Geeks Rule!

Kevin Pearce didn't win with this run. This was during practice.

Maybe it’s the fact that Steve Fischer looks like the kid you used to give swirlies to in high school, or maybe it’s the fact that he only makes the finals sometimes at Winter X, but nobody really thought he would be the one to upset Shaun White. Even though he won Winter X Gold three years ago, and sat in first for most of qualifiers, everyone still expected Shaun to pull it, even Fisher himself.

But when Fisher dropped in to take his first run and flawlessly linked tranny to tranny, boosting a 900 at the end of the pipe that was as big as his straight airs at the beginning, and posted a score of 92, which would remain the highest of the night, it finally started to set in. Then when White’s first run included two falls, and his second an accidental nar-jar in his 1080 reentry, it really started to become clear. Tomatoes are out of season in 2007.

It wasn’t a fluke by any means, which Fisher proved in his final run. After his first giant straight air turned into a super floaty 360, and he had to throw an entirely unplanned run (but still pulled it off), anyone who had the slightest doubt that Fisher should, and would win his second Winter X gold, was converted to a believer.

“It didn’t quit go as planned. I started going backwards after that first run and was like, what now?” Fisher said in between sips of delicious Vitamin Water. “I’m back, baby, I’m back.”

Tommy Chezchin, also during pratice.

This is from the best trick contest. I am using it in a pipe story anyway. Andreas Wiig.

-Brooke Geery