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Jon Ollson robbed in X-Games

post #1 of 21
1/25/09 at 6:23am
Thread Starter 
So I watched a re-run of the big air comp this morning. I think it was on live last night.

I'm not usually in awe of events like this but dang these dudes were tight and the air was huge!

Simon Dumont did this double front flip with a 'super man' on the second rotation. Looked cool but kind of retro. Ollson did his own spinning flip thing that was truly amazing. I thought he clearly won but they gave it to Dumont. The look on Ollsons face was like WTF so you could tell he thought he had it in the bag too.

Can't feel too bad for the guy I guess. X-Games, training for next Olympics, major endorsements, lives in Monaco, drives a Lambo and has a totally hot girlfriend. What a life! The announcers mentioned all that stuff so I guess they are envious LOL.

I'll post a Youtube vid of it when somebody gets one uploaded.
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post #2 of 21
1/25/09 at 6:36am
I liked the Mike Douglas commentating:

"Jon has obviously won, his trick is progressive, way more technically difficult and had great amplitude. Simon is just trying to give the crowd what they want, he knows Jon has this wrapped up..."

(well, something like that)

Then Simon won, he tried to back pedal a bit, but it was pretty clear who HE thought should have won.

WHY was the judging based on viewer texting????
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post #3 of 21
1/25/09 at 6:53am
Thread Starter 
There is a vid on the X-Games site

http://espn.go.com/action/

Viewer text voting is lame. It's not a popularity contest
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post #4 of 21
1/25/09 at 6:56am
Well at least viewer texting is better than ice-dancing judging.

I prefer racing, where the clock is unbiased.

On the other hand I don't really care too much about the circus acrobat tricks on skis, so nobody cares what I think. Ok, I'll stop writing this.
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post #5 of 21
1/25/09 at 8:08am
I aggree with Ghost. Any event that relies exclusively on the subjective assesments of a group of judges to pick a winner is always going to be controversial and suspect. Having the general public pick a winner and loser, many of whom have never even been on the snow, makes it even more suspect and silly.

Regarding the X-Games, its kind of like an anual four day snow-circus and is more about drawing in revenue for Aspen than anything else.
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post #6 of 21
1/25/09 at 8:26am
Thread Starter 
True but it also lends itself to better spectator viewing. I find it more entertaining than watching golf or basketball. I like it for what it is. I also appreciate the athletic ability. Especially guys like Ollson who is training to race in the Olympics.
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post #7 of 21
1/25/09 at 9:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Whiteroom View Post
I liked the Mike Douglas commentating:
.....

WHY was the judging based on viewer texting????
agree with all the skepticism about spectator judging. total BS judging, yeah, just let ignorant spectators make the call. BS.

and it became just political, the N.A. vote was called upon.

If it's just a demonstration event, do whatever crap you want with it, but these guys are making a major commitment to be there and compete, not fart around and be manipulated by promotor dumb ideas.

subjectively judged evenst are always vulnerable to money and politics,
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post #8 of 21
1/25/09 at 9:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MattL View Post
True but it also lends itself to better spectator viewing. I find it more entertaining than watching golf or basketball. I like it for what it is. I also appreciate the athletic ability. Especially guys like Ollson who is training to race in the Olympics.
I like watching the X-Games for the same reason I enjoy going to the circus. I know its not a serious sporting event but it is fun to watch the trapeze artists, rope swingers, and jugglers.

Then you have the pure entertainment and comedy -- the circus clown comes out and behaves like a jackass. Tanner Hall in his drug-induced stupor takes care of that.
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post #9 of 21
1/25/09 at 12:49pm
I think you mean Jon Olsson.
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post #10 of 21
1/25/09 at 1:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGnar View Post
I think you mean Jon Olsson.
Both my boys, who have been in the pipe and booters with the pros, thought Jon had it wrapped up. As much as you have to respect what Simon can do and has in the past, it should have had no bearing on the event last night.

Jon was robbed. I'm suprised Tanner didn't run up to him, wrap his arms around him and start screaming, "oh my God, you just won the big air". Maybe he didn't want to steal the show?
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post #11 of 21
1/25/09 at 1:28pm
SitSkiAndy is going to be on TV in a few minutes....hope this reaches some of you in time....
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post #12 of 21
1/25/09 at 1:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGnar View Post
I think you mean Jon Olsson.
How did you guess?







Sorry about the spelling!
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post #13 of 21
1/25/09 at 2:23pm
Looks like Andy did not make the finals...reminds me of me!
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post #14 of 21
1/25/09 at 2:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowfan View Post
Looks like Andy did not make the finals...reminds me of me!
Heard he got injured somehow, broken leg
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post #15 of 21
1/25/09 at 4:30pm
Thanks for the info crgildart...Thats the first time I heard he got hurt, sorry to hear.

Was looking forward to seeing him fly...O'Well, again, reminds me of me...last year ACL, last week...more later (broken rib at Taos...LOL...ouch)

Will check up on Andy and post info asap
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post #16 of 21
1/25/09 at 5:35pm
he broke his femur... had surgery yesterday and is doing fine.

i guess he broke his femur, didn't know it, and finished the course...
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post #17 of 21
1/25/09 at 5:38pm
i don't usually watch the x-games, but i happened to catch it last night. olson was impressive, but it's obviously a popularity contest.

you knew dumont would win: he's more popular, american, and the crowd was going bezerk over the double front. anyone in the field could do that trick, but dumont knew to play to the crowd.

they basically announced what a farce the contest was when they said that simon had thousands of people watching in maine texting as fast as they could...

it was still pretty good TV and i'm not taking anything away from simon.
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post #18 of 21
1/26/09 at 7:21am
Jon worked harder
Simon worked smarter

Strategy will often trump skill
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post #19 of 21
1/27/09 at 8:13am
The money's already determined by popularity (endorsements!). I'd like to see the awards at the contest dealt out based on degree of difficulty and execution.
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post #20 of 21
1/27/09 at 9:20am
i was watching it as well. I have to admit that Simon's "superman" stunt was pretty fly and unless the announcer had not mentioned that it's an ancient trick from the '60s (can anyone verify this?), i would have gone with him as the winner. but overall Jon was a lot cleaner in his tricks and landings. i think they both knew it was ultimately a showmanship/popularity contest.

besides, Jon has his hot GF with him at the finish AND he lives in Monaco. plus he has signature skis with his GF on them. Dumont was at the finish line solo...

the bit about Dumont being a member of an Indian tribe in Maine was interesting and that there were 2000 tribe members sitting around waiting to text his name. wonder if that was for real (the 2000 members texting). Jon should have gotten some of his Swedish homies to have done the same.
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post #21 of 21
1/27/09 at 10:04am
Quote:
2000 tribe members texting...
that's what makes it lame to me... the structure of the event allows for it to be fixed.

then they announce that people are sitting around maine banging on their phones to confirm that the whole event is a joke.

luckily it was still cool to watch... the results are just meaningless. there is no question that every competitor in the field could do that trick...
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