Alessandro Barbieri, 17, Leads Americans Into Halfpipe Finals Day

When NBC’s, in-studio host Rebecca Lowe teased a transition to the men’s halfpipe qualification coverage, she mispronounced Alessandro Barbieri’s last name as Bar-Bee-er-oh.

After his performance today, that will probably be the last time that happens.

The 17-year-old son of Italian immigrants put down a run that consisted of a backside double cork 1280, a frontside 1280, and a Cab double cork 1440 in his first Olympic run ever. It got him a score of 88.50, and he’d finish the first round in third place.