THIS BLOG HAS NOW CLOSED. YOU CAN READ BACK THROUGH IT (DON’T FORGET TO CLICK ON THE ‘READ MORE’ TABS AS YOU SCROLL DOWN) AND JOIN US FOR THE SEMI-FINAL LIVE BLOG HERE >>

Welcome to Whitelines‘ live blog of the 2014 Winter Olympics women’s halfpipe qualification in Sochi. We’ll be kicking off at 10am GMT on Wednesday 12th 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 28 riders have been divided into two heats. Heat 1 (startlist) begins at 10am, Heat 2 (startlist) at 12pm.
• 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-rider 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.

Wednesday February 12, 2014

Ed: 
Good morning. Have you all recovered from last night’s drama? I’m not sure we have, but here we go again. We’re live with the women’s halfpipe qualifiers.
9:56 

Duthie: 
“Beatutiful here in Malaga this morning”, says the BBC’s Tim Warwood. That bodes well for the pipe…
9:57 

Ed: 
The sun is out, we’re at low altitude and apparently the pipe is looking super soft. It’s 10 degrees in the Rosa Khutor extreme park.
9:57 

Sam: 
Hey folks! Thanks for joining us once again, last live blog for us, tomorrow Ed’s going to let us see the sun again…
9:59 

Kelly Clark, one of the pre-event hot favourites, to drop second.
9:59 

Sam: 
Sophie Rodriguez is due to drop first, any moment now…
9:59 

Ed: 
You’ll have to leave this country to see the sun Sam. It’s raining… again.
9:59 

Sam: 
And here she goes!
10:00 

Green dreads from Team Aus – yes!
10:01 

Sam: 
Pipe looking way icier now, setting Sophie up for a nice crippler to finish
10:01 

Sam: 
78.5, not a bad qualifying score
10:02 
????? ????????

??????. ??????. ????. :-) ???? ??? #halfpipe #sochi2014
10:02 

Duthie: 
Now it’s the multi-medalled Kelly Clark. She’s been absolutely dominant in the pipe for years. She hasn’t won a gold at the Olympics since 2002 – and she’l be looking for another. Kelly Clark, Run 1…
10:02 
? Chloe Rykers ?

let’s go Torah. Gold here we come! ? #torahbright #halfpipe #winterolympics
10:02 

Duthie: 
No terrible singing from Kelly at the top – that’s not like her.
10:02 

Darren North

Good luck in that pipe girls !!!!
10:04 

Duthie: 
Not Kelly’s best, but clearly she was just looking to put down a safety run. The big frontside air gave a taste of what she can do, and rumour has it she might go for back-to-back 1080s. If she did, they’d be the first ever in women’s competition.
10:04 

Christian Sullivan

I hope so go the Aussies !!
10:04 

Duthie: 
92.25 – huge score! What would her best run get?
10:04 

Sam: 
Ursina Haller up next, can the Swiss do it again in the halfpipe?
10:05 

Sam: 
Sketches her first hit but tidy run down to the end, ladies are putting it down today, unlkie the men…
10:06 

Sam: 
69.00, the best score
10:06 

That’s an impressive start for Kelly Clark. Advance to the finals, do not pass Go…
10:07 

Duthie: 
The first of the Chinese riders now. Shuang Li, Run 1. There’s the singing! Better than Kelly, from the sounds of things.
10:07 

Another day, another method. Nice one Kelly.
10:07 

David Grice@DJGrice

Love @Tim_Warwood and @SnowEdLeigh’s “First place, first run” line. #nevergetsold #bbcsochi

Skyler Wilder@NorthWestWilder

Looking good! @Kellyclarkfdn is a smart rider who just completed her first run with some simple yet stylish tricks in the #halfpipe

Duthie: 
Could of straight airs, including a method that makes us wish Kent Callister had a sister. It;s not bad, but it’s not all that good either.
10:08 

BBC Sport@BBCSport

If you want to watch the live women’s snowboarding halfpipe catch it online now bbc.in/1ntfF3P#bbcsochi

Bethan Roberts@roberts_bethan

In 2012 it was the random dressage I spent a day off watching today it’s the curling #lovecurling#bbcsochi

Sam: 
Yeah Bethan. Or not. Come to the darkside and watch the halfpipe

laflecheblonde

#Snowboard #halfpipe #sotchi2014 Encore un #sport de malades! #playmobil #klicky #click #blondarrow
10:09 

Sam: 
Holy Crawford now, the Aussie vet!
10:09 

Sam: 
First rider to go down, butt checks a front 7 on her second hit
10:10 

American Idol@AmericIdol24x7

Kelly Clark Mistaken For ‘American Idol’ Star – WebProNews dlvr.it/4vs1DB

Duthie: 
Must be the singing.

Duthie: 
Zhifeng Sun, Run 1. Can she rise to the occasion?
10:11 

That’s actually a real kangaroo. Apparently the temps here are well suited to them
10:11 

Sam: 
Looking forward to spotting Tristan in his Hawaiian shirt

Duthie: 
Third games for her. Probably quite a good run, but who can tell from that shocking camera work? Need to go have a lie down, I feel queasy.
10:12 

Duthie: 
Lovely frontside air on the final hit. The score is… after a long wait, she gets a 70.00. 4th place right now.
10:13 

Sam: 
Queralt Castellet now, Spain’s one Olympian and Duthie’s hot pick. Aye aye aye!
10:13 

Chinese rider in legitimate grab shock!
10:13 

Gareth Vogan@GarethVogan

I really want to go ride halfpipe now….this may call for a wee trip north to the distant land of the Scots…. #halfpipe

Duthie: 
Fans of UK snowbording history will have appreciated the mentions of Scott Nixon and Adam Gendle there from the commentators.
10:14 

Benjamin Pelc@screwlabour

Top 20 finish for Chemmy (19th) in the Women’s Downhill. Time to book the open top bus and close down Trafalgar Sq. #bbcsochi

Duthie: 
Can’t tell if this guy’s joking.

