charman@JCCharman

“THAT’S AGAINST THE LAWS OF PHYSICS!” Passion. #bbcsochi #Sochi2014

Comment From _Pengwinning
NO chance that is first.
6:27

Izzy@AltoAngel

@BBCSport ALL commentators should be this passionate! #Sochi2014 #halfpipe #snowboarding

Comment From Barry Parker
ipod for gold!
6:27

Sam:
Boot grabs and reverts, can’t see this even podiuming
6:27

Matt Mcfarlane@tallbaldred

‘He’s a cat in human form’ Loving the halfpipe commentary! Proper passion. @BBCSport#bbcsochi

Duthie:
No chance that’s a gold, surely. Basically a revert at the top of one of those hits. It’s amazing he even kept his speed.
6:27

Jonathan Weaver@Jonathan_Weaver

Wow!!!!

Comment From Barry Parker
5th
6:27

Comment From Barry Parker
not enough indeed
6:27

Comment From _Pengwinning
Ipod, Ayumu, Taku… surely…
6:27

matthew barr@barrmatt

@SilviaMittermul Incredible

Duthie:
Maybe a medal though. NO! 4th!!
6:27

Sam:
NO MEDAL FOR EL BLANCO!
6:28

Ed:
OMG. No medal for Shaun. Un-believable.
6:28

Sam:
Undone by the iPod!
6:28

Duthie:
Good on him though, goes in for the hug with our new Olympic champ, the first new one since Ross Powers in 2002 – IOURI PODLATCHIKOV!
6:28

Sam:
iPod, Ayumu and Taku, the Flying Tomato is undone. What a story.
6:28

Duthie:
iPod is on cloud nine – he can’t quite believe it. 4th in Vancouver, 1st in Sochi.
6:29

Comment From Barry Parker
whats up with the japanese? no stoke?
6:30

Comment From FromTheAndes
Wow, out of the podium! End of an era?
6:30

Comment From Ultwe
How do you like it slopestyle, Shaun?
6:30

Comment From _Pengwinning
I could totally see that happening, he has been built up and hyped but he’s been off his game and it was only a matter of time
6:30

The definition of a brave face on defeat.
6:30

Esali Down@Esalii

Are you kidding me?!?! #ShaunWhite didn’t even place? Such bull shit. He was incredible

Skyler Wilder@NorthWestWilder

Great showing by @shaun_white taking 4th and giving big hugs to @iouriamazing at the #halfpipebottom! #sochi2014 CRAZY FINISH

David Matamoski@matamoski

#Sochi2014 #snowboard #halfpipe #iouri champioooooooon!!!!

Comment From _Pengwinning
But yeah no stoke from the Japanese?! bizarre.
6:31

iPod is out for the count.
6:31

Sue@sue_pook

Yay! Well done Swiss Boy. Your 1920 Flipper Bingbong Whizzernchips Twizzle won that for you.#sochi2014 #halfpipe

The results. Who could have predicted that?!
6:31

Whitelines@whitelinesmag

Holy shit!! Holy shit! No-one on the #britpit was expecting that!!

toddrichards@btoddrichards

Yes I am….CONGRATS TO IOURI PODLATCHIKOV !!!!!

matthew barr@barrmatt

@jamienichollsuk That was priceless wasn’t it? Ayumu’s face when iPod was looking at him trying not to go mental.

