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Welcome to Whitelines‘ live blog of the 2014 Winter Olympics women’s halfpipe semi-final in Sochi. We’ll be kicking off at 3pm 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 semi-final works:

• 6 riders have qualified from each of the two qualification heats.
• The 12 riders will have two runs each, with their highest score counting (startlist).
• The 6 highest-scoring riders from each heat will advance straight to the final (5.30pm GMT), where they’ll meet the 6 automatic qualifiers in a 12-rider event.

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

Wednesday February 12, 2014

Ed:
Women’s semi final. T-minus 5 mins…
2:55

Sam:
Aaaargh! Stupid halfpipe tearing us away from the gay luge….
2:56

Iyashi Bedrock Spa@iyashibedrckspa

@KatieTsuyuki You looked great today in your #halfpipe event. Way to go on getting into the Semi-Finals! #goodluck #semifinal #Olympics2014

Duncan Wright@dwright75

You do have to wonder what was being smoked when they first began doubles luge, two men sliding on a tray? #Sochi2014 #bbcsochi

Doris@isthismental

The luge #sochitrolley style! @BBCSochiTrolley #bbcsochi pic.twitter.com/pjTbqltwm2

Duthie:
Who’s going through to meet Torah, Kelly and Hannah? I reckon Sartka’s a safe bet, as is Katilyn Farrington, but otherwise it’s going to be hard to call.
3:00

Pipe looking a bit better once again, now the sun’s going down. But will it hold up?
3:00
ZEAL Optics

@sarkasnow gets ready to #goforthegold again today #throughourlenses in #snowboard #halfpipe at the #olympics in #Sochi. Hear her story on blog.zealoptics.com. Good Luck #Sarka!!
3:00

sam haddad:
Yep agree with Sarka and Kaitlyn, totally hoping so too!
3:01

Sam:
The first rider is dropping, here we go…
3:01

Ed:
Nice to be here with Sam Haddad from Cooler Mag.
3:02

Sam:
Katie Tsuyuki not making it too far over the podium, not a huge score either
3:02

Duthie:
Now it’s the feather girl, Stephanie Magiros. Run 1 for her.
3:02

Aussie meets native American
3:03

Duthie:
Busts out of the gates with another Michalchuk, but scrubs further down the pipe. Not enough rotation, and surly not enough points. Nice Alley pop rodeo to finish though!
3:03
Chase Silva

#womancrushwednesday @hannahteter Good luck in the pipe finals tonight
3:04

hottieharlee0122

I’m so proud of this guy. Even through the terrible half pipe conditions he did amazing! And let’s not forget, eventhough it wasn’t in finals he still got the best score of the night. Don’t give up Shaun!!! I love you????? #shaunwhite #sochi #snowboarding #halfpipe #idol
3:04

Sam:
He couldn’t hear them…

Sam:
Sarka Pancochova dropping next, what’s the Shark attack got in store?
3:04

sam haddad:
Wish the women’s pipe was the day before the men’s rather than the day after, partly for pipe quality but also as it would seem like they were going bigger!
3:05

Ed:
Has she got a lens in there?
3:05

sam haddad:
GO SARKA! Such a fan of hers
3:05

Sam:
Nice front 5 from Sarka, stacking it on the last hit, all down to the next run for her now…
3:05

Sam:
Huge smiles waiting for her score, what we love
3:06

Duthie:
Celemence Grimal now, one of two Frechies in the demi-pipe demi-finale.
3:06

toddrichards@btoddrichards

The women are getting set and prepped for a showdown in the pipe. I hope to see some elegant selfies tonight from behind the scenes.

That method is a thing of beauty.
3:07

Shelbi Cook

I don’t think that Shawn white sucks, I just don’t like him. #dontlikehim #cocky #shawnwhite #halfpipe #snowboarding #olympics #like #follow #bye
3:07

Duthie:
No joie, she’s down. Lots of stacks so far.
3:07

Duthie:
That was Grim – only 14 points.
3:08

Sam:
Alexandra Duckworth from Canadia next up, strong chance of a good run here
3:08

Sarka is rad.
3:08
Erica Faifer

#dannydavis#ilpiustiloso#ciaoproprio#sochi#halfpipe
3:08

sam haddad:
Shame there are no Team GB riders representing. Can’t think of any coming up through the ranks either
3:08

Ed:
No, a real shame since Lesley McKenna was such a trail blazer

Duthie:
Going to be all about slopestyle until there’s easier access to big halfpipes I reckon,

Sam:
Great crippler to start but again jelly legs kick in halfway down
3:09

Rob Lanceley@robboMugabe Retweeted by Torah Bright

@TorahBright On Xbox Amped you said “Come take a run with me” over and over. Aussies all up at 4am, we’re all with you, kick its ass!

