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Welcome to Whitelines‘ live blog of the 2014 Winter Olympics men’s halfpipe qualification in Sochi. We’ll be kicking off at 10am 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 halfpipe qualification works:

• The 43 riders have been divided into two heats. Heat 1 (startlist) begins at 10am, Heat 2 (startlist) at 12pm. The UK’s Ben Kilner and Dom Harington are both in Heat 1.
• The 3 highest-scoring riders from each heat will advance straight to the final (5.30pm GMT).
• The next 6 highest-scoring from each heat will duke it out in the semi-finals (3pm GMT), and the top 6 from that will join the automatic qualifiers in a 12-man final.

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.

Monday February 10, 2014

Duthie:
Hi all. We’ll be live-blogging the men’s halfpipe qualifiers from 10am GMT – in the meantime, leave your comments, predictions etc using the above form, and we’ll publish our favourites during the event.
8:47

Duthie:
And have a chuckle at these video profiles for the top four contenders:http://whitelin.es/TheSochiShowdown
9:14

Comment From Ukboarder
Ahh the heat of death.. Good luck guys
9:46
Tuesday February 11, 2014

Comment From Jody Koenders
Don’t forget the other flatlanders, GO DUTCHIES!!! @Dolfvanderwal & @Dimidejong
8:17

Duthie:
Breaking news from Sochi – the pipe’s not in great shape, and qualification may be delayed or even cancelled.
8:56

toddrichards@btoddrichards

Half pipe drama update: new formats are being discussed to maximize the pipes shape and quality. Stay tuned !

Comment From Fraz
It’s started snowing in Banchory. That has gotta be a good sign.
8:58

Duthie:
Maybe they should have held the games in Aberdeenshire!

Skiers now side-slipping the middle of the pipe to try and get it smooth. Just got this pic from Mark McMorris’ brother Craig. He simply says ‘Desperation’…
9:08

toddrichards@btoddrichards

Here is the latest: qualification round may be nixed and everyone goes straight to semi’s. Then they would do a cut to 12 for the final
Stu Soars

It becomes a good pipe or it gets the hose again… Watering the pipe and treating it to some chems. #olympics #halfpipe
9:11

ajlaavdagic

wish this handsome guy good luck on the pipe today?? #OL2014 #sochi #halfpipe #snowboarding @travelindan #dannydavis ? #favorite
9:11
Brad J

Time for some #olympic #halfpipe #usa #teamusa #represent #sochi #olympicgames #russia #myview #stoked #ussa #ussnowboarding #gregbretz #taylorgold #shaunwhite #dannydavis #menshalfpipe #itson
9:11

toddrichards@btoddrichards

@sagekotsenburg are you coming back to Sochi? Reason being, I’m all out of clean underwear so…

Duthie:
This just in from the BBC:

“Shaun White and his fellow snowboarders will compete in the halfpipe at 10:00 GMT, as scheduled, despite earlier worries about the conditions of the course”
9:15

Skyler Wilder@NorthWestWilder

They are salting/watering the #halfpipe right now & about to make official update as to today’s schedule #sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/P1uAuLBcOz

Sandra Sully@Sandra_Sully

Snow ploughs STILL working on the #halfpipe just hours out from competition #winterolympics#sochi2014 @SochiOnTen pic.twitter.com/AL8TTPJdCV

sage kotsenburg@sagekotsenburg

@btoddrichards if I come back with undies can I play video games at your hotel?

Duthie:
Meanwhile over in the ski slopestyle, Tim Warwood is sounding a little subdued – possibly been given a talking to after the complaints the BBC received.
9:19

Duthie:
If you want to show your support for the job he, Ed Leigh and Aimee Fuller did, here’s where you do it: https://ssl.bbc.co.uk/faqs/forms/?eid=&id=OAO7IO3E477KR9F8P33DUPKDAS&mid=&uid=565518718
9:19
Yumi

?????????~?? ?? ???~(*´?`)?? #sochi2014 #halfpipe
9:19

Duthie:
BREAKING NEWS FROM WHITELINES HQ – Ed’s cack-handed attempt to use a betting website has the rest of the team in stitches.
9:24

Duthie:
We can hear the cogs in his brain from here as he tries to figure it all out.
9:27

??????@KennedyMLB

MT @NorthWestWilder Salting/watering #halfpipe right now & about to make official update#sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/ucX75ur7u7

Marie Dalmark-Lund

?i aften? Ja, tak @shaunwhite ! ?? #sochi #ol #halfpipe #go #mingamleflamme
9:29

chernovchernov

??????? ?????? ?? #halfpipe. ??????? ????????????, ????????? ? ?????. ???????. ? ??????????? ???? ??????!
9:29

Sam:
We’re still not sure that there is a pipe, but apparently it’s business as usual in Sochi – Halfpipe T minus 30 minutes
9:30

Duthie:
Great stuff from Illicit Snowboarding about BBC-gate:http://blag.illicitsnowboarding.com/2014/02/go-huck-yourselves-olympic-snowboarding.html
9:33

Duthie:
After much hair-pulling and arithmetic, Ed now explaining what happened with the betting site. Sound like he’ll be very, very happy if a certain rider takes the gold.
9:35

toddrichards@btoddrichards

Update: people are practicing. “What does this mean, what’s the significance…I DONT KNOW !” -Pee Wee Herman

Mungo Finlayson@mkaf89

Good luck #BenKilner #WinterOlympics #snowboarding #Sochi2014 #banchory

Jamie Nicholls@jamienichollsuk

Haha! Sorry @shaun_white just had to ? good luck today!! #Sochi2014 #Olympics #justhuckitpic.twitter.com/RjkZPQW2PC

Duthie:
Jamie Nicholls photobomb.

toddrichards@btoddrichards

Ok hot of the presses: the event will go as planned. Format is intact. Starting first round at 2* sched subject to sudden drastic changes.

ClassicFrontPages@CFPages

#CoveroftheWeek “#Olympic Preview” by #WhiteLInes #Snowboarding – #Sochi2014 #Sport#HalfPipe #Photography pic.twitter.com/SAX67bbaRH

Ed:
Nice one guys! Never heard of ‘Classic Front pages’ but I’ll claim it for shooting that one – as will Ben Kilner no doubt for starring in it :)

Ed:
Aaaaand…. I’m back in the room. Morning folks. Basically there’s a reason why I didn’t do very well at GCSE maths, and the good folk at Bwin have just exploited it.
9:39

Ed:
Let’s hope my years of accumulated snowboard knowledge are enough to outwit the sly bookies who just did me out of an extra 15 quid.
9:40

Brandon Lemons@Brandon_E

All the best to the Frends including @theDDeadshow and @gregbretzz! ??????. #Halfpipe#Olympics2014

Duthie:
Just over 15 minutes to go: send us your comments!. Be it predictions, support for Ben & Dom, your own tales of betting mishaps… anything goes.
9:44

Shauna Wimer@sdwimer

@charleswimer100 Tuesday @shaun_white will attempt history w/a #halfpipe #threepeat.tw.nbcsports.com/2iY pic.twitter.com/ykPCRPC8Ig
.

Knut Cayce@ModdityDodds

Bright’s brother says #halfpipe is ‘retarded’ – Yahoo7 Sport au.sports.yahoo.com/news/bright-39…#Sochi

Andrew Rodger@NotAndrewRodger

For a place with no real training facility’s we are good at the Winter Olympics! #backthebrits

Duthie:
Most people see this as a battle between Shaun White, Iouri Podlatchikov, Ayumu Hirano and Danny Davis. Check out our short video previews of all four:http://whitelin.es/TheSochiShowdown
9:48

Sam:
Horrendous bails on the women’s ski slopestyle, look away…
9:50

Mongo@Mongofrog

Whats the deal with the Halfpipe ? #unhappyriders #halfpipe #Sochi2014

Sam:
No one’s sure…

Ed:
The deal is, Mongo, they’ve chosen to host the Winter Olympics on the surface of the Sun.

killing_sata

Let’s wish luck to my friend @sergeitarasov, participating in the Olympics Halfpipe competions. Live translation starts now. Go Sergey! #olympics #snowboarding #halfpipe #??????????????
9:51

Duthie:
Exclusive quite from Putin just in: “What is problem? No problem here”.
9:51

Duthie:
Settle down ski commentators, lest ye feel the wrath of The 300.
9:53

toddrichards@btoddrichards

Pipe is on ! Looks like it’s running a lot better than last night. Question is will it hold up to 100…instagram.com/p/kRX9xwlMke/

Duthie:
Ashamed to say we got pretty excited at that zero spin in the ski slopestyle final.
9:56

Milos

Wish you a golden day! Good luck! @travelindan #sochi #halfpipe #gold
9:57

Boots@skelators

@theDDeadshow w/ switch method. kim lamarre w/ switch zero spin…. looks easy. so hard. #sochi#slopestyle #halfpipe

pgpola

Go Shaun! #Snowboard #Halpipe #Sochi2014
10:02

Duthie:
Looks like there’ll be a bit of a delay to the start – skiers still working on getting the pipe smooth.
10:02

Ed:
We have a message coming through for Ed Leigh from a small handful of killjoys…
10:03

10:04

Sam:
Arthur Longo about to be the first rider dropping, the conditions look, well, rather than sheet ice it’s just sheeeeeet…
10:06

Sam:
Here he is, not looking stoked
10:07

Ed:
Worrying moment there as Ed Leigh mistakenly called Arthur Longo on course. The guy was barely getting any air, but turned out it was a forerunner. It’s not looking good though. Super slow :(
10:07
_sprueche_123_

#Today #halfpipe #Iouri #much #happiness #you #can #do #it Iouri heute ist dein Tag! Die ganze Schweiz steht hinter dir, bring diesen Sieg nach Hause. Viel Glück und liebe Grüsse aus der Schweiz. #good#luck :* @iouripodladtchikov
10:08

Sam:
iPods obviously the Apple of your eye eh?

