2021/22 Freeski Continental Cup wrap-up

After an action-packed four months of action that saw 14 European Cup and 14 NorAm Cup competitions take place on their respective sides of the ocean, the 2021/22 FIS Freeski Continental Cup season wrapped up last week at the world-renowned Stubai Zoo (AUT) with one final slopestyle event to shut down the season in dramatic fashion.

There we saw Sweden’s Melvin Moren claim the win on the men’s side, launching himself into top spot on the EC slopestyle & big air rankings for 2021/22 and thereby earning himself a guaranteed World Cup quota spot for next season.

Things weren’t quite so down-to-the-wire on the women’s side of the slopestyle & big air equation, as France’s Lou Barin had a dominant season, finishing with 850 points - nearly 250 above her nearest competitor.

In the halfpipe we saw an exciting new talent hit the scene, as 13-year-old Estonian Grete-Mia Meentalo looks to be following in the footsteps of her compatriot Kelly Sildaru and making big waves on the freeski scene at an early age. While Meetalo won’t be old enough to compete on the World Cup tour next season, we look forward to seeing what she has to offer in 2023/24.

Finally, top spot on the overall European Cup halfpipe rankings for the men went to Switzerland’s Rafael Kreienbuehl, as the experienced 22-year-old showed the rest of the field how it’s done with his second career EC halfpipe overall win.

2021/22 EUROPEAN CUP RESULTS

Women’s slopestyle & big air:

1. Lou Barin (FRA)

2. Jade Michaud (FRA)

3. Muriel Mohr (GER)

Men’s slopestyle & big air:

1. Melvin Moren (SWE)

2. Thierry Wili (SUI)

3. Alexis Ghisleni (FRA)

Women’s Halfpipe:

1. Greta-Mia Meentalo (EST)

2. Sabrina Cakmakli (GER)

3. Michelle Rageth (SUI)

Men’s Halfpipe:

1. Rafael Kreienbuehl (SUI)

2. Seung Hun Lee (KOR)

3. Marius Reck (GER)

Over on the NorAm circuit it was Canada’s Rylee Hackler making the biggest impression in her fourth season of action on tour, as the 20-year-old took top spot in the women’s slopestyle & big air rankings to earn herself a World Cup quota spot for next season.

For the men it was the USA’s Konnor Ralph putting together the best season, grabbing the win at the season-ender in Stoneham (CAN) to leapfrog his countryman Troy Podmilsak and take the overall win.

On the halfpipe side of things we saw Canada’s Dylan Glennie taking three straight wins to close out the season on top of the women’s rankings. For the men, meanwhile, it was the USA’s Matthew Labuagh finishing off a 2021/22 season that also saw him take two medals at the Leysin 2022 Junior World Championships with the NorAm halfpipe overall victory and a World Cup spot for next season.

2021/22 NORAM CUP RESULTS

Women’s slopestyle & big air:

1. Rylee Hackler (CAN)

2. Jay Riccomini (USA)

3. Alex Thisted (USA)

Men’s slopestyle & big air:

1. Konnor Ralph (USA)

2. Troy Podmilsak (USA)

3. Dylan Deschamps (CAN)

Women’s Halfpipe:

1. Dylan Glennie (CAN)

2. Kathryn Gray (USA)

3. Riley Jacobs (USA)

Men’s Halfpipe:

1. Matthew Labaugh (USA)

2. Cameron Brodrick (USA)

3. Dylan Ladd (USA)

Congrats to our top skiers of 2021/22 and a big thank you to everyone who made the 2021/22 FIS Freeski Continental Cup season so special - including all the athletes, organisers, host resorts and volunteers. We already can’t wait for next season!