Sam:
Almost half way through the first runs now, not many runs landed, Duckworth gets a 32.5 for now
3:10

Duthie:
Rana Okada, Run 1. Japan’s pipe riders have been on fire so far.
3:10

Duckworth styling out a melon
3:10

Whaddayagonnado?
3:11

Duthie:
Going Godzilla-big on these hits, but there’s a mistake in the middle. Might still be enough, she only needs top 6.
3:11

sam haddad:
Just had a wave of excitement about the final later
3:12

Ed:
Who’s your money on Sam?

Duthie:
She’s in first, and not even 60 points!
3:12

Sam:
Sun Zhifeng dropping now, doesn’t look like the women have to do too much to get through as it stands right now
3:12

Duthie:
Someone needs to get a clean run down, only Katie has done one so far.
3:13

Sam:
And she’s in second!
3:13

AUS Olympic Team@AUSOlympicTeam

.@stephmagiros scores 26.5 after not landing her final jump. Needs a big second run to make Final #GoAUS #Halfpipe pic.twitter.com/yBlFFX71TY

Definitely not looking like a baddie in Mortal Kombat. No.
3:13

Sam:
More standard pipe work from Sun, this heat needs some different tricks to spice it up
3:14

sam haddad:
For tonight my heart says Torah but head says Kelly Clark, how about you?
3:14

AFP Photo Department@AFPphoto

#Sochi2014 Czech Sarka Pancochova carries her smashed helmet after crashing during the Snowboard Slopestyle Final pic.twitter.com/Qg1Ab1npem

Duthie:
Bit of context for Sarka’s performance in this pipe. Hard as nails.

Sam:
I want Torah to do it but I think Queralt Castellet might just have the old hands
3:15

Duthie:
Mirabelle Thovex is next to drop. France on course again.
3:15

Ed:
Torah all the way. These judges have definitely rewarded style and clean landings over the past few days. Torah has both in spades.
3:15

sam haddad:
Sarka was always so “go big or go home”, seems to have a lot more control these days, but wow yeah what a slam that was
3:15

Duthie:
Heart says Torah, head says Kelly.
3:15

Sam:
Candide’s sister!
3:15
Sonja Schneider

How Iouri Podladtchikov won the gold medal yesterday. #olympia2014 #halfpipe #switzerland i still get goosepumps
3:15

sam haddad:
I hope you’re right about Torah Ed, she’s def the women’s snowboarder’s snowboarder
3:16

Skyler Wilder@NorthWestWilder

Yeah @sarkasnow you are riding great! Don’t worry, you wi nail that 720 in your 2nd & final run of the #halfpipe semifinal! #sochi2014

Nicole Fiorelli@coleyf13

I want to make a dance video for Torah Bright to show her my support for her when she’s competing in Sochi

sam haddad:
Looking fwd to seeing her bordercross dabble too
3:16

Shades of Kevin Pearce there. Beautiful!
3:16

Duthie:
She’s in first! Not a great run but 70.75 is a comfortable top score right now.
3:16

Sam:
Ursina Haller, can she make the final like her bro did yesterday?
3:17

Sam:
Going big to start, can she carry her speed?
3:17

Duthie:
She saved that arm-wave pretty well. Could almost have passed for a ‘raise-the-roof’
3:18

Sam:
Big all the way down but not looking too comfortable but that could do it for the finals at this rate
3:18

sam haddad:
Almost wound down the windows there
3:18

NBC Los Angeles@NBCLA

#TeamUSA snowboarders Kelly Clark and Hannah Teter advance to women’s halfpipe final.4.nbcla.com/1cw48ve pic.twitter.com/dyBlirMGkg