Sam: 
Big run from the Spaniard! Shame about the two straight airs but the judges might be regretting giving Kelly Clark such a huge score straight out the gates. Predicting she’ll be through.
10:15 

Sam: 
95 and first, someone grab a selfie with Kelly…
10:15 

Duthie: 
Time for a Kiwi, cuz. Rebecca Sinclair, Run 1.
10:15 

Great style from Queralt
10:15 

Duthie: 
Couple of nice straight airs to start, but didn’t stick the crippler on the third hit, and she’ll need to rely on her next run.
10:16 

Sam: 
Sarka Pancochova – The Shark Bite. She had a bit of a nip in the slopestyle and might have a new helmet sponsor by now: whitelines.com/news/sochi-2014-sarka-pancochova-cracks-her-helmet-in-nightmare-slam.html
10:16 

Duthie: 
Great to see Sarka’s doing well – hoping it’s not too quick a return to action though.
10:17 

Sam: 
She’s dropping, this could be huge.
10:17 

Sochi cable cam operator in rider-in-frame shock!
10:17 

The face of game.
10:18 

Sam: 
She was looking really good, two straight airs and two 5 but then stacks a 7. She’s OK though and still smiling
10:18 

Sam: 
She’s stoked! 42.75, should be through after her second run
10:19 

Duthie: 
Another Aussie now, Stephanie Magiros. Run 1. Check those feathers in her hair!
10:19 

Yeah Sarka!!!
10:19 

Sam: 
Halfpipe lip gloss…?
10:20 

Sarka killing it!
10:21 

Sam: 
Definition of hucking it on Steph’s last hit, send that to the Times
10:21 

Duthie: 
Looks like she’ll need her second run to get through. Her first hit was ace, a big Mikelchuk, and although she stayed on her feet the damage was done. Bye Bye speed, bye bye good score.
10:21 

Birds of a feather.
10:21 

Duthie: 
27.25 for Stephanie, with a shout-out to Sydney.
10:21 

Maxine@MaxineBSmith

“Pick a chocolate bar, that was sweet” High quality commentary for the snowboard halfpipe there…#WinterOlympics #bbcsochi #TeamGB2014

Sam: 
Hannah Trigger now for Aus again, run 1 – many straight airs, nothing special. Still better than the China grabs from last night
10:23 

Neville Harvey@nevharvey

Disturbing lack of cowbell action at this winter Olympics #sochi2014 #BBCSochi

Duthie: 
Alexandra Duckworth, Run 1. The Canadian will be hoping she doesn’t go down.
10:23 

Rodri Roman@rodrigoromanper

#Sochi2014 #SochiRTVE #increible #halfpipe !! pic.twitter.com/iCPWioMfty

Federico Iovanovich@FIovanovich

#ShaunWhite stomping a #backside #willy #grind / #fackie #smithgrind during the #Sochi2014#Olympics #halfpipe #final pic.twitter.com/uh4n2lxJpU

Duthie: 
Pun too far, perhaps.
10:24 

Still mesmerised by those feathers. Fashion genius or fashion fail?
10:24 

Esther Platten@EstherPlatten

C’mon Team GB! We just #lovecurling thanks for great coverage #bbcsochipic.twitter.com/MvvtiLAYYp

Sam: 
Get that kid a snowboard!

toddrichards@btoddrichards

Australia has some of the most deadly animals on the planet! Will we add @TorahBright to that list here today? #defendingthegold

Becky Gibson

Really want Torah to do well here
10:25 

Casper Gibbons

Go Torah !!
10:25 

Sam: 
Fly Away Home Duthie, we’ve had enough of your puns
10:25 

Duthie: 
Duck yeah – Alexandra gets a solid run down with crippler, frontside alley-opp, back 5 – until right at the end, where she falls on a frontside 720.
10:25 

Ambers Theme@AmbersTheme

#halfpipe She looks like a bird with all those feathers in her hair ??
Sklif17

?????? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ??????, ??? ???? ? ?????? ????????????, ??????? ???? ??????? ??????! ????? ????? ???????? ????? ?? ????????? ?????????) PS ???, ?????? ???)) #sochi2014 #halfpipe #shaunwhite
10:26 

Duthie: 
Will we see anything like this today?

Sam: 
Nadja Purtschert, another Swissy dropping.
10:26 

Duthie: 
42.25 for Duckworth.
10:26 

Aaron Markie

WTF! the Australian commentator of the halfpipe has no idea what 360, 540, 720, 1080 means. He ads half to a full rotation on EVERY call
10:27 

Sam: 
Going pretty big! Clips the coping on the last hit, but it wasn’t no El Blanco.
10:27 

That anxious wait for the scores does not get any easier…
10:27 

I am a skier. ??

COME ON @hannahtrigger we are all cheering for you!! ? #hannahtrigger #sochi2014 #halfpipe #snowboard #olympics #olympics2014 #australia #gohannah
10:28 

Duthie: 
And now it’s the only Croation freestyle snowboarder at the games, Morena Makar. Run 1 for her.
10:28 

Dee Kay

Steph Magiros repping #Australia in #snowboarding #halfpipe at #sochi2014 #olympics. #stephaniemagiros CURRENTLY ON CHANNEL 10.
10:29 

Duthie: 
Not a great run from the Croat. Lots of frontside spins and straight airs, barely out of the pipe. She narrowly avoids an “absolute dignity-stripper” at the end, where she nearly catches her edge after leaving the pipe.
10:30 

Duthie: 
44.75 – technically enough for semis at the moment, but it is unlikely to stay that way.
10:31 

Sam: 
Ed Leigh has some money riding on the Spaniard we feel
10:31 

Standings after run 1
10:31 

Sam: 
And that’s the first runs over, Queralt Castellet and Kelly Clark way out in the lead
10:31 

Dean O’Donnell@DangerDean

“She’s the funnest to ride with” c’mon man @Craig_McMorris you’re a broadcaster!? #Sochi2014#mcmorrisquotes #halfpipe #Olympics2014 #lol

Duthie: 
C’mon, that’s important!