Sam:
Arthur Longo run 1 – fs 7, bs 9, fs 9, bs 5, dub 10, alley-oop rodeo, not a bad start but not spectacular
10:09

Sam:
Tragic looking course and pretty stale commentary, Russia and the BBC teaming up to kill the Lympic spirit. 79.25 for Longo
10:10

Ed:
Who needs ice? Ayumu just went MAHOOSIVE!
10:11

Sam:
Ayumu Hirano – The Assassin – dropping, run 1 – HUGE bs air! Going too big for the camera to catch up with him, loads of doubles there, massive run
10:11

Sam:
92.25 for Ayumu! Definitely in the finals
10:12

That’s a rather large first hit. And he’s only 15. Wow.
10:12

Sam:
Dolph vann de Varr went next but hits the top deck, he’ll have to make it up on his second run
10:14

Sam:
Yomah Bassami run 1 – floaty spins but the pipe looking pretty fucked already
10:14

Ed:
Dolf taking his flatland heritage too literally there – he rode the coping!
10:15

Sam:
71.25 for Bassami, third for now
10:16

Duthie:
Greg Bretz, Run 1. This is the second Olympics for the American. First of the patchwork quilts to drop…
10:16

Duthie:
Just the one double cork from Greg – 9s and 10s all round. Not much joy to this event so far. This could be a long morning…
10:17

Sam:
Riders certainly don’t look stoked
10:17

Greg Bretz riding for Gigi Ruf’s Slash brand…
10:18

Duthie:
71.75 – he’s in third. Ed Leigh reckons he deserved more.
10:18

Ed:
The phrase ‘damp squib’ appears to have been invented for today. Really hope the temp come down for tonight’s final.
10:18

Sam:
Christian Haller now, run 1 – big bs air, front 10, sw 10, cripple, back 5 and a dub 10 to finish
10:19

Ed:
Maybe they could switch it out for an end-of-season waterslide contest?
10:19

Sam:
Danny Davis for the win!

Sam:
74 for Haller, bumped into third
10:20

Duthie:
Japan’s Ryo Aono, Run 1. He’s no Ayumu, but he’s still capable of putting down a good run.
10:20

Nice style from Christian ‘Hitch’ Haller as per.
10:21

Duthie:
Back-to-back 1080s kicked off a good-looking run, but the bum goes down and he’ll have to do better on his next go.
10:21

Sam:
Janne Korpi due to drop next, hoping he’ll do better than in the slopestyle, run 1 – nice air to fakie but stacks it on the cab double
10:23

Duthie:
Not a great Finnish.
10:23

Comment From Guest
Have they separated Ed & Tim?
10:23

Sam:
Unfortunately it would seem so, Tim was last heard at the women’s ski slopestyle finals

Duthie:
Now it’s Sergey Tarasov, Run 1. He’s one of three local heroes.
10:24

Ed:
I do love an air to fakie. Gian SImmen – winner of the first ever pipe gold at Nagano, was a master of them. As was a certain Terje Haakonsen – but I don’t suppose he’ll be making a surprise appearance. The legendary critic of the Olympics must be laughing at the conditions here, and with impeccable timing he’s just dropped an advert for the return of his Arctic Challenge contest, which is essentially an alternative vision of the competitive snowboarding pinnacle.
10:25

Silvia Mittermüller@SilviaMittermul Retweeted by toddrichards

Ayumu just made the Sochi halfpipe look pretty ok… Despite all the complaints…

Duthie:
Has a shaky method and then sits down on one of his hits (a frontside 1080 attempt), but throws a McTwist at the end just for kicks.
10:25

Duthie:
KILDOG TIME
10:25

Sam:
Ben Kilner, Britain’s next hope! run 1 – Boom huge bs air, front 10, bs 9, front 5, looking a bit sketch but should be a decent base score
10:26

Duthie:
That’s by no means his best run – saving it for the later rounds, or has he adjusted for the state of the pipe?
10:26

Kildog goin huuuge on the first hit.
10:27

Sam:
Big smiles whilst waiting for the score…43.5. Low but once again judges looking for control above all else
10:27

That method from Ben Kilner again – almost went out of frame!
10:27

A solid start but Ben will be looking to improve on that score…
10:28

Sam:
The Russian going Louie Vito style, big spins with small amplitude
10:28

Duthie:
Nikita Avtaneev, Run 2. Another Russian – and another incomplete run. Back-to-back doubles though, frontside and cab.
10:29

Duthie:
Ed Leigh flying solo in the commentary box today, and relatively reserved right now. Not much chance of a tiramisu comment coming anytime soon.
10:29

The Russian outfit, designed by Gary Kasparov.
10:30

Sam:
Pavel Kharitonov run 1 now, another Ruski – nice single corking spins and odd grabs but landing too deep on most hits
10:30

Sam:
58.75, pretty good but probably not enough
10:31

Duthie:
Now it’s the pride of Ireland, Seamus O’Connor. Run 1. Only 16 years old, he competed in the slopestyle too. His visible dissatisfaction at his low score had Ed dub him “Shameless” O’Connor…
10:32

Shameless O’Connor has sent the universe into a paradox. Luck of the Irish meets Bib 13. Aaaaarrrrghhhh!
10:32

Duthie:
There’ll be no crock of gold medals at the bottom of the halfpipe for Seamus, even though he landed his run…
10:32

Rowan Curran@RowanC17

Go on Seamus, great wee run in the half pipe :) #WinterOlympics #irish #snowboarding #halfpipe

Ed:
Twas a great wee run. P’tee p’taaa p’yeee haaa!

Duthie:
What will he make of his score this time? He probably thinks he’s up there with Ayumu.
10:33

Sam:
Dom Harington next, GB’s last rider to drop in snowboard freestyle in Sochi. Run 1
10:33

Duthie:
66.25 – he’s ahead of Kildog.
10:33

Sam:
Tim Warwood is here at last! What’s Dom got?
10:34

Sam:
Falls on his first hit, gutted Dom. We’re all still cheering for you in Whitelines HQ. Tried a few more crowd pleasers but needs to go bigger… Judges give him a 12.75
10:35

Duthie:
Careful Sam, the 300 are mobilising…
10:35

Duthie:
Hailing from the Netherlands, it’s the turn of Dimi De Jong, Run 1.
10:35

Sam:
Don’t go wrong Jong
10:35

Plenty of support for Dom in teh Brit pit. And why not – he’s pretty much the nicest guy in snowboarding.
10:36

Sam:
Is it the pipe conditions or the pressure getting in the rider’s way?
10:36

Duthie:
Oh dear, only half a run for him before the bail. Now he’s Demi de Jong
10:36

Still smiling despite a disappointing score. Not sure I’ve ever seen Dom *not* smiling come to think of it.
10:36

Duthie:
Maybe Greg Bretz was right, and Frank Wells should have “got on a fucking airplane” to Sochi to sort the pipe out.
10:38

Harvey@drsottogood

@benkilner 43 for his run disbelieve on his face share it seem the same as #snowboarders with 60-70 scores #bbcsochi #Halfpipe

Sam:
Kwang-Ki Lee from South Korea now, run 1 – Getting the groove before dropping, HUGE first hit but he decks it on his third, fs McTwist?
10:38

Evangelina Ballerina@DivineFantasy

C’mon Ben and Dom!!! #HalfPipe #Sochi2014

Etienne Engasser@TienouuDeGuit

Putain mais ça chute à gogoooooo #Halfpipe

Ed:
I think that’s French for “That pipe is WANK”

??????@KennedyMLB

“Going through the center of the pipe feels like going over moguls” #halfpipe #Olympics

Comment From Guest
Where is Seamus after his first run?
10:39

Duthie:
He was in 6th, still there I think.

Duthie:
Swiss teenager David Habluezel, Run 1. Bit of a delay but here he goes.
10:40

Comment From PIM
So if I understand this correctly, the top 9 from each heat will go to a next round (finals or semifinals)? And every rider has 2 runs in qualifications?
10:40

Comment From Ieuan Jehu
Have the beeb separated Ed & Tim?
10:40

Sam:
They’re reunited!

Duthie:
OUCH. Tried to get one more hit after a couple of sketchy landings, and he pretty much landed out of the pipe.
10:41

Duthie:
Got a bit excited maybe. That was daft. 48.75 for David.
10:42

Somewhere behind that flag is national hero Jenny Jones – and that’s our man Tristan in the WL beanie grabbing a cheeky interview. Good work! Big brother is watching you Trist…
10:43

Sam:
Wancheng Shi, the first of the Chinese to drop now. Run 1 – His mum, Shi is Wancheng this from home
10:43

Ed:
He wanged it.

Sam:
Wancheng not going too big here
10:43

Sam:
Grabbing ALL the horrid grabs, tindys, nethods, telons and nutes
10:44

Duthie:
The tindy is “one of the most despised grabs”, says Ed Leigh.
10:45

Sam:
After those grabs I don’t care what the score is
10:45

Duthie:
Now it’s Tim-Kevin Ravnjak from Slovenia, Run 1. Is that the dullest double-barrelled first name in history?
10:45

Shudder. Ther’s sum ting wong with that grab.
10:45

Sam:
Give it some Tim(e) Duthie, the name will grow on you
10:45

Jos@jos_derk

Waarom zo’n korte snowboard #halfpipe bij #OS2014? Bij Cool Boarders waren ze altijd kilometers lang #Playstation pic.twitter.com/XAynqhTSM3

Ed:
Think they shot that cover in Sochi.

Duthie:
Frontside and cab mostly, with a backside 5 at the end. Luckily he doesn’t do a David and try to air out the bottom of the pipe, but he falls before the blue line when trying to stop.
10:46

toddrichards@btoddrichards

Anyone who has ridden a @HighCascade snowboard camp pipe well, may have an advantage here in Sochi. Summer slush with salt pockets

Sochi 2014@Sochi2014

The #Sochi2014 Olympic #halfpipe is looking pretty sick! What do you think @shaun_white , ready to defend your Gold? pic.twitter.com/ZtVT3JaS4V

Ed:
The organisers showing their in depth knowledge once again.