Ed:
Ursina looks a little like she’s leaning back. The pipe is the ultimate test of technique.
3:18

Joe Sharpe@Joe_Sharpe

There is really no point in me attempting uni work while the Winter Olympics is on! #Sochi2014#bbcsochi

Thad@wiredwiz

Thanks for creating such a shitty #halfpipe #Russia #Olympics2014

Duthie:
Now it’s two Chinese riders in a row. First up, Jiayu Liu. Run 1.
3:19

Mr Average Speaks@MrAveragespeaks

#bbcsochi the suits these blokes are wearing doing the luge aren’t leaving much to the imagination. Smuggling moles down there.

Ed:
Liu can do it!
3:19

Duthie:
Something very Chinese about that, by which I mean all their riders are playing it safe. Standard frontside, cab and the occasional backside spin.
3:20

Sam:
Prediction: Li Shuang will do the stock China run now: back to back 5s, back to back 7s bookended by straight airs.
3:21

Duthie:
81.25. Conservative run rewarded with a decent score.
3:21

Someone made the point earlier that every Chinese athlete has done this with their Nike gloves. What gives?
3:21

Sam:
Come on China, show us something better
3:21

Stocky steeze from Liu Shuang.
3:22

Ed:
Get ready for the mitt shot…
3:22

Sam:
I was close, carbon copy of the last run from Liu Jiayu. BORING!
3:22

Duthie:
Was that a replay…?
3:22

Duthie:
Even threw up the mitts again.
3:22

sam haddad:
Lesley McKenna once told me the Chinese riders learn a trick then add style later, and they learn from youtube vids of I think it was Kelly Clark
3:23

I will not bow down to any corporate sponsor.
3:23

Duthie:
Kaitlyn Farrington, Run 1. The American is last to drop. Can she join her compatriots in the final?
3:23

Sam:
How do you mark that against the last run? 80.00 dead, probably enough for another tedious replay in the final
3:23

Ed:
Ed Leigh: “The Chinese riders seem *obsessed* with their mittens”
3:23

Sam:
This girl can shred
3:23

Sam:
Best run of the semis so far. Abide.
3:24

Duthie:
Some nice creativity from Kaitlyn! Front 1 into the pipe, so kicked off with a switch back 5. Alley oop, back 5 and back 9 stalefish to finish.
3:24

sam haddad:
Yep liked that a lot esp the stalefish
3:25

Duthie:
87.50, she takes the lead.
3:25

Duthie:
And well deserved.
3:25

Sweet alley-oop from Kaitlyn Farrington
3:25

alisa mokler harper@amokharp

“Gets that toe grab in nicely” #announcerfail #halfpipe @NBCOlympics next time please get someone from snoon that Andy Murray’s interest in the Winter Games appears to have waned.

?laTula

#????2014 #sochi2014 ? ???????-????? #??????????? #?????????? #????????????? #halfpipe ?? ????????????? ?? ?????????. ? ?????????????? #australia ????????????
3:26

Sam:
Might be here for Torah…

Duthie:
Was that the least enthusiastic crowd shot so far? Give us a smile guys!
3:26

You can rely on the yanks
3:26

Jonathan Weaver@Jonathan_Weaver

One of the pipe slippers falls over in the pipe whilst side slipping. They must have the professionals in tonight. #halfpipe

Good view down the coping of this controversial halfpipe
3:27

sam haddad:
Wonder how many Aussies are staying up for Torah? Final starts at 430am Sydney time
3:28

Duthie:
Just wandering back from the pub at that time, surely?

Kilgore@kilgore7

Siinäpä tärkeimmät! @niinistop: Katselen naisten half-pipea ja mietin klitorista. #sotshi #halfpipe#klitoris

Sam:
A Finnish fan here I believe?

sam haddad:
Liked the story of Sage calling his brother Blaze at 3am about his trick selection
3:30

Duthie:
Here comes run 2. Biggest surprise is that Sarka still not in the top 6. She’ll have one more chance. First up, Katie Tsuyuki of Canada.
3:30

Ed:
Very few tweets coming in right now, possibly becuase of the time difference to Aus and the US. Seems few people worldwide are watching this, relatively speaking.
3:30

