Atlanta set for city big air showdown
Dec 19, 2019·Freeski Park & Pipe
Fresh on the heels of one of the most incredible big air competitions of all time and straight into one of the most hotly-anticipated events of the season, we leave Beijing behind and roll on to the FIS Freeski World Cup Visa Big Air Atlanta this week for the third big air World Cup competition of 2019/20.
Action is going down all day on Saturday at Sun Trust Park, home of Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves, where the 40,000 seat stadium will host qualifications beginning at 9:55 for the men, followed by the women at 14:00, and finals under the stadium lights at 19:00.
The 15-story jump structure is comprised of 30,000 pieces of steel, which add up to roughly 272,000kgs and which will support nearly 408.000kgs of snow - all of which has been made since Tuesday the world-renowned Schneestern company. It’s a true feat of engineering and and hard work to put such a structure together, but with the quality of field on hand ready to put the jump through its paces, it will all be worth if come Saturday.
Killi, Tanno and Gremaud the top trio in women’s big air
In the ladies’ field it’s Johanne Killi (NOR) carrying the momentum into Atlanta, after taking top spot in last weekend’s Air + Style Beijing FIS Freeski Big Air World Cup in impressive fashion and jumping into second overall on the big air World Cup standings.
With 150 points, Killi sits just 10 back of Switzerland’s Giulia Tanno, who finished second in Beijing for her second runner-up finish of the season after earning the same in Modena back in November.
Both Killi and Tanno will be looking over their shoulders in Atlanta, however, as Mathilde Gremaud (SUI) still sits in third overall despite sitting Beijing out after taking a hard crash in training at Beijing. Gremaud is arguably the best big air skier in the world in the women’s field right now, and the reigning crystal globe winner and PyeongChang 2018 slopestyle silver medallist can be counted on to step it up on Saturday in front of a big crowd in the States.
Canada’s Dara Howell and Megan Oldham, Silvia Bertagna of Italy, and the host USA’s Caroline Claire are a few of the others to watch out for in the women’s field this weekend.
Over on the men’s side it’s shaping up to be a heavy one once again, as not only are all the main players from last weekend’s stunner in Beijing back for another round in Atlanta, but now the top US riders have also joined the fray after largely sitting the competition in China.
Ruud on top, but Hall back in the mix
Norway’s Birk Ruud is undeniably the man to beat at this point, after the 19-year-old became the first ever to land a double misty 1800 in competition in Beijing, winning the competition and taking the yellow World Cup leader’s bib in the process. A triple threat who excels in big air, slopestyle, and halfpipe skiing, Ruud is emerging as a true star in the freeski world before our eyes.
Speaking of emerging stars, second in Beijing and second on the big air standings Teal Harle should come into Atlanta even hungrier for his first big air World Cup win after losing out to Ruud by just .25 points in Beijing.
Sweden’s Jesper Tjader and Henrik Harlaut, Andri Ragettli and Kim Gubser of Switzerland, and Elias Syrja of Finland are just a few of the international names also likely to battle for top spot this weekend.
And then there’s the host US squad, lead by Alex Hall. Hall has victories at the X Games Norway and the World Cup season-opener in Modena already to his credit this season, and is almost guaranteed to be battling for top spot as the USA looks to earn their first big air World Cup podium on home soil after being shut out in the first go-round in Boston four years ago. Along with Sochi 2014 slopestyle bronze medalist Nicholas Goepper and the resurgent Cody Leplante, the US freeski team is hoping for big things in front of the home crowd.
QUICK LINKS:
Atlanta data page (start lists, live scoring, results)
Livestream (with geoblocking)
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