Abigail@thisaeshaw

Ladies halfpipe! Curling! Such choices! The ace of the #bbcsochi snowboarding commentators swings it for me though…

Tina Macica@Tina_Macica

So sorry #ShawnWhite! Wanted you to have gold! #KellyClark, wishing you luck to bring home gold Mammoth and West Dove! @USOlympic

Sam: 
Who’s Shawn?

Duthie: 
Sophie Rodriguez, Run 2. France’s finest is in the auto qualifiers at the moment, but a long, long way off from Queralt and Kelly.
10:35 

Sam: 
Our editor still gutted Ayumu didn’t win him a mountain bike last night…
10:36 

Duthie: 
Back 9, tailgrab, then butt-slam on the third hit. She won’t do better than third.
10:36 

Kate Freebairn@katefreebairn10

Getting excited to watch Torah Bright go for gold in tonight’s snowboard half pipe! #GoAussies@SochiOnTen

Sam: 
It looks like Sochi bought their snow from Hemel Hempsted, caster sugar
10:37 

Marius DAVID@Marius_foot

@sophiesnowboard est qualifiée pour la demi-finale. Bravo @FranceOlympique #sotchi2014#halfpipe

Duthie: 
Formidable!

Sam: 
Kelly Clark, the favourite with her second run, sitting in second. She hates not winning so watch her step it up here
10:38 

Hoan Lam@hoanlam

Nearly everyone is falling over in women’s #halfpipe #Sochi2014

Duthie: 
Yep, lots of incomplete runs. Due to the state of the pipe, maybe?

Sarah Baldwin@Sbaldo29

This #halfpipe at #Sochi2014 is below standard to say the least, how can athletes show there talent if the equipment is pure ?

Sam: 
Big frontside air, front 10, cab 7 and some other huge hits, she’ll be back on top
10:38 

Sam: 
95.00, straight to the final
10:40 

Duthie: 
Ursina Haller, Run 2. The Swiss’ brother Christian was in the men’s final last night.
10:40 

A 95. In qualis. That’s ominous.
10:40 

Sam: 
Tim Warwood with some more brilliant insights: ‘Kelly Clark’s facebook status will read I’m way better than you.’
10:40 

Eilidh MacNicol@shesarebelx

Kelly Clark throwing down a massive 10 in the pipe. Someone give that girl a medal!

Ed: 
All in good time Eilidh

Duthie: 
Solid, if a bit clinical. She’ll probably be in the semis with that.
10:41 

Dave Langridge@dave_langridge

Kelly Clark showing how it’s done. #halfpipe #Sochi2014 #WinterOlympics

Tyler Schloss@tank_dogg06

Kelly Clark just threw it down. Let’s hope she didn’t waste the 95 on qualifying like Shaun did.#everystep #USA

Maria Maclean@dippyntig

@aimee_fuller brilliant commentary from you and the team. Love the passion and zest for the sport. Keep it up #Sochi2014 #bbcsochi

Duthie: 
The support keeps coming!

Julz@julzface

This Kelly Clark is quite good. I think she might do well.

Jenny Jones@jennyjonessnow

How big is Kelly Clark going! @SnowEdLeigh…. Putting it down in the halfpipe womens qualifiers!#machine. @Kellyclarkfdn

Sam: 
Li Shuang trying to make the semis now, go China!
10:42 

Sam: 
The pipe controlling her run rather than the other way around, that cab 7 mercifully cutting her run short
10:43 

Duthie: 
Holly Crawford, Run 2. First of three Australian riders in this heat. Aussie Aussie Aussie, if you will.
10:44 

Duthie: 
Oh dear, that was looking good with big spins, but one of them got away from her. She slashes the wall, but that’ll be her Olympics over.
10:46 

Sam: 
What way up does Sun Zhifeng have her eggs in the morning Duthie?
10:46 

Sam: 
The littlest Chinese rider dropping now
10:47 

Sam: 
Trying a Haaken flip near the end, didn’t quite make it though.
10:47 

Duthie: 
Just got hold of this exclusive comment on that run from JP Walker: “Uuuuuuuh Sun.”
10:47 

Whachagonnado?
10:48 

BBC Homepage@bbccouk

See the #bbcsochi commentators’ totally impartial reaction to @jennyjonessnow’s bronze:bbc.in/1ggvPMK pic.twitter.com/pBtSTne5S1

Duthie: 
Queralt Castallet from Spain, Run 2. She was in first at the start of these runs, but Kelly pipped her and now she’s in second. Still massively likely that she’ll make the final though.
10:48 

Claire@TheLeachyy

The snowboarding commentators are the best #bbcsochi

Sammie Eriksson@SamEriksson

Are the Chinese, at least in the halfpipe, told to show their Nike made gloves? They’re always displaying them. #bbcsochi

Ed: 
Possibly. Tho it’s not exactly new to show off your sponsor’s kit is it?

Sam: 
This heat is dragging, so much so that Ed Leigh is evidently listeing to a Russian language tape
10:49 

Duthie: 
Goes for the 1080 on the last hit! Looked like a huck-it-and-hope, as it wasn’t solid at all. Her first run score will be her best. No-one’s touching Kelly right now.
10:50 

Sam: 
Rebecca Sinclair will be dropping next, can she make it to the finals?
10:51 

Sam: 
Nice poke on the first frontside air, crippler and a back 5 but doesn’t ride away clean, that’ll be her out then
10:52 

Sarah May@SarahMay29

Halfpipe in awful condition for the women’s heats! #Sochi2014 #bbcsochi

Hamish Livingstone@Flufball_

I love the note of realisation that creeps into @SnowEdLeigh’s voice when he realises he needs to explain what he’s talking about. #bbcsochi
Sklif17

#sochi2014 #shaunwhite #halfpipe
10:53 

Jake@JGNewt

The commentators on the snowboarding half pipe are priceless!! #WinterOlympics #snowboarding#halfpipe

Sam: 
Spoke too soon! That run puts her in eighth so there’s still a slim chance
10:53 

Duthie: 
Here’s the diminutive Czeck rider, Sarka Pancochova. Run 2. We’re rooting for her, she’s a great rider with a great attitude.
10:53 

Sam: 
Shark Attack!
10:53 

Duthie: 
Go Shark Bite!
10:53 
Jeremy Buswell

I mean really!?!? #olympics #winterolympics #olympics2014 #2014 #snowboard #snowboarding #halfpipe #babes #sochionten
10:53 

Duthie: 
Where did her speed go? Looked good with some 540s and straight airs, at a recent height, but by the end of her run she was struggling to get above the coping. Great method though! 7th place with 66.25.
10:55 
emjokamoto

Cheering for our friend Kelly! #olympics #halfpipe #kellyclark #goforgold
10:55 

Sam: 
The bird is the word now, Stephanie Magiros seems to have smuggled a native bird into Russia with her.
10:55 

Buck Sheoighe@nokenwari

Torah Bright asked Putin to fix the half pipe. What she didn’t realise is that Putin is like Honey Badger.