Duthie:
Semis was least popular part of the men’s event too.
3:31

Ed:
True story. Night before the slopestyle finals, WL art director Tim Whitlock had a dream in which Billy Morgan just looked at him and said: “Sage Kotsenburg”
3:31

sam haddad:
That is AMAZING

sam haddad:
We’re biased but slopestyle women’s semis were WAY more exciting
3:31

Sam:
That is not how you ride pipe, sorry Katie. Apart from the handplant, that ruled.
3:31

Ed:
Unfortunately he didn’t follow it up with a trip to the bookies
3:31

Duthie:
Not a pretty run from Katie – apart from the handplant.
3:31

Ed:
I’m still buzzing about Jamie Anderson’s switch back 5. So sick.
3:32

Duthie:
56.25, her score improves but she’s not going to the final.
3:32

Parkington Sisters

Our amazing cousin Hannah Teter is moving on to the Olympic snowboarding halfpipe FINALS in Sochi!! Send her good energy and cheer her on at 12:30pm today!!! XO

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…
3:32

Sam:
Step Magiros stepping up now, hasn’t dislodged the emu from her helmet yet
3:32
?laTula

#????2014 #sochi2014 #????????????? #??????????? #?????????? #???????? #???????? ??????? ???????? ????? #???????????? #????????
3:33

Duthie:
“The Mini Cooper of snowboarders” – Ed Leigh.
3:33

Sam:
She’s down. You need to go higher than the coping to do that.
3:33

That moment when time slows down…
3:34

Whitelines@whitelinesmag

@SnowEdLeigh work a dessert reference in there, for us!

sam haddad:
Wonder what Elena Hight and Gretchen Bleiler are feeling right now, they’d have both definitely made the final but couldn’t make the US team of 4 spots
3:34

Ed:
Yep, as in the men’s the USA has a wealth of depth but only 4 spots. This is Terje’s argument for the Olympics not being the pinnacle… http://whitelines.com/features/comment/terje-haakonsen-why-i-still-hate-the-olympics.html

Sam:
Bye Stephanie! We’ll miss the hair in the finals though
3:35

Duthie:
Sarka dropping in! Go on…
3:35

Aussie version of the mitt shot less corporate, more patriotic
3:35

Duthie:
Gutted… the Shark is soup.
3:35

Sam:
Sarka’s going home now, really sad about that one. Shark Attack!
3:35

Sam:
You could say she’s fin-ished Duthie
3:36

sam haddad:
Damn shame that
3:36

Duthie:
Such a shame, she was gilling it at times.
3:36

sam haddad:
Such a rad Czech ambassador too
3:36

Duthie:
Big smile all the way though, as per.
3:36

Sam:
Clemence Grimald also bites the dust. Slushy dust.
3:37

sam haddad:
Dommage
3:38

Sam:
Oui oui Sam
3:38

Ed:
Reader verdict on Sarka…
3:38

Graham Cox

What a trooper, didn’t expect to see her in the HP… Respect
3:38

Duthie:
Alexandra Duckworth next. Canada dropping in, eh.
3:39
Kimberly Myslicki

Semi Finals! Soooo proud of you @kt_athletics #womens #halfpipe #snowboarding #sochi2014 #canada
3:39

First Coast News

Bold statement: Switzerland’s Podladtchikov says he could have won the gold in halfpipe with just his looks. http://fcnews.tv/1jxc8Eh
3:39

Haha.

Duthie:
Argh she’s messed it up. So long. She ditched the maple leaf jacket – must still be toasty in Sochi.
3:40

Sam:
She’s ducked it there, or hucked it?
3:40

Sam:
Rana Okada – The most stylish of the Asian invasion now. Let’s see some of Kazu’s spirit here
3:41

Sam:
Average run there but with a sweet claim at the end, but in this field that could be enough for the finals
3:42

sam haddad:
Yeah still enough surely
3:43

Sam:
She scores 70, enough for sixth and on the bubble, now the Chinese carbon copys begin…
3:43

Duthie:
Note to cameramen – close-up shots of the snow don’t do your organisation any favours.
3:44

sam haddad:
hahaha

Duthie:
Zhifeng Sun, Run 2. Not the first time that the Sun’s been hitting the pipe today. Can she cause as much damage?
3:44

