Big week in Copper closes with big air wins for Ledeux and Forehand
Dec 17, 2023·Freeski Park & Pipe
A huge week of action for the freeskiers in Copper Mountain closed on out Saturday morning with the Visa Big Air World Cup, where perfect weather conditions, a pristine jump and a stacked finals start list of some of the world’s finest rippers all came together for an hugely entertaining big air competition, with France’s Tess Ledeux and the USA’s very own Mac Forehand claiming the victories.
LEDEUX BACK ON TOP FOR FIRST WIN OF 2023/24
The reigning big air World Champion, Ledeux came into this week at Copper Mountain with a pair of runner-ip results from the first two (weather-shortened) events of the season, and a somewhat disappointing eighth-place finish from the most recent big air World Cup in Beijing where she was unable to put down her runs cleanly.
On Saturday the 22-year-old had no such trouble, as she lead things off in finals with what would be the highest scoring trick of the day in either the women’s or the men’s competitions - a left double cork 1620 safety that would earn her a score of 95.75 and put her in the driver’s seat in early going.
However, also on the finals start list was Mathilde Gremaud (SUI), who came into Copper with a perfect three-for-three wins record in World Cup competition so far this season, and the 23-year-old showed why she’s been so successful so far this winter be stomping a left double 1260 safety in run one, and then following that up with a switch left double 1080 blunt in run three to put together a two-jump score of 185.50 and take the lead, with only Ledeux left to drop.
Knowing she would need something special, Ledeux one-upped Gremaud, stomping a switch left double 1260 safety with the final run of the women’s competition to earn a combined score of 189.00 and the 12th victory of her World Cup career.
“I’m just so happy to be back on the top of the podium, especially today,” Ledeux said after the awards ceremony, “The comp was amazing, a big battle between Mathilde and me, and a day like today is why I love competition.
“I like to land my biggest trick in the first run. It takes some pressure off me and puts it on everyone else. After that I have two more chances to do another good trick. That’s my strategy.”
With Gremaud taking second place and her fourth straight podium of the 2023/24 season, third place would go to Kirsty Muir (GBR) in what was inarguably the gutsiest performance of the day.
After stomping a left side double cork 1440 cindy in run one for a score of 90.00, Muir crashed heavily in run two and had to be helped from the finish area, with most on site assuming that would be the end of her competition.
However, come time for run three, Muir was there at the top of the drop-in, and she proceeded to put down a right double cork 1080 safety with authority, earning a score of 83.75 for a combined score of 173.75 and third place on the day - her second podium in a row.
Gremaud would maintain her lock on the yellow World Cup leaders bib, with 280 big air World Cup points to Ledeux’s 212.
FOREHAND’S FIRST BIG AIR PODIUM COMES ON HOME SOIL WITH A W
For the men it was Mac Forehand earning his first World Cup win in nearly five years and his first big air World Cup podium, period, with a precision performance, combining his trademark technical prowess with some of the biggest airs of the day to hype the host U.S. crowd.
Forehand lead things off with a switch left triple cork 1620 mute in run one for a score of 88.75, and then followed that up with a left triple cork 1800 mute on run two that would give him a 93.00.
However, come time for run three Forehand found himself outside the podium picture looking in, so he elected to revisit the switch triple, this time taking it to 1800, stomping clean, and riding out to a score of 94.00 on the run and a total of 187.00 that wold withstand all challengers and give him the second World Cup win of his career.
“I’ve been pushing hard for a big air podium,” Forehand smiled from the finish area, “Every big air I go to I always try my best, but it’s always so tough. The level gets so crazy. At the end of the day it’s not just the tricks you do, but how you do the tricks, and I’m just stoked I was able to put those ones down clean today.
“It’s really hard to judge big air these day. Judging varies per panel and per contest; one day they like your tricks and one day they don’t. I love to go big and do big tricks, but I’ve been experimenting with some of the bring-backs and other stuff we’re seeing lately, and maybe in the future you’ll see that from me. But I’m doing me right now, and that’s all I really care about.”
Second place for the men was Italy’s Miro Tabanelli, who earned not only the first podium of his World Cup career, but also the first-ever men’s big air World Cup podium for an Italian freeskier. With a switch left double 1980 blunt on run one, and a left double 1800 cuban on run two, Tabanelli would earn a score of 185.00 for the historic runner-up result.
Rounding out the men’s podium in third was Birk Ruud, as Norway’s finest returned to the top-3 after having his long FIS podium streak broken in Stubai a few weeks ago. With a switch left triple cork 1980 mute on run one, and a left double bio 1800 mute on run two, Ruud would earn a score of 184.00 for his 21st career World Cup podium.
With his first career podium, Tabanelli would take over the yellow big air World Cup leaders bib, as the 19-year-old now has 162 points, putting him 26 points above two of the biggest stars in the freeski game - Alex Hall (USA) and Andri Ragettli (SUI), who are tied for second with 136 points.
With Copper in the bag, it’s onto the holiday break for us…we’ll see you in the new year!
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