Stomped second runs give Ledeux and Stevenson slopestyle season-opening wins
Nov 23, 2024·Freeski Park & Pipe)
There was no time to lose and precious points to gain as skiers battled windy conditions in Stubai to grab the first points of the FIS Freeski Slopestyle World Cup season.
Competitors were greeted with full sunshine and picture-perfect conditions on Stubai Glacier on Saturday after unfavourable conditions on Thursday and Friday forced organisers to reschedule, reshuffle and restructure competition phases.
USA’s Colby Stevenson brushed off a 20-point score in his first run on Saturday morning to put together an exceptional effort in run two, earning a top score of 92.00 points in a best-of-two runs competition format that saw the 60-man qualification results stand as final results.
“The conditions really lined up for us, we got so lucky,” said Stevenson.
After falling in his first run, the 27-year-old managed to turn things around in his second run in a big way.
Leading things off with a left nose butter double cork 1620 lead Japan and then a switch right double cork 1440 mute through the jumps, Stevenson then went through the rail sections with a switch on to left cork front 810 blunt out, then a backside 270 on, a right 180 continuing 180 out, and finally a right nosebutter 430 continuing 270 out on the final feature.
Stevenson’s second-run performance pushed Swiss skier Andri Ragletti down into second place with his first run score of 91.00 points, increasing the 27-year-old's all-time FIS Freeski podiums record to 32.
Meanwhile, Norway’s Tormod Frostad continued his hot start to the season with a 90.00-point third place finish, giving the 22-year-old his second consecutive podium after he earned second place at Big Air Chur back in October.
Stevenson’s victory on Saturday is the second time he has finished within the top three at Stubai, after previously finishing third at the venue in 2017.
“This is a big one for me,” he said.
“I’ve always wanted to win this event and it’s always been tough conditions. But to come out and just lay out my runs and stay confident, it's just made me so happy."
The women’s competition in the afternoon was an inconsistent affair, as many skiers fell or lost control of their speed amid changing wind conditions.
France’s Tess Ledeux scored a mere 6.25 in her first run before climbing to first place with a second run that saw her lead off with a corked 900 blunt and then a switch right bio 900, then through the rails with a backside 450 on to switch, then a switch right 270 on, and finally a 270 on 270 out on the last rail for a score of 87.00.
“I feel so happy to land a run today, the conditions were really hard,” said Ledeux.
The French skier, who was celebrating her 23rd birthday on Saturday, admitted to not knowing what to expect as everyone waited for competition to begin.
“It was a tough week,” she said.
“I think the birthday is an extra boost and I just used this extra boost for the win.”
Behind the birthday girl were Swiss skiers Mathilde Gremaud and Sarah Hoefflin on 85.00 points and 82.25 points respectively.
Ledeux now shares a record 15 World Cup wins across slopestyle, halfpipe and big air with Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games multi medallist Eileen Gu (CHN), while Gremaud sits just behind that pair with 14 career wins.
“I feel lucky to compete with Eileen and Mathilde because they push me all the time," said Ledeux.
"We definitely have a good crew and I'm so proud to be a part of it.”
Saturday’s competition is the second consecutive year that unfavourable weather in Stubai has forced organisers to change the competition programme.
Last season’s Stubai finals were cancelled due to difficult weather, with qualification runs used to determine event standings.
On Saturday both the men’s and women’s competitions saw qualifications essentially act as massive finals, with all athletes aware there would be no chance to run a finals phase in the time left on the Stubai competition schedule.
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