Gretchen Bleiler Endures Huge Wipeout

Note to self: Never, ever try to attempt a 900.

The X Games crowd is likely still buzzing about the ridiculous spill that favorite Gretchen Bleiler took at Aspen. The defending event champ somersaulted backward down the wall during her second run in the superpipe finals and slammed her head at the bottom of the pipe.

Bleiler laid motionless for several seconds before rising and smiling to cheers, although she couldn't make her third and final run. She wasn't the only American to take a nasty fall during the competition, though; Kelly Clark face-planted on her second run as well.

While the U.S. women's riders struggled, Australia's Torah Bright put on a dazzling display to take the gold Friday. Her winning array included a backside 360, a switch-backside 720 and a Cab 720 -- for a winning score of 91.33. It was Bright's second X Games superpipe gold in three years.

Latest Gretchen Bleiler Photos

ASPEN, CO - JANUARY 23: Gretchen Bleiler of Aspen, Colorado makes her way down the pipe after taking a fall in the Women's Snowboard Superpipe Final January 23, 2009 during Winter X Games 13 at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Gretchen Bleiler

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ASPEN, CO - JANUARY 22: Gretchen Bleiler talks to the media after the Women's Snowboard Superpipe Elimintation at the Winter X Games 13 on Buttermilk Mountain on January 22, 2008 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Gretchen Bleiler

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COPPER MOUNTAIN, CO - DECEMBER 11: Gretchen Bleiler of Aspen, Colorado and member of the USA Snowboarding Halfpipe Pro Team poses for a portrait during the US Snowboard Grand Prix at Copper Mountain on December 11, 2008 in Copper Mountain, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Gretchen Bleiler

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Gretchen Bleiler poses with her Best Female Action Sport Athlete award in the press room at the 2008 ESPY Awards held at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on July 16, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. The 2008 ESPYs will air on Sunday, July 20 at 9PM ET on ESPN.

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