Peter Buchanan@Buc07

iPod. Gold. #halfpipe #sochi #swiss pic.twitter.com/TDVuN3pJi7

iPod can’t quite believe it. Gold. In teh land of his birth. Bloody hell.
6:33

Autumn Hardacre@autumnleighves

Wow. The men’s halfpipe final….wasn’t expecting that! Such a shame for Danny Davis ? #halfpipe#Sochi2014

Rory Campbell@Rory_photo

#ShaunWhite had been dethroned yesss iPod get in @iouriamazing amazing run! #Sochi2014#menshalfpipe #snowboarding

Adam Zizien@Zizien28

Hirano SECOND!! At 15 yo! #halfpipe #Sochi2014 #talent #Olympics

Ben Knowles@BenKnowles94

Sean White, no olympic medal! No medal in the super pipe! Unbelievable! Fantastic competition to watch! #Sochi2014 #bbcsochi

Jack Ferris@j_ferris

My word that was outrageous #halfpipe

Duthie:
Two medals for Japan, but the important one goes to Switzerland by way of Russia. Even though he’s not representing them, expect the locals to lay claim to iPod like never before.
6:33

Jessica Warwick@Jessicatt_xx

That was intense #Sochi2014 #snowboarding #halfpipe

Cass Gem Leach@CassGemLeach

What an amazing #snowboard #halftime comp! Well done #bbcsochi on the commentary, refreshing, enthusiastic, knowledgeable & exciting!

Matt Schubmehl@Snoop6425

In disbelief right now #shaunwhite :(

Whitelines@whitelinesmag

@colinholden points out that’s the first EVER Olympic halfpipe podium without an American on it!

Silvia Mittermüller@SilviaMittermul

What an incredibly intense final! Congrats @iouriamazing , Ayumu &Taku. Watching this #olympic#halfpipe thing made my day.

Andrew Balcom@AndrewBalcom

Gone are the days when US dominated #halfpipe. White was the only American to complete a run while Podladtchikov & Hirano killed it. #Sochi
Matteo Sestili

Dio è morto. #shaunwhite #sochi2014 #halfpipe
6:35

Sapelkina Anastasia

?????????! ??? ??????! ??? #congratulations#sochi2014#halfpipe#snowboarding#happiness
6:35

Harry Jones@hazminge

15 year old Japanese kid takes the silver medal in #halfpipe at #sochi , beating Shaun White and I’m sitting here scratching my bollocks.

voncount69

Holy fuck what an upset! @shaunwhite misses out on a medal while I Pod takes the gold! ??. Unreal #snowboarding #halfpipe #sochi
6:35

Meagan Dullack@Meagan1Dullack

Honestly, these #Olympics have been insanely #unpredictable and the conditions today were off for everyone. #respect #snowboarding #halfpipe

Jamie Nicholls@jamienichollsuk

Ayumu Hirano you are a #legend haha!

Comment From Jonathan France
Phenomenal final.
6:37

Duthie:
Agreed.

Comment From Flugeryl
And a new era begins…gone is the white vinyl…bring on the golden iPod
6:37

Comment From A. G. Lounge
Interesting there were no triples, maybe Shaun/Ayumu will release the footage now?
6:38

Ricky Anzai

JAPAN taking home the Silver and Bronze!! CLUTCH performance by 15 and 18 year old men.
#olympics #halfpipe #nottooshabby #newgeneration
6:38

Ed:
So Shaun White has been de-throned on the biggest stage. Where does he go from here? No doubt the riders – not least on the American team, who know a thing or two about building halfpipes – will have much, much more to say about the conditions in Sochi. As for El Blanco, the ginger ninja, the Flying Tomato… does he pick himself up and put himself through another punishing training cycle? Does he switch to skateboarding full time? Or call time on his riding career – which has started to look like a job, even a grind – and focus on his many business interests? Time will tell, but the events under those floodlights tonight will echo through snowboarding for months and years to come I’m sure.
6:42

Duthie:
With iPod’s victory, there are still only two countries that have ever won men’s Olympic halfpipe gold: Switzerland and the USA. 3-2 to the Yanks.
6:43

Ed:
Good stat Duthie, good stat.