Duthie:
Derek Livingston, I presume?
10:47

whitelinesmag

Some good support for @domharington @benkilner out here! Cheah! #wlsnow #backthebrits
10:47

Sam:
Derek Livinston, the last rider of the first heat is just about to go, run 1 – dropping in switch? Smooth style until he stacked it on the last hit
10:48

Neil MacGrain

Wearing my @bawbags jacks to support Katie, Ben & Dom today #backthebrits
10:48

Duthie:
Start list say that Derek is goofy, but he started regular…
10:48

Ali

I think my jacket might be a bit more valuable now! Signed by Olympic bronze medallist @jennyjonessnow Well done Jenny! You did us proud! #backthebrits #teamgb #snowboarding #Olympics #snow #sochi #slopestyle #starstruck
10:48
Mark Collins

Best game ever… #Sochi #WinterOlympics #lovecurling #TeamGB #sweeping
10:48

Sam:
Meanwhile, the local bowls green appears to have frozen over

Comment From Alex
This Qualifying round is like watching the girls.
10:49

Duthie:
Jesus, Target sponsoring the curling now too?
10:49

Comment From Guest
At least the Chinese guy didn’t try to grab Japan
10:49

katieblundell

BOOM! @jennyjonessnow bringing home bronze for the UK!! What an amazing lady to represent our sport:) #teamgb #sochi2014 #backthebrits #olympics SO HAPPY I could cry!!! xxx
10:49

Ed:
I know it’s halfpipe day but let’s take a moment to enjoy Jenny’s success again. Becuase we haven’t for at least 5 minutes. And that’s a great pic – nice one Katie.

Comment From Guest
Someone stick a flake in that pipe
10:49

Sam:
Anyone else heard the news? WalMark McMorris has accepted a sponsorship deal with Walmart. Duuuude…. Not sweet.
10:50

Duthie:
“Damn, only got a bronze. How do I get a gold? First step is a weird endorsement deal with a major American chain store. Next, leather jacket!”

Hannah Webb@hannahwebb90

The conditions of this #halfpipe are terrible! #Sochi2014 #WinterOlympics

YO-NE

??????????????????????
10:50

?aphrodite? reporter@harharharmony

Ready to cheer on for @shaun_white !!! Got some tribal markings as support~~ @USOlympic#halfpipe #olympics pic.twitter.com/D5Sn6ASF2E

Ed:
Looking good girl, looking good.

LALegault@LALegault

The #halfpipe guys are going down left and right on mogul-ridden, slush-pipe. This should have been rescheduled due to course #Sochi2014

Ed:
Rescheduled, re-located, re-thought more like.

Sam:
Shaun White inspiring people to decorate their wrists. Thankfully not in red
10:51

Comment From Guest
Anyone got the standings after run 1 in the pipe
10:52

Sam:
The BBC!

Comment From Ieuan Jehu
Notice the way Derek’s edge skipped out on the way up the frontside wall. The pipe is defiantly not good enough. At what point are they going to call Off this sham?
10:52

whitelinesmag

@jennyjonessnow in da house! Showing support for @domharington and @Benkilner. #backthebrits #wlsnow
10:52

Duthie:
Amazing. Love the TKR poster in the background too.

Comment From Guest
Looks like high scores are up for grabs, even tindys
10:52

Duthie:
Right, time for Run 2. Arthur Longo dropping.
10:53

Sam:
Longo goes too short0
10:53

Duthie:
And he’s down on his second hit. He got a good run in the bag already though. Interestingly, he was on at 50-1 yesterday. Might have been worth a flutter.
10:53

Sam:
Ayumu dropping now! http://whitelines.com/features/olympic-halfpipe-trailer-the-sochi-showdown.html/4
10:54

Longo stylin it out after his fall.
10:54

Duthie:
Ayumu – the Assassin: http://whitelines.com/features/olympic-halfpipe-trailer-the-sochi-showdown.html/4
10:55

Duthie:
Easily the best from heat 1…
10:55

Sam:
Ayumu run 2 – still in first but this will be a show, HUGE again, double, cab 10, front 9, back 9 getting a bit loose near the end but still definitely going through
10:55

Ed:
Ayumu is da man. Love the rising sun on the front of his helmet too. Banzai!
10:55

Comment From James
is there a way to turn off reader comments?
10:56

Sam:
???

Comment From Guest
Hirano! Uvavu!
10:56

Duthie:
Dolf van der Val, Run 2. Dropping in, looking for a good hit on the backside Val…
10:57

Keeping it casual. Wonder what he’s listening to? My money’s on Kenny G.
10:57

Duthie:
Pencil-spin 1080 from the Dutchman, but he get a run down at least. He’ll wait for his score, before disappearing for a shmoke and a pancake.
10:58

Skyler Wilder@NorthWestWilder

The energy is crazy right now for #Sochi2014 #Olympic #Halfpipe w/ @macklemore bumping in the stands!

Ed:
Ed Leigh on Ayumu: “He has a stare that could pickle onions”. Yep, that famously vinegary stare.
10:58

Duthie:
Best beard by a mile though!
10:58

Duthie:
62.50 for van der Val.
10:58

Sam:
Johann Baisamy now for his second run, I beleive the French call him Gogo Jojo. Run 2
10:58

Duthie:
And is he also what the French call “les incompetents”?
10:59

Bear spotted in Sochi.
10:59

Sam:
Dancing bears in Sochi? Tell PETA

whitelinesmag

French fans LOVING that from @arthurlongo! #wlsnow
10:59

Sam:
36.75 for Gogo Jojo
11:00

Duthie:
Here comes Greg Bretz, Run 2. Easily the best athlete we’ve ever seen called Gregory.
11:00

Duthie:
Apart from Greg Norman maybe?
11:01

Duthie:
Oooft. Was looking great, but he fell on the last hit. He looks pissed off with himself.
11:02

Greg Bretz havin a cheeky toot there? #Rebagliati
11:02

Duthie:
First first run score will be his best.
11:02

Sam:
Christian Haller on his second run now, looking the most awkward on the big screen so far
11:03

Duthie:
The cameraman will be dragged off to the gulags after this, that’s for sure. Rubbish.
11:04

Haller: owner of one of the best methods in the business.
11:04

Sam:
83.75! In second now
11:04

Duthie:
“I didn’t see that, I was drinking out of my bottle of water” – Tim Warwood sounding sheepish there.
11:04

Duthie:
Ryo Aono. Run 2. Japan on course again.
11:05

Duthie:
He’s big in Japanese panto, apparently. ‘Aono he isn’t!’ ‘Ao yes he is!’ etc…
11:05

Duthie:
Ouch, he’s down on that second hit and his goggle lens pops out from the impact.
11:06

Sam:
Looks like he got his board from a badmington shop
11:06

Comment From Guest
Oh no Aono!
11:06

Comment From Guest
Haller’v a run, Haller’v a guy
11:06

Duthie:
Puns coming in thick and fast!
11:07

Sam:
Readers just keep Putin them in
11:07

Sam:
Janne Korpi run 2 – nice air to fakie agin, sticks the dub this time and huge on the last hit but doesn’t quite stick it, out of both events now
11:08

Rory Bilton-Gough

We can all agree this is the best part of the Winter Olympics. Come on Aussies! Shaun White, the main event. #halfpipe #sochi #2014winterolympics #boarding #amazing
11:08

Duthie:
Sergey Tarasov, Run 2. Hats off to the Russian for not changing his first name after Putin’s laws took effect.
11:08

Ed:
With the pipe looking slow and slushy, we’ve been asking your thoughts on whether warm Sochi was a bad choice to host these Games…
11:09

Nathan Blanks

No, Russia was a bad choice :)
11:09

Russell Comery

Sets a precedent. See no reason not to go for Edinburgh for Winter Olympics 2022 or 2026.
11:09

Adam Glen

Glencoe with the snow they’ve got
11:09

Ayfere LB

Lol Vancouver was terrible warm too.. No snow.
11:09

David Legge

Absolute garbage like their Russian Standard vodka
11:10

Ian Thain

That arfpipe looks soft and slushy as shite
11:10

Lachie Kenny

Shit
11:10

Nick Pavlos Motture

That’s embarrassing, looks like they’re holding it during Spring Break
11:10

Duthie:
Amplitude dropping massively with each hit. Sergey got a run down but can’t image it’s going to score high.
11:10

Duthie:
39.50, he’s going home. Which, fortunately, won’t be that far away.
11:11

Sam:
Will the cruddy pipe hamper Shaun White? He’s used to perfect conditions whereas Ayumu and Danny Davis are more used to slushy riding
11:11

Duthie:
Do it Kilner, you’ve got this….
11:11

Sam:
Kildog is out
11:12

Sam:
Boo
11:12

Duthie:
No!! Goes down on the second hit.
11:12

Duthie:
Such a shame, he was on fire on the run-up to the competition.
11:12

Nilou Yekta@pocccahontas

If Ryo Aono is wiping out on this pipe, I think we have a problem. #pipefail #HALFPIPE#SochiProblems #WeAreWinter

Duthie:
Nikita Avtaneev of Russia, Run 2.
11:13

There’s Ben’s verdict on his run and – presumably – the state of this pipe.
11:13

Comment From Blair Bainton
I’m guessing come the finals it’s gonna be all eggplants and backside slashes circa ’92
11:14

Sam:
Nikita Avtaneev the Ruski now, run 2 – backside indy, front dub, nice back 5 and a front 10 to finish. Russian standard.
11:14

Duthie:
Wow, he lands the frontside 10 with about a metre of pipe remaining. Fair play tot he Russian, it was a solid run.
11:14

David Legge

Unlucky Kildog. Not your fault
11:14

Russell Heenan

Shocking, sluff everywhere, soft and kinked walls and just awful overall, the camera work is shocking too.
11:14

Das Flava

I genuinely feel sorry for such a high level of athlete to have to ride such a shit- hole of a pipe… 7-11 slurpies are harder than that….
11:14

Arne Costeur

looks slushy to me, sure these are the Olympics?
11:14

Lucas Brammall

looks worse than the brits combined event from last year; downhill pipe moguls
11:14

MarjaHilversum

#dolf van der wal #halfpipe 2nd run
11:15

Duthie:
63.75 for the Russian, he may just have made the semi-finals.
11:15

spkvvs
#halfpipe #Sochi2014
11:15

Ed:
Nick Pavlos Motture: “Looks worse than the Brits hand dug pipe circa 1995”
11:15