Another lovely method from Sarka.
10:56 

Duthie: 
Got the pipe floor in close-up there. Looks like a pudding.
10:57 

Sam: 
Rodeo to start, this could be a good run but she’s losing height, looking OK though. Catches a big heel edge after the last hit but probably due to the filthy state of the flat bottom
10:57 

Duthie: 
Run 2 for Hannah Trigger, the final Aussie. She’ll be gunning it, no doubt.
10:58 

Sam: 
Stephanie gets enough to keep her in the semis for now, four more riders to drop
10:58 

Hamish Livingstone@Flufball_

Oof. I have ‘fond’ memories of catching an edge like that. Feel for the Australian. #bbcsochi#Sochi2014

The Olympic halfpipe everyone.
10:58 

Duthie: 
Another average run for Hannah, with a bail at the end. Surely not enough for the next round.
10:59 

Duthie: 
Alexandra Duckworth will drop next. The only Canadian in this heat, hoping to increase their medal take after disappointment in the slopestyle.
11:00 

Ski Ben Eoin

We hope you are up early this morning watching Nova Scotia’s own Alexandra Duckworth in the women’s snowboarding halfpipe! I bet the folks at Martock are watching closely!

Congrats Alex on representing your sport and our province!

11:00 

Comment From Ray Chuss 
Loving the content guys – great stuff
11:00 

Duthie: 
Cheers Ray, keep your comments coming!

Play it nice and cool, son. Nice and cool, you know what I mean?
11:01 

Duthie: 
Back 5, front 5, front 7, there was a lot about that run to like. A semi-final spot is Duckworth’s, surely.
11:01 

Duthie: 
69.75, 7th place. Catches her hair in her zip on live TV…
11:02 

Duthie: 
Now its Nadja Purtschert from Switzerland. iPod’s victory might have rubbed off on her.
11:02 

Duckworth. Not a method. (One for the cricket fans)
11:03 

Duthie: 
Big backside air but comes miles out of the pipe wall and stacks at the bottom of the transition.
11:03 

Donna McTaggart@donnamct

Enjoying the #halfpipe qualifying run – these girls are fearless and talented! #Sochi2014

OMG – they killed Kenny!
11:03 

PatriciaKarvelas@PatsKarvelas

Okay I feel bad but I want all the other women to fall over so the Australians go through to semi final #halfpipe #sochi

Duthie: 
Fear the wrath of the 300….

Duthie: 
Last to drop is Morena Makar from Croatia. She’s been making up the numbers so far.
11:04 

Duthie: 
Went for brook with a frontside 720, but after falling she’s off home.
11:05 

Ed: 
More love coming in for Ed Leigh and Tim Warwood’s BBC commentary…
11:05 

Cam Maxwell

Love these guys. So much better than the other bland olympic commentary
11:05 

Chris Sillitoe

their commenting style is more unusual than a reptile giving birth!
11:05 

Dan Moore

Awesome commentary, it’s really refreshing to have people who are really passionate about what they do!!!
11:05 

Graeme Walker

Loving the commentary, banter and analogies. Keep it up guys.
11:05 

Martin Boyle

Ed, Tim and Aimee should be getting signed up now to commentate on the football World Cup htis summer. Now that would be worth watching!
11:05 

Duthie: 
13th place for Morena – a smile and a wave to camera though, which is always good to see.
11:06 

Professor Andy Miah@andymiah

Once they are done w the #halfpipe today, can I please, please have a go? #Sochi2014

???????? ???????@riendja

Riders que me ponen el #RABO como cuello de cantaor… Nadja Purtschert #sochi#snowboarding #halfpipe #wholepipe pic.twitter.com/XhORRMCx9B

? Heja Sverige ?@alex_soren_ice

Kelly Clark Queralt Castellet Sophie Rodriguez finish top three in Heat 1, will move straight to the final.#sochi #snowboard

Duthie: 
So that;s a wrap for Heat 1, but stay with us and we’ll comment on Heat 2 once it gets underway.
11:10 

11:11 

11:13 

Duthie: 
There’s your results. Kelly Clark, Queralt Castallet and Sophie Rodriguez going straight to the final. Shaung Li, Ursina Haller, Zhifeng Sun, Alexandra Duckworth, Sarka Pancochova and Stephanie Magiros go to the semis.
11:13 

Hamish Livingstone@Flufball_

Why don’t we have a winter commenwealth games? That’s a genuine question, as alpine sports aside there are a lot of indoor sports. #bbcsochi

Kirstie Whitaker@kirstie_j

HAAA – I know folk were complaining over the weekend – but I LOVE the #BBCSochi commentary on the snowboarding half pipe comp!

hasveen?@hasvEEEn

Poor Torah Bright she has so much pressure riding on her

Duthie: 
I dunno, she seems to be walking on a cloud. Even when she’s winning gold medals! Think she’ll be just fine.

Cen@Cenkazor

Watching the lovely winter olympics to see how torah will go on the halfpipe but kelly clark killed it so far.

