Sawt Falasteen - Norway's Ruud wins Olympic freeski slopestyle gold after error-strewn event

The Beijing 2022 big air champion kept his nerve as his rivals faltered under a heavy blanket of cloud in the Italian Alps, achieving a best score of 86.28 on the first of his three runs.

Defending Olympic champion Alex Hall took silver with a score of 85.75 and New Zealand's Luca Harrington won bronze with 85.15.

A clutch of athletes flopped on their first run during a nervy start to the freestyle event, failing to master the rails and possibly struggling with the flat light conditions.

World slopeside champion Ruud, 25, took early control of the competition, ignoring the travails of his rivals.

America's Hall climbed to second place with a score of 85.75 on his second run -- with the best of three runs counting.

But he was unable to find the inspiration he needed to top that score with his final effort.

Ruud, skiing last, had the luxury of a victory lap but crashed as the sun came out.

In slopestyle, athletes navigate a course with a variety of obstacles, including rails and various jumps, and are judged on the breadth, originality, and quality of their stunts.

Y.Zaher--SF-PST