X-men

The Associated Press and The Daily Inter Lake

Kalispell's Hall skis against buddy, wins record seventh X Games gold medal

ASPEN, Colo. - Tanner Hall, the skiing phenom from Kalispell, won another duel Thursday with his buddy Simon Dumont and earned a spot in the Winter X Games record books with it.

Hall and Dumont have a history of back-and-forth duels at the Winter X Games in Ski Superpipe, including a rousing showdown last year. Hall jumped to the lead in the first round this time around and bettered it in the second, breaking the career record for most career gold medals with his seventh.

Hall, 24, broke the record he shared with snowboarders Shaun White and Shaun Palmer, and became the first three-peat Ski Superpipe champion. He also tied for the all-time record for most medals, with 10, and became the first rider to win three titles in two disciplines.

"The last few years, it's been Simon and me, and he took it to a serious level," Hall said. "This kid right here next to me pushes me harder than anyone else in the halfpipe."

Dumont had the bigger tricks, particularly on a spectacular final run, but Hall packed more into his runs, landing two more tricks than his buddy. Hall opened with 90 points, good enough for first place, and followed with a 92.33 on his second run. He earned a victory lap when Dumont's final run, which included five tricks to Hall's seven, netted 91 points.

"I knew it'd be something to enjoy because every year it's me and Tanner, and he killed it," Dumont said.

Hall started his competitive career on Big Mountain. With the backing of his parents, Gerry and Darla Hall, he moved to Park City, Utah, at the age of 14 to get closer to the freestyle skiing action.

He has traveled the world since then, with a long list of repeated wins in Big Air, Slopestyle, Superpipe, and Bumps and Jumps competitions.