Duthie: 
Just over half an hour to go til heat 2. Standout riders are likely be be the USA’s Arielle Gold and Hannah Teter, and of course Australia’s Torah Bright.
11:37 

Davidson Harrison@harrison_100

Kelly Clark is the overwhelming favourite to win the women’s halfpipe & she’s just climbed up into top spot in the qualification…………

Duthie: 
Anyone prepared to pick another winner? Or is this Kelly’s day?

Kelly Clark@Kellyclarkfdn

@juliechu13 #mentallytough haha! Thanks girl! Heard you hv a big game today! #getit #TeamUSA

Duthie: 
Ice hockey legend Julie Chu giving Kelly some encouragement there.

Duthie: 
Bit of a lull between events here, mainly because there are less women in the qualifiers than there were in the men’s event. If you’ve got time on your hands, tai a look at this:http://whitelin.es/PigPlane
11:46 

bretteyes

You may have fallen…but you’re still #1.
11:47 

Duthie: 
Support flooding in for El Blanco after missing out on the medals. What’s his next move?

lydonsh

I’ve had no doubt he is the best player ever.???In his case, it’s not really much whether he win or lose. I wanna get in the game for him next.
11:48 

Ross Watson

#Repost from @iouripodladtchikov of his gold medal run last night in the #halfpipe #sosick
11:48 

Ollie@Bamberette

Go Torah Bright! Will stay up and watch this #halfpipe

Sam: 
And here’s the report on the first heat of today’s qualifiers:http://whitelin.es/Sochi2014WomensHalfpipeQualifiers
11:49 

Andy Burt@AndyBurt_

Come on #sheffield we need a snowdome, a big #newSheffieldSkiVillage! This is the proof!! ellis-brigham.com/advice-inspira… #BBCSochi

Duthie: 
Should have mentioned Dom Harington as well, but it’s a fair point.

Gardy Fortune@AnnexCEO

Meh no sleep, guess I’m up for the 2nd Heat, Grab a spot Teter, Farrington and Gold!! #Halfpipe#everystep

Duthie: 
Big shout of ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie’ from the crowd there. Love it.
11:54 

AUS Olympic Team@AUSOlympicTeam

5 minutes & #halfpipe heat 2 is underway! @TorahBright will be the 14th & final rider down the pipe #TorahTime #GoAUS pic.twitter.com/Ag56YgPfbh

k.@startingathend

#womencrushwednesday Snowboarder Torah Bright instagram.com/p/kUKqMKBQfL/

Duthie: 
Ed Leigh back on the mic – 5 minutes until the second heat begins. Arielle Gold from USA to drop first.
11:56 

Duthie: 
Buckets of salt being used to undo the damage from the baking sun.
11:56 

Duthie: 
Is it too much to ask for a hard pipe?
11:56 

Duthie: 
Hmm, was expecting Crap Innuendo Man (aka WL boss Ed) to jump in there, but he’s distracted
11:57 

Hamish Livingstone@Flufball_

One of the best explanations of snowboard waxing I’ve ever heard from @SnowEdLeigh there.#bbcsochi #Sochi2014

Duthie: 
Sam say: pipe = dogshit
11:59 
amyblake

The only #WinterOlympics I’ll be competing in.. #Mario & #Sonic! ??
11:59 

Duthie: 
Fair enough – it worked for Jamie Anderson!

Duthie: 
Skiers still side-slipping down the middle. Keep polishing that turd guys.
11:59 

Sam: 
That pipe… BBC whingers send your complaints straight to Sochi!
11:59 
bedi_cnt

Was nice? might no be the must difficult figure for a snowboarder, but my fav far far far! So stylish ~Credit to the owner ~ #snowboard #jo2014 #halfpipe #snow #board #sochi
12:00 

yulia_danilova

??????? #snowboard #halfpipe #sochi2014 #extremepark #rozakhutor #olimpicgames
12:00 

Mistress ? ø lll ·o.@kelmariebrown

Countdown until Torah Bright! #Sochi2014 #GoAus

Laura Pritchard@LJ_Pritchard

Painting the blue lines on the half pipe should be a Winter Olympic sport. #bbcsochi

Sam: 
No

Ilona Puskala@ilbouuu

Go Ella! #Sotshi #halfpipe

Sam: 
Arielle Gold is out already! Duthie losing another fiver there…
12:02 

Duthie: 
Getting word that Arielle Gold is out! Big slam in practice. Straight on to Ella Suitala. Gutted – had Arielle down as a dark horse.
12:03 

Sam: 
Ella Suitiala dropping for the Finns now, bunch of straight airs with some small spins but getting a whole load of hits in before she slips out
12:03 

Duthie: 
The Finnish rider rinses as many hits as possible out of the pipe, but hits the coping on what must be hit number 6.
12:03 

Duthie: 
Rana Okada, Run 1. Japan have got two halfpipe medals already, but they’ll be looking for more.
12:04 

Duthie: 
Jesus, that snow at the top…. so sugary,
12:04 

Duthie: 
Skids out of a front 7 but keeps the run going. Lots of good hits there, she’s done well despite the hiccup.
12:05 

Duthie: 
Japan is a halfpipe rider factory right now – the American-dominated era is surely over?
12:06 

Röbert Hööper@HoopRobe

All these Winter Olympics have gotten me hyped to hit the dry slope today #bbcsochi#wantrealsnow #goingforit

Sam: 
Mirabelle Thovex, legend Candide’s little sis is dropping now, representing France
12:06 

Sam: 
Putting it down, coming from not too far away from where I call home I’m rooting for her
12:07 

Sam: 
71.75, puts her in first for now
12:08 

Duthie: 
Another Frenchwoman now, Clemence Grimal. Run 1. Not got the pedigree of Mirabelle, but let’s see how she does.
12:08 

Duthie: 
Now that Arielle’s out, she’s the second-youngest rider at 19.
12:08 

Duthie: 
Nope, she falls twice in the same run. Not a great performance.
12:09 

Sam: 
Cai Xuetong the last Chinese rider is due to drop now
12:09 

Sam: 
Oops! Her team mate Lui Jiayu is up soon, sorry!
12:10 

Duthie: 
Sam having a China Crisis there.
12:10 

Duthie: 
Camera pointing straight into the sun – no use at all.
12:11 

Sam: 
Nothing too special here, she’ll hope for a better second run
12:12 

Duthie: 
The third of four Yanks to drop, here’s Kaitlin Farrington for Run 1. The US women’s field was almost as stacked as the men’s, so just qualifying for the games is a big deal.
12:12 

