KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia — David Wise won the gold medal in the Olympic debut of halfpipe skiing Tuesday, cutting through heavy snow to easily outclass the field.

The 23-year-old American scored a 92 on his first run through the halfpipe clogged by wet, soggy rain and snow all night.

Additional Photos

David Wise of the United States gets air during the men’s ski halfpipe final at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia.
David Wise of the United States gets air during the men’s ski halfpipe final at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. The Associated Press

Mike Riddle of Canada took silver with a 90.6 and Kevin Rolland of France won bronze.

Wise came into the Sochi Olympics with three straight Winter X Games titles to his credit.

Variable conditions have played a part in many of the action-sport events. A week earlier, Shaun White had trouble on the same halfpipe and finished fourth.

Not so for Wise, whose first-run score held up as the snow got heavier.

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