Sam:
Ravel Kharitonov for the Russians again now – backside air but slowed right down, pipe or technique? Not enough probably
11:17

Comment From Blair Bainton
I’m guessing come the finals it’s gonna be all eggplants and backside slashes circa ’92
11:17

Comment From Ieuan Jehu
Poor Danny Davis will be riding something resembling one of the hand shaped pipes from the eighties
11:17

Sam:
Will Pavel pull through? No 54.5. Down and out
11:18

Duthie:
Shameless O’Conner, Run 2. The Irish-American drops once again. He did well in his first run, and may well make the semis…
11:18

Duthie:
Heard his plan is to do the pipe, then go play football and drink beer. ‘Drop, kick, Murphy’s’.
11:18

Andrew Supranovich

??????? ????????? #halfpipe #snowboard #snow #mountain #sochi2014
11:18

Ed:
Anyone got any more analogies for this nightmare of a halfpipe? I guess the only thing you can say is that the conditions are the same for everyone. It’s gonna come down to who can cope with less-than-perfect walls – maybe those guys who regularly have fun in spring conditions (Danny Davis?) as opposed to short intense training on perfectly sculpted set-ups (Shaun White?) will come out on top. One thing’s for sure, it’s impossible to call.
11:18

Duthie:
Woah! Shameless claim from Seamus, but he arned it with that run!
11:19

Duthie:
Much, much better than his first run.
11:19

Sam:
Seamus sticks it even with his wrist giving him a House of Pain
11:19

Duthie:
71.50, and he’s in 6th! That should be good enough for the semi-finals.
11:20

Seamus surprised a few with that last run.
11:21

Sam:
Slip of the tongue from Ed Leigh, is Seamus a ‘god boy’ or a ‘big boy?’
Dom Harrington now, run 2, go on Dom!
11:21

Duthie:
Help us Dom Harington, you’re our only hope…
11:21

Sam:
Oh No! Just scuffed it on the last hit but a smile going as big as his frontside air. Thanks Dom!
11:22

Duthie:
Pleased that he got a good thrash of the pipe this time, but gutted we won’t see him in the next round.
11:22

Duthie:
Dimi de Jong, the Prince William impersonator, Run 2
11:23

Anthony J Convento@Cardiaac

Dang you Mens Snowboarding: Halfpipe for keeping me up! #sochi2014 #sochi #Olympics2014#snowboarding #halfpipe #amurrica #WinterOlympics

????@luv_indo_me

just waiting for the KING #ShaunWhite

?aphrodite? reporter@harharharmony

Seamus o’Connor moves into sixth place in #halfpipe after his second run! Great tail grab here!@CBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/yCCeJSKled

#Ken@MartinKSmith

Go Irish stereotype! #SeamusOConnor #TeamIreland #actuallyAmerican #BBCSochi #halfpipe

A shrug from Dom, but we’re proud of him. That was a good run until the slush bucked him.
11:23

Comment From Guest
Great news does he progress straight to the finals or is he into the semi?
11:24

Sam:
Who?

Comment From Brad
looks as slow as a constipated cold war colon
11:24

Duthie:
Solid run from the Flying Dutchman. Probably not enough though…
11:24
Le Monde

@shaunwhite, la superstar américaine du #snowboard, va tenter aujourd’hui de remporter un troisième titre olympique sur le #halfpipe de #Sotchi2014. Portrait à lire sur : https://lemde.fr/shaun-white Photo prise pendant un entraînement par Lucas Jackson (Reuters). #JO2014 #shaunwhite #Sochi
11:24

When you’re landing a big spin, you don’t really wanna see that slush catching your edge…
11:24

Sam:
Kwang-Ki Lee next, watch how fast he goes!
11:25

The moment Dom’s Olympics ended. Gutted.
11:25

Joe@LongWayToTipp

Surely there’s somebody who can stay standing in this #Halfpipe? #WinterOlympics #Sochi

Ed:
We’re not sure. Is there?

Duthie:
The Dutch contingent in the crowd are still loving it though – perhaps they brought some brownies with them.
11:25

Gavin Craigie@GavinCraigie

Watching the #halfpipe snowboarding. Either the pipe is substandard or the riders are crap.

Ed:
Er… that’ll be the former.

Duthie:
And he gets 9th place – maybe he’s sneaked it into the semis, ahead of Nikita!
11:26

Team GB@TeamGB

.@DomHarington’s score of 37.25 in run two isn’t enough. So many falls in today’s snowboard#halfpipe. Tough conditions out there.

Natassia G@Natassia_MHN

Always nice hearing Banchory getting a mention on the tele. Gutted for @benkilner , what a man#Sochi #halfpipe

The Snow Centre@the_snowcentre

Over the nose on the landing :( @DomHarington #halfpipe #Sochi2014 currently in 17th place

Neil Ainger@tomorrows_dream

Jesus wept. I don’t exactly watch much snowboarding, but a hell of a lot of these guys seem to be falling. #Sochi2014 #halfpipe

Ed:
Yep, this is a great advert for our sport. #PutinFail

Duthie:
A few Lee-ps of faith there, and a full run put down. He looks pleased with it, but the amplitude wasn’t really there.
11:27

Ryan Clements

The camera man MUST be fired or killed……….or both.
11:28

Annie Butterworth

The pipe that the Cairngorms have is better quality than the Olympic pipe!
11:28

Andrew Dempsey

This is like making Mr Bolt run on cobbles.
11:28

Duthie:
But he gets 8th place, with 59.50! South Korea may be in the semis.
11:28

Das Flava

Dom got robbed…
11:28

Duthie:
We’re gutted for him, but robbed he was not. It’s the same for all the riders.

Grant Whittlebeast Whittle

Definitely a sub standard pipe, it’s slush city
11:28

Aron Degotardi

Half vertical, half no vert, slush=shit snow Russia. So dissapointing for all the boarders and skiers. Move it to Tahoe now they just had 3.5ft of snow. Smiggins in September looks better than Sochi..
11:28

Sam Murphy

Sponsored by The Blue Slush Puppie
11:28

Jonas Manz

total nightmare, slopestyle course was an orgasm in comparison with that crap
11:28

Lee Paulding

Like making Arsenal play Barcelona on a Sunday pub team local field , shocking!
11:28

Nick Pavlos Motture

Maybe if the camera person could actually keep the rider in shot, that would be helpful, as much as i like to see shots of a blank pipe wall….
11:29

Ned Falkingham

it looks horrible, the snow is sloppy and soft. the walls should be sloughing snow off like that. it kills the push off the riders can get. overall the pipe looks way too rough, way below what the Olympic standard should be. they are doing a huge disservice to all the riders
11:29

Duthie:
David Habluetzel, Run 2. Apart from a little hand-drag, it was looking nice. Slashes the wall on the last hit.
11:29

Dominic Brynolf@DomBrynolf

The most disappointing #halfpipe I remember since the days Craig Kelly and Jake used to help hand dig for comps cc @burtonsnowboard #sochi

Duthie:
What a shame that most of the talk about this event concerns the godawful state of the pipe. Anyone tuning in after getting stoked out by the slopestyle will no doubt be scratching their heads.
11:30

Phil Kennedy@PhilKennedy

#Sochi2014 #halfpipe better suited to wakeboarders. Fortunately can’t see just how wet it is because the camera work is so bad.

Duthie:
David gets 3rd place with 81.00! He’s sneaked into the auto qualifier spots!
11:30

neonne@neonne

they have a big screen with glamour-shot type video clips before the riders go #halfpipe#hollywood #olympics pic.twitter.com/GnAyrUqtkG

Ed:
Yeah – and is that Prince William competing?!

Kevin Hyam@kevinhyam

dear @Sochi2014 PLEASE make sure your cable camera operator is able to do his job. Thanks!#HalfPipe

???ı??u ??????@rachelnacilla

There’s a 15yo Japanese rider on the #halfpipe and he is BLOWING MY MIND. Move over Shaun White. #Sochi2014

Dominic Brynolf@DomBrynolf

The most disappointing #halfpipe I remember since the days Craig Kelly & Jake burton used to help hand dig for comps cc @SnowEdLeigh #sochi

Duthie:
Shi Wancheng dropping again for China, Run 2. Goes down on a frontside 1080 tindy – serves him right, really!
11:31

Siempre FCBarcelona@MesQueUnClubXL

Fuck u #HalfPipe .You’re absolutely terrible.Shame on you #Sotsji2014 !

?aphrodite? reporter@harharharmony

YES!!! Kwang-ki lee is into the #halfpipe finals!

Ed:
Yessssss! Kwang u believe it?

Duthie:
He’s still in 5th – so we’ll no doubt see more grab crimes in the next round.
11:32

Duthie:
Now it’s TKR, from Slovenia. Run 2 for him…
11:32

Duthie:
TK doesn’t go maxx, but it’s a full run with some nice flat spins. That’s good enough for the semis, no?
11:33

Nice style from Slovenia’s TKR
11:34

Comment From Guest
Police the grabs!
11:34

Duthie:
If you tindy, it’s the salt mines for you…

Daiki Mori@Daiki_Mori

I feel bad for the boarders #halfpipe #SochiProblems #SochiFail

Ed:

Don’t call it boarding

Duthie:
Yep, the Slovenian is in the semis.
11:35

Duthie:
Drek Livingston from Canada, last to drop in this heat. A complete run (far too rare in this event), but it might not be good enough to progress. Loving his Sims board though.
11:36

Ed:
I’ve been to many an elite pipe comp, and those 22 foot walls of ice are terrifying for even experienced riders. This is the kind of pipe I’d happily drop into, which says it all. #springshred
11:36

Duthie:
It’s 10th place for the Canadian – he JUST misses out on a semi spot. He’ll be disappointed with that, especially after waiting so long for the score. Usually that’s a good sign, but not this time.
11:37

Those official results
11:38

Duthie:
Kilner 16th, Dom 20th. Hard luck for the Brits, God knows they worked hard for it.
11:38

And the bottom of the table…
11:39

Duthie:
Check out the mini-pipe down the side! That looks fun.
11:39

Duthie:
So there’ll be a short break before the second heat, which will feature Shaun, iPod and Danny Davis. And, we’re guessing, a lot more comments about the sorry state of the stunt-ditch.
11:39

Noi amount of blue paint will fix this shit show.
11:40

Duthie:
Hopefully the drunk cameraman gets swapped out for someone who can actually keep a rider in frame.
11:40

Comment From haz
is dom through???
11:41

Duthie:
Unfortunately not – he would have been in with a shout on his second run, but he caught the slush and went down.