Sam: 
Sorry again! 74 so goes into the lead, didn’t think it was that special…
12:12 

Duthie: 
As her team-mate Sage Kotsenburg would say – Noice! Frontside air, backside 900, alley-oop 540, switch backside 720, backside 5 to finish!
12:13 

Dave Langridge@dave_langridge

Girls look like they aren’t able to get the speed that they want #halfpipe #Sochi2014#WinterOlympics

Sam: 
That was my top run of the day so far
12:14 

Lovely frontside air from Kaitlyn Farrington
12:14 

Sam: 
Lui Jiayu dropping for China now
12:15 

Duthie: 
Was Ms Farrington the first rider to spin switch backside?
12:15 

Kaitlyn chasing some tail
12:15 

Duthie: 
Look at what it’s like just off the pipe. Is that Risoul in May?

Sam: 
The Chinese girls getting way better grabs on than their male counter parts
12:15 

Sam: 
81.75 puts her in 2nd for now
12:16 

Duthie: 
Now it’s Joanna Zajac. Run 1 for the rider from Poland.
12:16 

James Masters@Masters_JamesD

Torah Bright going for glory in the halfpipe….I bet she’ll SCROLL to victory….. #Sochi2014.

We have the Japan grab, we’ll call this the China
12:17 

Maybe something in those Chinese Nike conspiracy theorists after all?
12:17 

Duthie: 
Uninspiring stuff, that won’t get her anywhere. Today, Pole position means right down the table.
12:18 

toddrichards@btoddrichards

@GMA @sagekotsenburg #askSageGMA Sage, now that you are an American snowboarding hero, have you considered wearing a cape while riding now?

sage kotsenburg@sagekotsenburg

@btoddrichards @GMA yes will now be riding in a red cape all the time haha

Method in the Olympic madness
12:19 

James Masters@Masters_JamesD

For clarification, Torah Bright, despite the name which sounds like a Chabad venue, is actually Mormon and not Jewish. #CNNSochi #Sochi2014

Sam: 
Nice alley-oop rodeo but nothing else special. At all.
12:19 

Señor Bitchlympics@Bitchlympics

@LunaticRex torah bright is coming up in a few minutes

Duthie: 
Not a great tweet, but hats off for the profile pic.

Chuckbuddy, on course
12:20 

Sam: 
45.75, you’d hope bigger score than that will be necessary to make the semis
12:20 

Duthie: 
Verena Rohrer now, another Swiss. Chocs away for Run 1.
12:21 

Duthie: 
A bit sketchy, and she goes down. She’ll need to me more on point than a Toblerone in her next run.
12:21 

Tasty frontside air from Verena
12:21 

Jo Softley@Jo_Softley

@SnowEdLeigh Busy watching women’s #halfpipe is not gettin my work done #goteameveryone

Sam: 
Three big names to finish off the first runs now, Mercedes Nicholl the first of them.
12:22 

Paola ?

