KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia -- Canadian snowboarders Sebastien Toutant and Maxence Parrot locked up spots in the men's slopestyle final at the Sochi Olympics on Thursday.
However, teammates Mark McMorris and Charles Reid did not make the top four in their respective heats under sunny skies at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park. They will have to compete in Saturday's semifinal round, where the top four riders will advance to the 12-man final.
Parrot, from Bromont, Que., had the best score of the 29 athletes who took part in the opening competition of the Games. The X Games champion had an impressive score of 97.50, which left him just ahead of Roope Tonteri of Finland (95.75).
Sven Thorgren of Sweden (94.25) and Gjermund Braaten of Norway (91.25) also advanced straight to the final from the second group of riders. McMorris, a Regina native, fell on his first run and finished seventh in his heat with a score of 89.25 in his second run.
Toutant, from L'Assomption, Que., was third in the opening heat at 87.25. Staale Sandbech of Norway (94.50), Peetu Piiroinen of Finland (90.75) and Great Britain's Jamie Nicholls (86.75) also advanced straight to the final.
McMorris is considered a podium contender but he has been hampered by a broken rib after a fall at last month's X Games. Reid, from Mont-Tremblant, Que., was ninth (75.50) in his heat.
The women's qualifier was set for later Thursday. The men's final goes Saturday and the women's final is set for Sunday.