Body Soul Sport

Picabo Street @PicaboStreet 2m
Shaun white got shut out of the half pipe at the Olympics…… Let the whining begin!!!!! #halfpipe #ShaunWhite
6:43

Kate Radway@K_Radway

Tomatoes everywhere are sad #ShaunWhite #FlyingTomato pic.twitter.com/PETbxnmBdt

Gary Bott@RevBott

Loving the snowboarding commentators! As rare as an alligator giving birth! #bbcsochi #fb

i_am Megu

??????!!!!???????? ; ; ?!!!!!??.????TT #where #snow #olympics #russia #halfpipe #father #medal #silver #copper #sports #great #japan #japanese #congratulations #ayumuhirano #hiraoka #sochi #?? #?????
6:44

Duthie:
Japan looking unstoked…

Comment From Brenns
Anyone prepared to start thinking about what it means to have Sage and Iouri as the two new faces of snowboarding for the masses?
6:44

Duthie:
Not sure you can lump them together – very different riders.

Whitelines@whitelinesmag

Wow! Just wow. What did we just witness? No-one was predicting that. What a final.

Tiffany McGowan@MsTanywral

No matter if he wasn’t his best, #ShaunWhite still has more medals and accomplishments than most of the haters complaining. Give it a rest.

Duthie:
A fair point. Three golds from three games would have been an unbelievable achievement. He’s still got a creaking trophy cabinet at home, and one hell of a legacy. But that’s irrelevant to the ‘haters’, so they’re unlikely to give it a rest.

Comment From hamish duncan
Unbelievable half pipe final! Great live blogging whitelines! that along with the cracking Ed Leigh banter made it all the more enjoyable!
6:49

Jed Nendez@Xpower

Dear American snowboarding friends: where is your god now? #ShaunWhite

Kilee Garrity@kiles_77

Still a champion in my eyes #ShaunWhite #Sochi2014 #Olympics #halfpipepic.twitter.com/6Qs9OPG45R

Comment From _Pengwinning
Whether the pipe was shitty or not (tee hee hee – shitty pipe) all the contenders rode the same pipe in each stage. The state of the pipe wasn’t really acceptable but those winning riders didn’t stack it when most of the rest did. And threw down hammers to boot. Simples.
6:55

Billy Morgan

Well pipe finals was crazy. don’t think iv watched something so intence!
6:58

Jenny Jones@jennyjonessnow

How sick was Ayumu in the Olympic men’s halfpipe finals. Amazing riding! #bumpypipe #huckit
besnowing

???, ???! ? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???!!!!!!!! #gold #halfpipe #exrussianguy #emocions #??????????????????????
7:00

Isaac Tucker

The men’s snowboarding half pipe was one of the coolest things ever!!!???? #snow #snowboarding #cool #halfpipe #sochi2014 #gold #silver #bronze #fall #lol #sochi #swag
7:00

josh hill@joshill4

That yolo flip was something else #halfpipe #Olympics2014

Amy Rynsoever@AmRyn85

Praise the Olympic gods, someone finally knocked the smug #ShaunWhite down to where he belongs! #Olympics2014

Fugls@sicaafugls

Everybody knows that you are splendid. #ShaunWhite

Ed:
^^^ Shaun White contines to divide opinion even in defeat ^^^
7:11

Adam@AdamPyke

“He’s got a stare that could curdle ice cream”. #snowboardcommentary #bbcsochi

Dmitry Chernyshenko@DChernyshenko

That was hot and cool #halfpipe men’s final! #Sochi2014 #extreme pic.twitter.com/7thwzAZ4Ko

KBK@leeechang0603

#ShaunWhite has a genius for snowboarding, but he is not god’s child, he is a man..anyway congrats for Japanese cool young guys!!

Duthie:
“halfpiper” – Clare Balding’s getting the hang of this skiboarding thing.
7:19

Ed:
Right then. What a night. We’re going to wrap up the live blog, take a deep breath and try to pick through the wreckage of that controversial pipe. But before all that, it’s time for a beer.

Read our full report here: http://whitelin.es/Sochi2014HalfpipeFinalReport

And don’t forget to check back in tomorrow when it all starts again in the women’s. Think I’ll need a new heart before then.