You might not have won but you’re still one of the best at what you do(: #ShaunWhite<3 #HalfPipe #Olympics #Soshi 12:23  Sam:  Losing the feed slightly but this is looking good from Mercedes, Benz-ing her legs on landing 12:24  Duthie:  2006's gold medallist Hannah Teter up next. She almost didn't make the cut for Sochi. Last American to drop, here goes Run 1. 12:24  Sam:  only 43.5 and if the next two riders get their runs down she'll be pushed out of the runnings for now 12:25  Duthie:  She's ditched the quilt jacket! Too warm maybe? 12:25  Hanna focuses at the top 12:26  Duthie:  She's gone for the Pippi Longstocking 'do this afternoon. Backside air, frontside 5, backside 5, frontside air, air to fake, cab 360 and finishes with a brilliant backside 900. Went massive at the top of the pipe, too. 12:26  But will she ever live this down?! 12:26  Sam:  Torah Bright now, can she blow the competition away? 12:27  Duthie:  Torah Torah Torah! 12:27  Dave Langridge@dave_langridge Hannah Teter killed it on her first run! Looking forward to Torah's run. #halfpipe #Sochi2014#WinterOlympics Mistress ? ø lll ·o.@kelmariebrown Here's our Torah! Come on Torah Bright!!! #TorahTime Sam:  There's than single toothed smile again 12:27  Eric Le@_____ele Go Torah Bright ! Lilithia KatyCat ???@lilithia Back home to cheer on Torah Bright. YAY! #Sochi2014 Torah ready to rock! 12:28  Ed:  Torah is in a different league, sorry. 12:28  Sam:  Amazing run from Torah, going huge and getting proper tweaked grabs on every hit, that was a score in the 90s right there 12:28  Duthie:  She was good in the slopestyle, but she's something else in the pipe. Style, variation and technical skill. Top drawer. 12:29  Sam:  Smiling the whole way down, happy with a 93! 12:29  Matt Blomeley@MattBlomeley TORAH BRIGHT YEWWWWWWWWWWWWW #Sochi #SochiOnTen Shanks Ravi@Shistari Wow Torah Bright #Sochi2014 Style personified 12:29  Duthie:  Only a 90 from the American judge - at least 93 from everyone else. Make of that what you will. 12:30  Peter Elder@pelder90 Torah, you are a GUN! #Sochi2014 #halfpipe Sam:  And here come the pipe monkeys, proving you can at least try to polish a turd 12:30  Blake Eyeington@BlakeEyeington Gotta love that Torah Bright "shimmy" ;) #Sochi2014 #TorahBright Steve Purvinas@StevePurvinas Would anyone convert and become a Mormon for Torah Bright? Every grab of Torah's was tweaked to the max 12:30  teegan. ??@maydayteegan Torah Bright is so gorgeous. ?? Joanna Booth@joannabooth7 Yeh @TorahBright ... Great run #halfpipe #Sochi2014 #shimmy #shimmy #shimmy #TorahTime????. Ben Lewis@ben_lewis10 These snowboarding commentators on the BBC are hilarious. Torah Bright says "hi everyone back home" to camera. They reply "HI TORAH!!!" Andrew Gallina@Drewza8 Go Torah! #Torahtime #Sochi2014 #halfpipe Bam! That's how you poke an indy 12:31  Sam:  So Torah claiming first place straight off the bat, she has the potential for a victory lap a the end of the next heat 12:31  Amanda Steeles@amandasteeles awesome 1st run for Torah Bright in heat 2 of #halfpipe #boarding keep up the fabulous work!!#sochi #sochi2014 Sheila Kumar@SheilaKumarLand #TorahBright Time!!!! C'mon Aussie!!!!! Great freaking first run, girl!!! #halfpipe #WinterOlympics#Sochi2014 @TorahBright Duthie:  Best trick so far? Torah's air-to-fakie for me. Anyone else? 12:31  Drizzle Drake@AthanCreation95 Torah Bright what a run superstar and a half. #wintergames dyanne douchecanoe@capnscumbag FUCK YEAH TORAH BRIGHT! Sam:  American's in one and two, with the Chinese girls in 4 and 5 12:32  Kirill Umrikhin ?? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ? ??????? 93. ?? ?????? ????? ????? ? 90.25. ???????? ?????? ?? 6. #juicyblog #halfpipe #winterolympicgames #roxy 12:32  Margot@Margot_Isabelle Torah Bright rocks Duthie:  Aussies going mad in the Twittersphere for Torah right now. 12:32  Charlotte Smith@cbsmith88 Just found out Torah Bright is a Mormon. I wonder if she goes door to door in the Olympic Village#Sochi2014 Definitely the star of this heat 12:33  Fatema@FatemaMAli Torah bright!! Omg you are incredible! #Sochi2014 #halfpipe Fred Nathan@FreddieNathan This is some tense curling #bbcsochi Ed:  Enjoy. Kimberly Tran@kimberlyycious Torah bright is pretty much perfection. Can i please be her? Therese Melville Go Torah Bright... Top of the table ... Excellent effort :)) 12:34  Michael Hughes Torah Bright ... that is all :) 12:34  Duthie:  Heat 2 about to get underway. If all goes well, Torah will get a victory lap. She's the last to drop, and it's unlikely she'll be bumped out of the top 3. 12:35  Ed:  Ed Leigh: "If you were a really small animal, that halfpipe is what I imagine a polar bear's oesophagus would look like" Classic Partridge form there. 12:35  Duthie:  Ella Suitala from Finland, Run 2. Does her best to keep the speed but she's barely out of the walls. It really doesn't matter how good your tricks are when they're that low. 12:36  Ellie Hall@EllieHall4 Top notch commentating has resumed @BBCSport @SnowEdLeigh @Tim_Warwood #Sochi2014#halfpipe 12:37  Lucy van Pelt@Nettythe1st BRILLIANT half pipe by our beautiful Torah Bright! 93.00 #Olympics2014 #Olympicspic.twitter.com/J7FtiNgS0f Duthie:  Rana Okada from Japan now, Run 2. Only just holds on to the front 5, which is fair enough as she's going big. She gets the full run down too. Maybe enough for the next round? 12:38  Theplasticsoldier@psiadw Hair poking out the girls helmets a fashion thing? @jennyjonessnow @BBCSport #bbcsochi#halfpipe Ed:  Where else would it go, I guess? Jeremy@iAmJeremyKay COME ON CANADA. F DA USA #bbcsochi Duthie:  A 69.75 for Rana, she improves slightly. 12:39  Duthie:  Now it's Mirabelle "sister of Candide" Thovex, Run 2. Allez les bleus! 12:40  Duthie:  Lots of hits, but they get smaller and smaller. The run is complete, but will it be enough for the semis? 12:41  Sam:  Clemence Grimal dropping for France again next... 12:42  Liv Cox@Loxxxxy @TorahBright there's only one name in the pipe.....TORAH!!!! #TorahTime #halfpipe #GoAUS Marty Clark Torah Bright go u good thing! 12:42  Emma Welsby I reckon it is either Kelly Clark or Torah Bright for halfpipe gold! I cannnnie wait to see this play out!! 12:42  Reprobait Magazine@ReprobaitMag Torah Bright. What a babe. Let's be friends- snowboarding girls look like they have all the funs.