Criticisms and doubts surround the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park in Sochi as the world prepares for one of the most exciting events of the Winter Games: the Snowboard Halfpipe. The Men’s Halfpipe is scheduled for Tuesday followed by the Women’s event on Wednesday. However, despite being one of the premier events of the Winter Olympics, the current state of the competition course is in question.

A Yahoo Sports interview with American Danny Davis uncovered some major concerns with the pipe’s texture, base, and vertical structure. Significant work has already been done in attempts to remedy athletes’ concerns, but according to one such snowboarder Yahoo spoke to, the pipe appears “unsalvageable.”

Clear favorite for the Men’s competition, Shaun White, also appeared to have doubts of his own, but said he “has faith” in the crews that re-cut the course before Monday’s final practice. White will be facing stiff competition from Davis as well as 15-year-old Ayumu Hirano, known as “Mumu,” of Japan who placed second in the 2013 Aspen Winter X Games.

In the Women’s Halfpipe, the main competition pits current defending gold medalist Torah Bright of Australia against fellow Americans Kelly Clark and Hannah Teter. Clark and Teter each have gold medals under their belts, with Clark’s coming in the 2002 Salt Lake City Games and Teter’s at the 2006 Torino Games. Surprisingly, the two also grew up in the same state, hailing from Vermont along with fellow snowboarder Ty Walker and free-skier Hannah Kearney.

The United States has already seen tremendous success in earlier snowboarding events, sweeping Slopestyle golds with Sage Kotsenberg and Jamie Anderson taking the top spots in their respective competitions.

 

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