This morning, 50 competitors faced off in the Grand Prix superpipe qualifier at Copper Mountain; we saw two heats, each comprised of 25 riders. After two runs per skier, with the best score counting, five from each heat advanced to Friday’s final, plus two additional athletes: those who banked the next highest scores between the two heats. When it was all said and done, these 12 athletes advanced. Amid the action, we caught up with a few of the competitors—the sound bites are embedded below for your listening pleasure.

Simon Dumont re: overcoming injury and the road to Sochi

Justin Dorey re: being on the bubble and the road to sushi

Aaron Blunck re: advantage US athletes have in the halfpipe

Equipment guru Kenny Nault re: importance of ski tuning

Related: Listen to sounds of Grand Prix at Copper; Thovex, Wallisch, Harlaut and more