Halfpipe update: Shaun White, Louie Vito make finals

Shaun White and Louie Vito helped themselves in a big way with strong qualification showings Wednesday in the men’s halfpipe competition at Cypress Mountain.

White and Vito finished first and third, respectively, in the first heat. The rub is that at the Olympics, the top three men in each heat advance to the finals, not having to deal with the pesky semifinals.

Call it a semifinal bye.

Not that White, the defending champion, needs any help.

Qualification heat No. 2 will start shortly and features two Americans, Greg Bretz and Scotty Lago, both Olympics newcomers.

And the obligatory weather report? Bright, chilly and sunny.

-Lisa Dillman, Reporting from Vancouver, Canada

Photo: Shaun White practicing for the men's halfpipe at the Olympics. Credit: Streeter Lecka, Getty Images.

Comments

[bob]

I sold my house to Shaun White. He is as nice in person as he appears to be on tv.