Comment From Chris Cracknell
Between the shitty pipe and the shitty camera work, it is going to struggle to generate the excitement of the slopestyle
11:42

Comment From haz
!! seamus beat kilner?? as if
11:43

Duthie:
Fair play to the pseudo-Irishman, he put a good run down when it mattered.

hannah teter@hannahteter

Middle of the Olympic halfpipe! They’ve been having a tough time making it good…. practice days have been harsh! pic.twitter.com/G3Nw7eCSm6

?aphrodite? reporter@harharharmony

EXTREMELY excited for second heat in the #halfpipe lets go @shaun_white and get that third gold medal @USOlympic pic.twitter.com/fG7zCpYqlS

Ed:
You’re really proud of those, eh.

Elena Hight@Elenahight

Mens Halfpipe is coming up tomorrow, do you think we’ll see @shaun_white land a triple? #sochi#olympics2014

Duthie:
Will he be able to get the required airtime in this slushfest?

steph hickey@steff_snow

GO for it buddy!!! You got this .. And he’s single ladies!!!! @scottyjames31 xx #Sochi2014 #halfpipe

Pete Quily@pqpolitics

Apparently not or confusing vodka for tapwater RT @TommyBick Has this man/woman ever used a camera before? #halfpipe #Sochi2014

Whitelines@whitelinesmag

And there’s the @theDDeadshow – not looking super-comfortable tbh…

Duthie:
He was very outspoken yesterday about the state of the pipe, calling it “garbage”. Probably woke up with a horse’s head in his bed this morning.

James Woodall@flywoodyfly

That pipe sucked balls – gutted for @benkilner and @DomHarington you deserved better#backthebrits

Doc@121giga

#halfpipe ? more like #halfassed #sochi more like #soggy the olympics are unravelling like a bad#russian #dashcam Great Scott!

madeline stevens@madeline_s26

I think the cameramen shooting the men’s halfpipe have been drinking too much vodka.#cantkeepup #halfpipe #Sochi2014

Ed:
It’s the Games that just lends itself to shameless stereotypes isn’t it.

????@ryokointokyo

Where did Shaun White’s flawless hair go??? :( #Sochi2014 #halfpipe

Ed:
Yeah, we dug the ginger Brian May look too

Duthie:
Looks like things are delayed in ‘Sluchi’ – the next heat won’t be til 12.10pm GMT.
11:51

Shelsta78@shelsta78

“Backside Air” so much nicer than fart – thanks #Sochi #halfpipe

Ed:
Love it when people get confused by snowboard jargon every 4 years

????@Candle__Jun

“@swa66er81101040: ?????????????? #ShaunWhite pic.twitter.com/ekslzHaOgq
” ????????????????????????????ww

Ed:
The flawless hair – it’s back!

toddrichards@btoddrichards

Admiral Ackbar says: pic.twitter.com/Yl3PmC7KUW

Duthie:
Back-to-back doubles at the bottom of the pipe from someone practicing right now. Making the best of a bad situation, for sure.
11:53

Duthie:
15 mins to go til the next heat – now’s the time to grab a coffee.
11:55

hannah teter@hannahteter

Good luck to the boys competing in the halfpipe today! Hopefully they fixed that dump pile!#olympics #Sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/HfE4g7kEKq

Duthie:
Hope is a dangerous thing, said Red in Shawshank.

matt burton@mattBurton_1

Commentator rates #shaunwhite as “red hot favourite”… can sense a pun in this comment

Duthie:
Anyone care to help this guy out?

Comment From Lucas Brammall
NEWS JUST IN: they’ve officially changed the event name to pipemoguls! #sochi2014
11:58

Kate Green@kateg1992

Tad excited for #ShaunWhite ‘s run in the qualifiers ?

Duthie:
Probably more than he is…

helen cameron@hmcami

@SnowEdLeigh loving the commentary for the half pipe, keep up the informed chat for heat 2#bbcsochi #halfpipe

Duthie:
This is the equivalent of the World Cup final being played on a waterlogged Sunday league pitch.
12:00

Pete Quily@pqpolitics

I’m no expert at all on #halfpipe but if I were a paid #cbc announcer wouldn’t I be expected to at least know the basics of it? #sochi2014

Ed:
Take note BBC commentary haters – we could be subjected to the stuff they get across the pond.

Hanna Marie@hannamariephoto

Given that this has become skate instead of snowboarding, I think @shaun_white has this in the clincher. #everystep #Olympics2014 #halfpipe

Ed:
Yep. That’s a wooden vert ramp all right.

Pengwinning@_Pengwinning

This pipe is like a calypso on a summer’s day. Except mum’s not shouting at me for getting it all over the at seats. #halfpipe

Ed:
The slushy analogies just keep on comin…

Duthie:
Clouds coming in apparently, so not much hope of it icing up before this evening’s final.
12:03

Wayne Diment@WayneDiment

#WinterOlympics #snowboarding #halfpipe time !! Can’t wait gutted shaun white not taking part this year !

Duthie:
Are you sitting down Wayne? Got some good news for you…

How to fix a fucked pipe in 30 seconds…
12:04

There. Sorted.
12:04

Côme Trémeau@cometremeau

Can someone from the crowd replace the last cameraman? #halfpipe #Sochi2014

Duthie:
Tristan, you’re up!

MERLION_HM@MERLION_HM

?29Jan2014 Whitelines?The Complete Guide to Snowboard Halfpipe at Sochi 2014po.st/BUhdD7 #Snowboard #Halfpipe #Sochi2014

LALegault@LALegault

2nd heat of #halfpipe postponed due to the conditions, is this fair to first heat who had to ride through them? #sochi2014
aaliceradford

Totally watching the men’s half pipe qualifiers on bbc app at work on the sly! #backthebrits #teamgb #Ilovesnowboarding #100happydays @whitelinesmag
12:06

Duthie:
Scotty James will be the first to drop in Heat 2, which should be kicking off in a few minutes. Shaun White 5th, iPod 6th. Danny Davis, meanwhile, is second last. Usually that’d be an advantage, but not today.
12:06

Duthie:
There’s Shaun. Slopestyle riders call him ‘the Quilt that Quit’.
12:07

Duthie:
And here are the commentators. We’ll surely be getting started once these skiers do their final turd-polish.
12:08

Danny Davis appears to be laughing the conditions off. Ah fuck it. #TheDude
12:08

Duthie:
I dunno, I’m still expecting a “this will not stand, man!”

Lucas Jackson

It is time. #halfpipe #sochi2014 #rosakhutor
12:09

Duthie:
Scotty James, Australia’s finest (male, at least), Run 1.
12:11
Mike Weyerhaeuser

Now that they sprayed the #halfpipe with chemicals, we’ll just call it the #hosepipe
12:11

Duthie:
Can he do better than he did in slopestyle?
12:11
Sasha

???????? ?? ???????????? ?? ???????????? #russia #sochi2014 #olympics #halfpipe
12:11

Stephen Healy@stephenhealy87

For me, watching #curling is akin to eating olives. Enjoy them or do so due to intrigue? “Ok, enough curling, I’ll have #halfpipe for mains”

Ed:
Riiiiight. That’s an interesting analogy Stephen.

Duthie:
Front dub, back 9, front 10, dub 9, backside alley pop rodeo – a great start for Scotty!
12:12

billy morgan@billymorgan89

Good effort boys!! @benkilner @DomHarington

George Nimeh ?@iboy

“Chuck Norris could not save this pipe.” @SnowEdLeigh @Tim_Warwood #halfpipe #Olympics

Duthie:
68.50 for Scotty, not bad but probably not enough.
12:13

Good run from Scotty James. And we’re digging the Aussie outwear.
12:14

Sam:
Another Ayumu, Nedefuji dropping run 1 – lovely alley oop 5 to start, some super slow spins until his back 5 gets cut short by the coping
12:14

Sam:
Ben Kilner in the commentary box!
12:14

Mandi Kerr@seren_wib

These BBC announcers for halfpipe are killing me, I love it. #bbcsochi #halfpipe #Sochi2014

Sam:
Ayumu Two’s score is 54.5
12:14

Aida

Wow, what a pipe! Too bad its so warm ((( hope no one gets hurt! I really like the Canadian, British and Australian olympic snowboarding costumes! #sochi2014 #snowboarding #halfpipe #olympicgames #thispictureisnotmine
12:15

Duthie:
Ben is a mellow dude who really knows his stuff, great to have him in the box. Interesting to get his take on the pipe too.
12:15

Duthie:
“Really bumpy, really soft”.
12:15

Duthie:
Jan Scherrer, Run 2. Like Scotty, the Swiss was in the slopestyle too. Method, front 720, cab 1080, front 900, backside 540, double crippler but landed it so far down the wall. He was almost on the flat.
12:16

Jonathan Haysom@JonoH

The @BBCSport commentary team is brilliant for the #halfpipe! #sochi. Best yet!

Duthie:
We’ve done this joke before but what the hell:

We asked Jan Scherrer what his favourite thing about being from Switzerland is. He thought for a sec and said, “Well, the flag’s a big plus.”
12:17

A low score but Jan is a name for the future.
12:17

Skyler Wilder@NorthWestWilder

What a run! His hands are up for good reason! @Taylor_Gold just stomped that #halfpipe run out!

