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Carbondale’s Olenick finally claims Winter X gold

Staff report
Jim Ryan/AP photoPeter Olenick of Carbondale won gold in the inaugural Winter X Games superpipe high air competition Sunday night. He's pictured here attempting a double flip during the ski superpipe finals earlier in the day. He did not medal in that event.
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ASPEN, Colorado – Carbondale’s Peter Olenick captured his first Winter X gold – and a Guinness world record to boot.

The 25-year-old boosted 24 feet, 11 inches out the Buttermilk pipe to seal victory in the inaugural ski superpipe high air competition Sunday night. Justin Dorey finished second at 23 feet, 9 inches, and superpipe gold medalist Kevin Rolland nabbed the bronze with a leap of 23 feet, 4 inches.

“I’m feeling pretty awesome, and a little sore,” Olenick joked as he addressed an adoring crowd during the awards ceremony. “The pipe was perfect. The fans were loud. … Right before my last run, my brother said , ‘Go 25 [feet]. You’re 25.’ I was an inch short, but I’ll take it. I’ll round up.”



Olenick received a surprise on the podium when, in an addition to being handed his goggle-shaped gold medal, he was given a certificate from Guinness officials, who were on hand to witness his record jump out of the pipe.


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