#Sochi2014 #australia #snowboarding Ed Reddin@ed_reddin Torah Bright is not in this. Weight of expectation & not sure she has a get-it-or-die attitude. You want a gold medal? Fucking go get it. Duthie:  Doesn't look like she's feeling the pressure, to be honest. She's going to be in the medals, and very likely will get the gold. Sam:  Nice front stale, back 5 front 5, bs air and a nice front 3 12:43  Sam:  Good enough for a top 9, so far... 12:44  Jessica Van Polen Dedication for Winter Olympics. ? #torahsfinals #snowboarding #halfpipe #olympics @torahbright 12:44  Sam:  Good stuff from Aus, we like it Duthie:  Now it's Xuetong Cai, Run 2. Can Cai go hai? 12:44  The Morning Animals A Montage of Crashes From the Men's Halfpipe Competition at the Olympics 12:45  Oliver Andrews@unkn0wnvariable Wasn't it London 2012 where Vuvuzela's were banned? #bbcsochi2014 #halfpipe Ed:  They really are annoying. Duthie:  Solid run from the Chinese rider. Will definitely be in the semi spots. 12:45  DREWFITZPATRICK smashed that first run of qualifying, go torah #torahbright 12:46  Sam:  Kaitlyn Farrington now, the most progressive run from the first round? 12:47  Caitlin Clarebrough Good luck in the #halfpipe tonight #TorahBright.? #Sochi #winterOlympics #myhero #babe 12:47  Ed:  Cai Xutong. Her family is know as the Xutong Clan. I'll get my coat. 12:47  Duthie:  That was wu-ful. Sam:  Really nice back 9 but falls on a alley-oop 7, first run still god enough for finals though 12:48  Duthie:  Jiayu Liu, another rider from China. 5th place right now, so relatively safe for the next round. 12:49  87 from the first run should be enough you'd think... 12:49  Sam:  Alley-oops my bad, she's at least through to the semis but not the finals anymore, two extra runs like that isn't such a bad thing though 12:49  That slush claims another victim... 12:49  Tom Gooch@gooch_tom Is there a reason for the X-Factor style intros for the snowboarders. Although it is pretty cool.#bbcsochi @Tim_Warwood Ed:  Think you just answered your own question there Tom. Duthie:  Definitely a solid run, if a bit lacking in creativity. We're liking the air-to-fakies and alley-oops. 12:50  Duthie:  83.50, she does better but stays in 5th. 12:51  Sam:  Joanna Zajac up next, let's see if she can Polish up this run 12:51  Duthie:  Apart from the alley-oop tailgrab at the end, that was Zaj-wack. 12:52  Sam:  That was not very fun to watch 12:52  Duthie:  Her games are over, 10th place means no semi-final spot. 12:53  Duthie:  Katie Tsuyuki from Canada up next, sporting "Zsa Zsa Gabor's sunglasses", says Ed Leigh. 12:53  Waiting for her score... 12:54  Duthie:  Couple of hits in there that would have been nice if they'd just been higher out of the pipe. Nowhere near the amplitude of the Americans. 12:54  Duthie:  She gets into the top 9 though - just! 12:55  Sam:  Verena Rohrer, the last Swiss snowboarder of the games 12:55  Sam:  Lost the feed but from the audio it sounds like it wasn't that great. Last three big names coming up now 12:56  Mina Shichimiya I still love you Shaun. No matter if you have left without a medal, you are my favorite rider. 12:56  Duthie:  Yep, we didn't clock her run, but doesn't sound like we would have gone cuckoo for it anyway. 12:57  JONO WOOD INSTEAD OF SEEING EVERYONE TALK ABOUT PIPE, I SNUCK IN AN HOURS SUNNY PIPE RIDING. #morzine #avoriaz #sun #sunny #snow #halfpipe #pipe #perfect #fun #snowboard #snowboarding #lessbitchingmoreriding BACK TO DRAWING :) 12:57  Sam:  Yes Jono! Duthie:  Mercedes Nicoll now, here's the next and last Canadian to drop. 12:57  Verena's out. But the 17 year old will learn a lot from her first Olympic experience 12:57  Sam:  Oh Lord won't you buy her a spot in the semis? 12:58  Duthie:  The veteran pipe rider is down, and out. She's slammed hard. Get on it medics! 12:58  Sam:  Another poor display from the Russian medics here 12:58  Duthie:  But she's up. Fair play for the 31 year old. 12:59  There's a whiff of Elvis Presley about those Canadian uniforms eh? 1:00  Sam:  Hannah Teter-ing on the edge of the finals here 1:00  Frosty Regan ??@RunningRegan Oh no!!! Mercedes Nicoll crashed in the half pipe and won’t compete in the finals. ? Sam:  Back to back 9s coming up? Or will she save it for the finals? 1:00  Teter prepares to drop... 1:00  Alice Williams@LearningToRow WOO! Go Cuz! @mercedesnicoll! #halfpipe #sochi pic.twitter.com/teTyMoZVzQ Sam:  No, but back to bak 5s and 9s, that was a classic Todd Richards run from the 90s 1:01  Duthie:  "That cameraman hasn't had any idea where the rider have been" - well said Tim Warwood. How come he got this job when he's clearly got no clue what he's doing? 1:01  Nicely tweaked by hannah 1:02  Sam:  92! Improves her first round score 1:02  Duthie:  Torah Bright time. Victory lap for the Aussie favourite. Here come the tweets from out of Oz... 1:02  Scotty James@scottyjames31 Torah Torah Torah!! :) Kenzie Varejão@Kenzie_Ramires Torah bright is so cool. Mikeyy Sykes@MikeCorruption Torah Bright, omg, sorry, fan girling Duthie:  Yeesh, she sketches out on her third hit after an earlier wobble. Quality pipe-slashes though. 1:03  Bryce Shilton@brycekc I love Torah Bright Duthie:  'Back when I was a lad' - story time with Tim Warwood 1:04  AUS Olympic Team@AUSOlympicTeam Torah Bright messes up her 2nd run- not that she needed it! Torah's 1st run score of 93 keeps her 1st. Final at 4:30am AEDT #GoAUS Stuart Crichton@Mr_Crichton Torah Bright go for gold!! Shimmy. Shimmy. Shimmy. #gotorah A victory slash from Torah. 1:06  The smile that's won a million fans. Torah just looks like she's having so much fun, hey? 1:06  Duthie:  So it's Torah, Hanna Teter and Xuetong Cai going straight through. The semi spots go to Kaitlyn Farrington, Jiayu Liu, Mirabelle Thovex, Rana Okada, Clemence Grimal and Katie Tsuyuki. 1:08  Those results in full... 1:08  1:08  @cIarevoyant torah bright is so hot lord help me Saskia Weber@Skip_Web Go! Go! Go! Torah Bright <3 !! #sotchi2014 #halfpipe #Torah #bright Hanna Marie@hannamariephoto Really loving how @TorahBright surfed the last part of that #halfpipe because why not. #eveystep#Olympics2014 Jess Abela@JessAbela3 Can I be Torah Bright? #torahtime Kyle@rylekooney Torah Bright is soooo gorgeous #marryme Duthie:  Right, that's that for the qualifiers. As expected Torah and Kelly sailed through, while Hannah Teter showed she might just match Shaun for Olympic halfpipe golds. Sad to see Arielle Gold out before the comp even started, but it looks like we should have a good final on our hands. 1:12  Duthie:  We'll sign off for now - join us again at 3pm GMT for the semis:http://whitelin.es/OlympicWomensHalfpipeSemiFinalLiveBlog 1:19