El Blanco is next. I think I can hear his coach Bud saying “It’s up to you man”
12:18

Sam:
Taylor Gold dropping just before his team mate Shaun White, the one the world will be watching… Dropping now for run 1 – big back 5 to start, front 9, double Mikka! Cameras lost it again but apparently its a good run, Kilner predicts 1st place
12:18

Sam:
81.50! Judges penalising scrappiness
12:19

Duthie:
Now it’s the favourite: Shaun White, Run 1. He doesn’t want to be called the Flying Tomato anymore, apparently.
12:19

Sam:
Here we go… El Blanco
12:19

12:20

Duthie:
The Artist Formerly Known As The Flying Tomato drops in… and it’s pretty flawless. MASSIVE method, back-to-back doubles, and the rest. A safe run for Shaun and still world-class.
12:20

“Don’t look at me. it’s still up to you man.”
12:21

Sam:
Ayumu scoreed a 92, will be interesting to see how the judges compare
12:21

Duthie:
95.75 from Shaun, and that was 4th gear! Ayumu’s going to have to step it up – but we think he can.
12:21

Sam:
iPod now, run 1 http://whitelines.com/features/olympic-halfpipe-trailer-the-sochi-showdown.html/3
12:22

Shaun’s first hit was insanely high.
12:22

Will Tilley@will_tilley

That run wasn’t worth 95.75 #hype #shaunwhite #sochi

Sam:
Not quite as big as El Blanco, double crippler BUT STACK IT in the middle of the pipe
12:22

Sam:
Second run will have to do it for the Pod
12:23

He’s laid down a marker there. make no mistake Shaun White is still  the man to beat.
12:23

Duthie:
That iPod needs a reset
12:23

Sam:
15.00… for now…
12:23

Duthie:
Yiwei Zhang from China now, with the unenviable task of following two superstars. Run 1 for him…
12:23

Duthie:
And he’s claiming big-style after a run with three doubles and a weird McTwist. He could be up there with Scotty James, but miles off Shaun.
12:24

iPod was gutted with that bail.
12:24

Duthie:
90.00 flat? Eh?
12:25

Sam:
Taku Hiraoka now, the last of the Japanese. Run 1 –
12:25

Duthie:
Taylor Gold will be scratching his head…
12:25

????@bellage_martha

????????? RT @Sochi2014: Wow! @shaun_white drops in and hits an amazing run in the #halfpipe #Sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/H9HTnUiKgQ

Melinda?@MindySoccer13

Shaun White is perfect! #perfecr #ShaunWhite #Sochi2014 #happy #snowboarding

Sam:
Smiling on the drop in, pipe looking like its firming up now and giving Taku a huge run
12:26

Comment From Brad
95.75 for monsiuer blanc. You kidding me, only 4.25 off perfection. Whilst scotty james got a 65.50 for a pretty decent run. Someone sort the judging out. Fuckin Skiers….
12:26

Skyler Wilder@NorthWestWilder

Born in Russia but raised in Switzerland, @iouriamazing will be relying on his 2nd #halfpipe run! know that Iouri has the tools!

Jonathan Haysom@JonoH

I’m going to say it.. scoring is fairly inconsistent for the #halfpipe at #sochi!

dominikkowalik

#shaun #white #snowboarder #USA #first #run #sochi2014 #halfpipe
12:26
Il Boffe

The best #sochi2014 #sochi #shaunwhite #snowboard #halfpipe
12:27

Tia Major@MizLicketySplit

Much singing of Shaun White’s praises from the Beeb, saying he’s been wonderful with the fans/volunteers. #halfpipe

Adam Kennedy

Shaun, those are some tight pants you’re rocking
12:27

Chris Cracknell

What the fuck is up with the cameras, let alone the pipe, missing half the tricks!
12:27

Duthie:
Nathan Johnstone, the second Australian to drop. Run 1…
12:27

Nick Bennett

what just happened to ipod? that was ridiculous – is it that bumpy?
12:27

Rasmus Schrøder@RasmusSchrder

The Flying Tomato strikes back! #oldr3 #ShaunWhite

Ed:
Is that the name of the new sequel? I’ll be damned.

Duthie:
“He loves going high” says Ben. It’s not massive, but it’s pretty clean and he gets a truck driver dub 10!
12:28

Duthie:
86 for Nathan.
12:29

Sam:
Crispin Lipscomb for Canada, what a name! Run 1 – Familiar Canuck colours dropping now. Indy on the drop in, method, looked like a fun run coming up but reverts out of his second proper hit. Stoked though!
12:30

Anyone else see iPod do this 360 slash eurocarve type maneuver? Eat my cheese!
12:30
Thiara Piazza

Is time to this amazing man now @shaunwhite #sochi2014 #winterolympics #halfpipe #snowboard
12:31

Duthie:
Kim Ho-Jun from South Korea now – a Seoul shredder perhaps?
12:31

Crispin seemed to find the state of the pipe laughable.
12:31

Whitelines@whitelinesmag

Crispin lispcomb – oldest man in the field by FAR! Can’t believe he’s back for this, what a lad!

Duthie:
Ed Leigh says he’s from the Democratic People’s Republuc of Korea. Erm, that’s the North… Slightly different kettle of fish there.
12:32

Ed:
Ben Kilner on whether he’ll be back for the next Olympics: “Of course”
12:32

Myriam Kahil@myriamkahil

Maaaaaan Shaun White is on a whole other level ? #halfpipe #Sochi2014

Duthie:
Interestingly, we were recently offered a ski trip to the DPRK. Didn’t fancy it.
12:33

risatnb@risa1157

I know he’s so hot of corse?? and I love USA?? but plz give us gold??????! #shaunwhite #usa#2014… instagram.com/p/kRqLK2BdQi/

Duthie:
Not a bad run for the South Korean, and his score is a 61.75, 7th place for now.
12:33

Sam:
Peetu Piroinen for Finland now, another double medal contender. Run 1. Or not. He’s injured
12:33

Ed:
Ed Leigh: “I’ve just had it on good authority that Peetu Piiroinen is not going to start”
12:33

Ed:
Peetu D2. Out. Balls.
12:34

Duthie:
Off to get re-wired?
12:34

Sam:
Kent Callister for Australia instead, run 1 – best method of the day! Oh my god! Australia’s pipe hope obviously benefiting from Torah’s win in Vancouver. Such a sick run!
12:35

Duthie:
Crazy how Whitelines HQ reacts to a really nice method. It’s basically Christmas day for us when that happens.
12:35

Duthie:
He’s a stylish Kent, this one.
12:35

Duthie:
Brad Martin of Canada now, not a spring chicken but much younger than his compatriot Crispin. Run 1…
12:36

kasper kyhnau@KKyhnau

Show me your triple cork!!! #oldr3 #ShaunWhite

Go on Kent!  Method of the day right there. And on a Lib Tech too. Jamie Lynn would be proud.
12:37

Comment From Guest
SO annoyed I can’t get the BBC coverage to work online :'(
12:37

Whitelines@whitelinesmag

Sochi 2014 – Men’s Halfpipe Qualifiers Report, Ayumu Hirano goes HUGE bit.ly/1gpjxk5#snowboard

Amy Turner@turnertower

If I ever have a boy, I shall call him Kent Brad Taylor Sage Kelsey Ryder Turner and this will automatically qualify him for #halfpipe

Ian Softley@iansoftley

No Peetu in #halfpipe he’s pulled out. Bit gutted about that #olympics

Duthie:
Scrubs the front 1260 on the second wall. And he’s stacked it after smashing the coping further down the pipe.
12:37

Jonathan Weaver@Jonathan_Weaver

@whitelinesmag Oregon local repping the Aussies mate

Becky@beckyeh

Love Ed Leigh’s description of the ACL: “one of the most important bits of string in your knee”#bbcsochi #Sochi2014 #halfpipe

Kate Mozier-Tichy@WhiteGirlWsted

Kent Callister… grandson of most important man in Australia? #everystep #Sochi2014 #Olympics#Halfpipe

Ed:
Dame Edna?

Sam:
“Bucked into the flat bottom.” Surely hucked?
12:38

Comment From Velos
Anyone know of any other streams?
12:38

Duthie:
Not us I’m afraid, we’re on BBC.

Sam:
Jan Kralj dropping, run 1 – front 9, getting floaty, nice crippler to end
12:39

Sam:
59.75 for the Slovak, not enough to get him through yet
12:40
Kirill Umrikhin

???? ??????????? ???? ? ?????? ???????! ????????? ? ???? ? ????????… ????? ?????? ???????! #juicyblog #halfpipe #rosakhutor #winterolympicgames #sochi2014
12:40

Ed:
I think that’s Russian for “Yeah iPod! Steezy as hell”

Duthie:
Now its Iikka-Eemeli Laari from Finland, Run 1. As a Finn, we’re not sure if he’s ever even seen slush before. The snow is like steel over there most of the time.
12:40

Ryan@RyanHansolo

Watching the #aussie #snowboarding boys tear the half pipe apart in #Sochi2014 #gnarly as, chasing the 2x defending champion #ShaunWhite

ali mclennan@alimclennan1

Planning my entire day, to make sure I can see if #ShaunWhite pulls out the #1440 at 8 tonight. NOBODY TELL ME EARLIER.

Ed:
Gotta love the oft-forgotten global nature of Twitter conversations. Anyone feeling cruel out there?

Duthie:
Not a bad run at first. We like that poked-out alley-oop tail grab, but then he started slashing the walls. Gave up on it halfway down.
12:42

Duthie:
49.00, 11th place. Seemingly he doesn’t care, so that’s good.
12:42

“And Finnish with jazz hands.”
12:44

Sam:
Michal Ligocki the Pole, run 1 – Huge crash on the first hit, taking a huge chunk of the lip out too
12:44

Duthie:
Johannes Hoepfl next, the one German rider. He’ll be optimistic for a good score.