Sam:
Remember: back-to-back 5s, back-to-back 7s and two straight airs complete with crap grabs
3:44

Duthie:
Sam “Mystic Meg” McMahon was calling those tricks before she did them.
3:45

Jonathan Weaver@Jonathan_Weaver

French team with two coaches in ski boots at a snowboard Olympic pipe event. @fluofun#Sochi2014

Duthie:
But she bailed on the 720 – again – and she’s gone.
3:45

sam haddad:
What is the Olympic age cut off? Why could she ride aged 14 and Chloe Kim, the awesome US 13 year old, not?
3:45

Sam:
The Chinese coaches must be kidding here, how can you enter four riders with the same run?
3:45

Sam:
#futuredeathofsnowboarding
3:45

sam haddad:
Wonder how many they left at home with that exact same run
3:46

Sam:
Yes Sam! Feel the hate, let the darkside take over…

Jonathan Weaver@Jonathan_Weaver

Would they let Rugby coaches take charge of Man Utd? I doubt it. So why are skiers coaching Snowboarding at the Olympics?

sam haddad:
Woodward at Southampton aside!

Ed:
Great shout Sam!

Sam:
Mirabelle down but as it stands she should be through already
3:47

Sam:
Four more runs but all the riders droping are already through
3:48

Sam:
Victory laps? PLease something dfferent
3:48

sam haddad:
Not been the best ad for women’s pipe riding has it

Duthie:
Ursina Haller, Run 2. The Swiss Miss dropping in, not that it matters much now. Only running order up for grabs.
3:48

osamu007

#sochi #snowboard #halfpipe
3:49

Duthie:
Nice tailgrab – shame about the landing. 4th will be her best.
3:49

Sam:
Deja vu ahead: back-to-back 5s, back-to-back 7s and two straight airs. Watch it happen
3:50

Duthie:
Take it away.
3:50

sam haddad:
Stupid question alert but can you not build a pipe in a snowdome?
3:50

Sam:
Too small Sam

Sam:
Liu Jiayu dropping
3:50

Duthie:
Yep, that would have been pretty Jiayu-dropping Sam.
3:50

Sam:
Went for the front nine but it was too far outside her comfort zone, props for trying something new now
3:51

Duthie:
Shuang Li up next.
3:51

Duthie:
This just in from Wayne and Garth: “She’s a babe! Shuang!”
3:51

Duthie:
Stepping it up to the frontside 900 but sketches it. Kaitlyn Farrington wins the semi-final with a run to spare.
3:53

Not. Pretty.
3:53

Duthie:
56.75, she’s still in third.
3:53

Kaitlyn couldn’t resist checking out her own intro video. Andy why wouldn’t you?
3:55

Duthie:
And that’s that – joining the automatic qualifiers are Kaitlyn Farrington, Liu Jiayu, Shaung Li, Ursina Haller, Mirabelle Thovex and Rana Okada.
3:57

3:57

sam haddad:
Don’t think we’ve seen anything to upset the podium there
3:57

Ed:
Kaitlyn not in with a shout?

Duthie:
So it’s on to the final where they’ll meet Kelly Clark, Queralt Castallet, Sophie Rodriguez, Torah Bright, Hannah Teter and Cai Xuetong.
3:58

3:58

Colin Holden@colinholden

@Birchy1992 @murraybuchan a shining light of western culture in this fabricated Russian ski resort. #spotted pic.twitter.com/mzNxMV7iNJ

sam haddad:
Maybe Kaitlyn I guess & yesterday’s men’s final did show us anything can happen
4:00

Ed:
Or not… we called it 4 years ago ;) http://whitelines.com/news/guy-shaun-white.html

sam haddad:
Skillz. You think that’s the last Olympics we’ll see El Blanco at?
4:02

Duthie:
Probably. Reckon he’ll duke it out for a couple more years though. Still easily capable of winning X Games etc.

Duthie:
That’s all for us just now – the full report from the semi-final will be up shortly.

Don’t forget to join us again at 5.30pm GMT for the final:http://whitelin.es/OlympicWomensHalfpipeFinalLiveBlog
4:04