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.
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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