No, not optimistic. What’s the word I’m looking for?
12:44

Sam:
BBC beat you to it Duthie
12:45

Duthie:
Well they can handle the complaints then.
12:45

We’re no experts, but I’m not sure this invert scores as high as a triple cork.
12:45

Duthie:
Certainly an efficient run – if a bit boring. German, then.
12:46

Sam:
Now, Danny Davis, The Dude: http://whitelines.com/features/olympic-halfpipe-trailer-the-sochi-showdown.html/5
12:46

Duthie:
61.25 for Johannes.
12:46

This is how you get round the Olympic blackout. Good work!
12:46

Duthie:
“This is the man I’m rooting for” – Ben.
12:46

Duthie:
Will we see a Sage-esque run?
12:47

Ed:
Danny Davis. Hero.
12:48

Duthie:
Cheers from Whitelines HQ – that was RAD.
12:48

Sam:
Yeah Danny! back 3, sw method! cab 10, front double, mctwist! SO good, got the Whitelines team on their feet
12:48

High fives for The Dude. Abide.
12:48

Sam:
He’s a winner in our eyes already
12:48

Duthie:
The switch method is so good. And according to Ben, it’s harder than a double cork.
12:48

Switch method. Like a boss.
12:49

Duthie:
Aussie Benny Bright, Torah’s bro, spotted in an American jacket!
12:49

They made him wait…
12:49

Sam:
The black to Shaun’s white, 92.00!
12:49

Duthie:
Now it’s the final dropper, Markus Malin. Run 1.
12:50

Sam:
A Finn to Finnish
12:50

Wild Stallyns!
12:50

Comment From tom
white did NOT deserve 95
12:51

Sam:
What would you have given Davis?

Louise von Schiller@FeistyTory

DANNY DAVIS!! fucking marry me!!! That switch method!!! *drooling* #snowboarding #halfpipe#WinterOlympics #Sochi2014

Duthie:
Oh no, he does an iPod! Gets caught in the slush between the walls and slams hard on opposite side. Shame, he was looking great before that.
12:51

Whitelines@whitelinesmag

@DomHarington “obviously a bit gutted, my legs were like jelly on that first run, but the second I thought I had it. Stoked to be here tho!”

Duthie:
Tim calling out the idiot that tweeted him about Dom not wearing a helmet. For the record, they’re compulsory at this level.
12:52

Comment From James Cavill
Where is this BBC stream? all i can find is bloody curling!
12:52

Sam:
Search for halfpipe

toddrichards@btoddrichards

@theDDeadshow puts down a solid one. Incredible considering how hard it is to ride this flat bottom switch backside.

Duthie:
Less noise about the state of the pipe in this heat – guess they improved things.
12:53

FBBB@fbbb06 Retweeted by Whitelines

To all those @BBCSport complaints! #justhuckit 300+ haters can HUCK off ;) Nothing wrong with the commentary! pic.twitter.com/PocXgq6qy9

John Woods@Itsjohnwoods

Shaun White is a fricking boss ! #halfpipe #halfpipesotchi #Sochi2014

Ed:
The battle is setting itself up nicely, and everyone’s choosing sides. Nadal vs Federer. Ali vs Foreman. White vs Davis?

Sam:
For those complaing they can’t find a stream: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=bbc+halfpipe+coverage
12:53

Duthie:
Whitelines – here to help.

Benji Farrow@benjifarrow

Any one else feel like @Taylor_Gold got a little robbed by these @fissnowboard judges? #Sochi#halfpipe

Becky@_kickingon

Interesting to hear #bbcsochi commentators discussing helmets and how quickly attitudes have changed #Sochi2014 #halfpipe @riders4helmets

Whitelines@whitelinesmag

@benkilner: “I was trying to up my amplitude and maybe just went a bit too hard.” We’re well proud of both lads though! #smashedit

Philip Riphagen@PhilipRiphagen

#bbcsochi i hope they sprt this #halfpipe out its really making the runs dull D:

Sam:
Scotty james now, is currently going through but will want to step it up again
12:55

Sam:
Loving the intro videos, So-chi-sy
12:56

Duthie:
Talk of triple corks in the BBC booth… are we likely to see it in such a sketchy pipe?
12:56

Sam Owen@neverseenaSam

#ShaunWhite is the snow equivalent of me on Tony Hawk’s on the PS2. #Sochi2014 @BBCSport#halfpipe

Sam:
Dub crippler to start but catches an edge on the landing, he’ll have to hope his first run is enough.
12:57

It’s all over for Scotty James.
12:57

Duthie:
Ayumu Nedefuji up next. He’ll most likely always be Japan’s second-best guy called Ayumu, but he put down a good ‘un in Run 1.
12:57

Duthie:
Ed panicking that he put his money on the wrong Ayumu….
12:58

Sam:
Who thinks if Danny Davis gets through on his first run score we’ll see some style at the end of this heat?
12:58

Ed:
I really hope so. Straight airs all the way. Maybe an air to fakie and an alley-oop? Come on Danny!

Duthie:
And he’s stacked it after landing really far down the wall, and sketching it on the flat. Ed breathes a sigh of relief after checking his coupon.
12:59

That bumpy flatbottom claims another victim in Ayumu Nedefuji
1:00

1iYedP@7Oceans7

#halfpipe Yo what’s wif dis damn pipe ! Is it the mush the crush the slush #Sochi2014

Me@Joe_Jack7

#bbcsochi #halfpipe what’s with the xfactor screen shots on the big screen? @SnowEdLeigh

Sam:
So-chi-sy, keep up

Sam:
Jan Scherrer from Swiss-Land, run 2 – Nothing really special at the top, solid run but will it be enough
1:01

Slava

??????? ??? ???? ??? #Olympicgames #snowboarding #sochi2014 #job #halfpipe
1:01

Not a psychopath.
1:01

hooch

halfpipe 2014 flying tomato #snowboard #halfpipe
1:01

Sam:
Not quite the same as Cheryl Maas eh?

Duthie:
USA’s Taylor Gold up next. Some are saying he was harshly judged in Run 1. What’s he got for Run 2?
1:02

Sam:
68.75 for the Swiss
1:02

Sam:
Taylor Gold is pretty swift eh?
1:02

Duthie:
Just holds on enough to avoid the flat bottom bail that claimed so many. Meanwhile, his tricks were great! Double ‘chuk and frontside 9 among others.
1:03

Sam:
Sochi – Hot snow, Cold judges, up Yours.
1:03

Ed:
Yes Ed Leigh!! On people dismissing the Michalchuck back in the day. “It was “a hucker’s trick. Just huck and hope” #huckit
1:03

Duthie:
87.5 for Taylor, he’s looking good for semis.
1:04

Sam:
El Blanco again – it’s up to him, man.
1:04

Duthie:
*Whip crack sound*
1:04

Sam:
Victory lap ahead? Camera man can’t quite keep up with his amplitude, but nothing new here. Tries the Tomahawk into the Yolo
1:05

Sam:
Doesn’t make it though, but one for the semis?
1:05

Duthie:
“If this is an arms race, Shaun White has just unveiled snowboarding’s first nuclear arsenal” – Ed Leigh back on form!
1:05

Sam:
70.75, still on top though
1:06

Duthie:
He’s got his face covered, that means he’s not happy…
1:06

Jenn H@pearsnpolkadots

Shaun White slipped of one of his jumps but his first score blows every1 away anyways #olympics#halfpipe #sochi2014

Holy cow that. Was. Massive!
1:06

Duthie:
iPod time, Run 2.
1:07

Sam:
iPod, allways the bridesmaid never the bride
1:07

Duthie:
iPod right down the gears there – he just wanted to get a run down. Maybe he’ll have to get through the semis too. Camraderie between iPod and Shaun at the bottom there.
1:08

Trying to remember which country this guy is from again.
1:08

Sam:
Is the pipe hard enough for a semi (final) yet?
1:08

neonne@neonne

Shaun White flew like a bird on his second run #halfpipe #olympics pic.twitter.com/ZhFuPMYFp3

Emmetcondon@Emmetcondon

These guys are freaks. #halfpipe #sochi2014

Duthie:
iPod is in 8th with that score, he’s still at risk!
1:09

Torah Bright@TorahBright

Heartbroken for @scottyjames31 judges underscored his first run. @Nate_johnstone and kent still to come!

Sam:
Scotty James is out, gutted
1:09

Duthie:
Tim Warwood suggesting Shaun will be mates with iPod, for as long as he doesn’t beat him…
1:09

A kiss for the viewers from iPod. But he’s on the borderline for qualification after that relatively safe run.
1:09

Sam:
Zhang Yiwei now, the unknown quantity, triple doubles, will be going through
1:10

Sam:
And he’s stoked, first time he’s put that run down. 89.75? What went wrong there?
1:11

Duthie:
Taku Hiraoka from Japan next, Run 2 – he had a cracker during his first. And boy does he look stoked on his video intro.
1:11

Duthie:
Another clean run, until he bottled it on his second-last hit and did a big no-grab 3. No last hit for him either, but he won’t need it.
1:12

In the excitement over Shaun, we forgot to post this pic of Taylor Gold – who had a very impressive run indeed.
1:12

Sam:
Nathan Johnstone next, second run – watch this method
1:13

Sam:
My bad, watch Kent Callister’s method
1:13

Alex chapman@alex_chapman19

Watching the half pipe makes me want to take up snowboarding! #ShaunWhite is unreal!

Ed:
And that right there is the biggest justification for the whole Olympic circus.

Keith Piper@Sailbiking

#bbcsochi great looking weather now also I’m liking the com on #halfpipe

Sam:
Spuffed it there, he could be out now… still in 7th but I’d be worried
1:14

Duthie:
The old dog, Crispin Libscomb, up next. Run 2 for the Canadian born in 1979…
1:14

Duthie:
Another cheeky grab (melon this time) on the drop into the pipe. If I could ride like that at 35, I’d be over the moon. He probably won’t go through though.
1:16

Cameron Hoey@CameronHoey

Fuck shaun white, that’s all I have to say. #Sochi2014 #halfpipe

Olivia Moore@livemoree

The best day of the Olympics has come!!! #halfpipe #ShaunWhite #TeamUSA #Sochi2014 ???pic.twitter.com/GPNRtSFRp0

Duthie:
Clearly El Blanco is as Marmite as ever.
1:17

Session China

@yiweiz is in 4th after the first run of the qualifiers #sochi #goyiwei #chinasnowboarding #chinesenationalteam #halfpipe #madeinchina
1:17

Sam:
Can Kim Ho-Jun hold on? Find out in his second run now
1:17

Duthie:
11th place for Lipscomb, good effort but he’s out.
1:17

Sam:
Not too keen on his hucking style here
1:17

Sam:
Stuffed it. Bye Kim.
1:18

Duthie:
Kent Callister up next – easily the best method of the games. He deserves to go though for that alone. Watch that first hit!
1:18

Sam:
King of the Sochi method
1:18

Duthie:
YES! There it is again.
1:19

Duthie:
He sketched out of his next hit, but he keeps going – and his last hit is amazing!!
1:20

Sam:
Brad Martin for Canada land now
1:21

Duthie:
Were hoping for a replay to see exactly what it was, but nothing coming.
1:21

Duthie:
That said, the camera work has improved in this heat.
1:21

And there it is again. Kent Callister’s method really is a thing of beauty.
1:22

Sam:
Nice method, a couple of spin wizzles but then another crash, he’s out
1:22

Adam Makey@adammakey

#Sochi2014 #snowboarding Kent Callister killing the #halfpipe

Duthie:
Jan Kralg, Run 2. Slovenia represent.
1:23

Duthie:
Love the coaches’ gear!
1:23

Dominic Brynolf@DomBrynolf

Nicolas Müller in “91 Words For Snow” – style personified 

via @YouTubecc @SnowEdLeigh #sochi #halfpipe

Ed:
We’ve heard Nico likes a pipe first thing in the morning.

Duthie:
He comes unstuck halfway down. His games are over.
1:24

Duthie:
Iikka-Eemeli Laari, Run 2. Took so long to type that he’s almost finished.
1:25

Duthie:
The Sochi follow-cam is yet another misjudged aspect to this competition. Meanwhile, the run they’re trying to film isn’t up to scratch. He doesn’t have the amplitude.
1:26

Duthie:
All smiles at the bottom though, and his score slightly improves to 52.00.
1:27

Duthie:
Now it’s Michal Ligocki, part of the “Polish snowboarding mafia” according to Ed Leigh.
1:27

Ed:
I hate to say it but it’s really not a great advert for halfpipe right now. The pipe is sketch, the light’s bad, the riders are struggling and even the camermen are – to quote the great Walter Sobchak – “f***g amatuers.” Thank god Shaun White, Ayumu Hirano and Danny Davis are able to show an inkling of their potential, and fingers crossed the temps drop for tonight’s final.
1:28

Duthie:
Not a bad run, finishing with a frontside 900, but it’s unlikely to be semi-final material.
1:28

Duthie:
55.00 is his score, he’s out.
1:29

JULI@ RA@JULIHALDY

#Sochi2014 #????2014 #halfpipe @JULIHALDY ????? ????????? #DennyDevis ?????? ????-?????? ????????!)?????? 2-?? ?????? pic.twitter.com/oZElNl5LpS

Ed:
That L’Oreal advert once again. Danny Davis. Definitely worth it.

Duthie:
Now it’s Run 2 for Johannes Hoepfl. German precision is there, all he needs is some flair.
1:29

Duthie:
A solid set of flat spins. It’s serviceable, but that’s about it.
1:30

sarah@sarahpietrucha

Shaun white is finally on tonight! Nobody disrupt me between 8-11 or i will kill you ? #ShaunWhite@shaun_white ????

Ed:
One wonders what Sarah will be doing while Shaun is on the TV.

Duthie:
Travelin’ Danny Davis is up next, Run 2. He will need to do more to beat Shaun and Ayumu, but he’s got style for miles.
1:31

Duthie:
He goes for the a similar run, throwing a big floaty crippler in there and finishes with a frontside hand plant.
1:32

Duthie:
Only Markus Malin can bump him from a bye to the final, so he should be happy with his runs.
1:33

Duthie:
73.75 this time. How will Markus Malin from Finland react?
1:33

Silvia Mittermüller@SilviaMittermul

Most fun to watch @theDDeadshow in these #Olympic #halfpipe qualifiers. Best handplant of the Olympics. Possibly the only one. #ThankYou

Danny Davis. Handplant. Legend status. Cemented.
1:35

Duthie:
Having flashbacks to all the puns we came up with about that board…

Duthie:
It’s a better run than his first, in that he didn’t deck it, but it’s probably not breaking into the top 9. Remember, top 3 go straight through, the next 6 go to the semis.
1:35

Duthie:
And he misses the cut with a score in the low 60s. So here’s the second heat results:
1:36

We’ve been hearing a lot of love for Danny’s board. If you’re interested, it’s next year’s Burton Easy Livin, with a colab graphic that features a Martin acoustic guitar. Sick.
1:36

Courtney Sutter@CourtneySutter

So excited to see this sexy tonight:) he’s such an amazing snowboarder. I love him<3#ShaunWhite #Sochi2014 #TheBest pic.twitter.com/ouv6ik9LDp

Ed:
Shaun Bublé…

Duthie:
Shaun, Taku and Danny go straight through to the final. Yiwei Zhang, Taylor Gold, Kent Callister, Nathan Johnstone, Iouri Podlatchikov and Jan Scherrer to the semis.
1:37

Jérémy Goubet@JeanRemyGoubet

#powertothebeard Danny Davis #Sochi2014 #halfpipe

Duthie:
So Seamus O’Connor gets a better qualification score than iPod! He won’t forget that in a hurry.
1:38

Here are the guys going straight through to the final. The rest will duke it out in the semis.
1:38

Duthie:
Two Aussies through, with the third (Scotty James) narrowly missing out.
1:39

Duthie:
And that means we get to see Kent Callister’s method at least twice more – awesome.
1:39

AUS Olympic Team@AUSOlympicTeam

These 2 happy Aussies @Nate_johnstone & @kentcallister are in the #halfpipe semi @ 2am AEDT. Scotty misses by 1.25 pic.twitter.com/i8JrvFp3pT

desmarkie@desmarkie

Seamus O’Connor made the semis!!! Come on Ireland!!! :) #Sochi2014 #Halfpipe

Ed:
Right folks. What did you make of that? And can anyone beat Shaun in the final? Let us know.
1:40

James Harper

Be easier boarding on sand !
1:41

Nathan Walton

Love him or hate him…. in ‘that pipe’ that was genuis. Beanies off to every single rider who’s made it through there today!!
1:41

James Harper

I wanna see his gopro recording !!!!!
1:42

Ian Thain

That pipe sounds all wrong
1:42

Paul Turpie Jnr

dont you think the olympics should b in scotland.have you seen all the snow were getting, now just for the wund to bugger off
1:43

Martin Creighton

You get what you pay for – don’t you IOC!!!
1:43

Paul Turpie Jnr

soz guys take a look its not a camera man but only a camera.like the ones used in football matches that runs on a line.aviemores half pipe looks better!lol
1:43

Sarah C Jones

Hideous… boards flapping about all over the place… while I’m gutted for Ben and Dom, I’m also a sneaky bit glad they’re no longer at risk of getting injured… Praying no one gets badly hurt :-(
1:43

Richard Johnson

Still dont think its as bad in the Half Pipe as it was for the Slopestyle, that was just plain Dangerous!
1:44

Richard Mushet

It’s a joke. The judging is laughable and all that slush is grim for everyone.
1:44

Nathan Walton

last time i saw a pipe like that i was wearing short trousers playing with my lego man riding him through my slush puppy cup….. 3 weeks ago to be precise
1:45

j o h n n y@johnnypkirkwood

Sochi’s park crew was last seen using this device to construct the walls of the halfpipe. #olympics#halfpipe pic.twitter.com/EZTP1USdE6

Ed:
Haha quality!

toddrichards@btoddrichards

Hey who’s this Shaun kid, I think he might have a future in this ?

Kate Pantier@katepantier

Pretty sure #ShaunWhite is growing up, maturing, tastes changing. I don’t look like I did 8 years ago….. Why should he?! @GMA #gma

Ed:
Yep. I hear he finally likes olives.

Jonathan Weaver@Jonathan_Weaver

2014 – the Year Style won in Snowboarding.

Whitelines@whitelinesmag

@Jonathan_Weaver We hope so Weaver! We hope so. Maybe they needed a 90’s pipe to bring it back ;)

Comment From alexlowe76
what time (UK) is the semis?
1:49

Duthie:
3pm UK time.

Krystelle@_Krystelle

Shaun White is an absolute machine, but I really want to see @iouriamazing on the podium!#teamiPod @Sochi2014 #halfpipe

Steve Olliffe@SteveOlliffe Retweeted by TIM WARWOOD

Here you go at @SnowEdLeigh & @Tim_Warwood I pressed pause for you – such a stylish#Method pic.twitter.com/oIIcG7Rtlz

Whitelines@whitelinesmag

@SteveOlliffe @SnowEdLeigh @Tim_Warwood – as did we! pic.twitter.com/FrGYVNBLx7

Ed Leigh@SnowEdLeigh

Yes what a still! RT @SteveOlliffe Here you go at & @Tim_Warwood I pressed pause for you – such a stylish #Method pic.twitter.com/U0wGj87McD

Clara Vaz@ClaraVaz1

This #halfpipe seems wildly unfair. Bumps, loose snow, flat bottoms… none of that sounds manageable. #SochiProblems

ai

???????#dannydavis #snowboard #sochi #olympic
1:59

Quick insta from photographer Mikey Weyerhauser: “This here’s the man. Give the man some vive, people – he’ll feel it” #The Dude
2:00

Krystina@kiikiimariie

“@emase7: I’m sorry but these snowboarding commentators need to lose their boners for#ShaunWhite #Sochi2014” lmao

Ed:
I can only presume you’re watching in the States, we’re fairly sure Ed Leigh doesn’t have a boner for Shaun.

Duthie:
Definitely not the other way around, anyway.
2:01

Ben Kilner@benkilner

Well what can I say.. I tried my best. Conditions were tough but I enjoyed it. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t gutted.

Duthie:
Gutted for you Ben, it’s been great watching you. Next time!

Whitelines@whitelinesmag

@benkilner Don’t kick yourself Ben, you did us proud. We all know what you’re capable of in a decent pipe!

Duthie:
That’s it for the qualifiers – it’s been a strange one, no? The pipe’s rubbish, the Brits are out, and iPod only just scraped into the semis. Will the next round have as much drama? Join us when we go live at 3pm GMT:http://whitelin.es/OlympicMensHalfpipeSemiFinalLiveBlog