Gasser secures World Cup wins

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Although neither the big air nor slopestyle finals have been going down at the 2017 Jamboree presented by Videotron Mobile Anna Gasser has already become the first World Cup title winner of the season.

By standing atop of yesterday's women's big air qualifiers staged at Ilot Fleurie, right downtown Quebec City, the rider from Carinthia claimed the Crystal Globe for both, the big air World Cup and the snowboard freestyle overall World Cup.

With – including Saturday's big air finals – only the Quebec City big air as well as two more slopestyles and one final halfpipe contest to come no one can take away her lead in the rankings anymore.

As none of her main rivals Katie Ormerod (GBR) and Jamie Anderson (USA) both missed the big air finals and both also don't compete in halfpipe, things are set for an Austrian party this weekend.

Gasser, a three-time big air World Cup winner this season and also successful at her home soil slopestyle event in Kreischberg, Austria earlier this season, added clarity to the race for the Crystal Globe in the second round of the qualifications here in Quebec City.

Ranked sixth after her first run (74.00), the 25-year-old stomped her signature trick, a cab double cork 900, to earn the highest score of the day with a 94.00.

Besides the Austrian high flyer, who also came out victorious of the FIS' first ever Super Series X Games gold medallist Julia Marino (USA), reigning slopestyle world champion Miyabi Onitsuka (JPN), Cheryl Maas (NED), Zoi Sadowski Synnott (NZL) and former sbx racer Yuka Fujimori (JPN) made it to the finals of the top-6 women.

Thrilling showdown for men's title

In the men's event, the finals will feature a true battle of three for the big air World Cup title with Max Parrot (CAN; 1,800) his teammate Mark McMorris (1,600), who came out second and first of the men's second qualifier heat, looking strong to put some real pressure on current big air World Cup leader Seppe Smits (BEL; 1,930).

Especially as the rider from the flatlands of Belgium had to take the semi finals detour to make it to the finals.

With all three athletes ranking within 330 points, the phrase of spin to win gets some more true meaning.

However, as seven more strong riders in the finals of the best ten qualifiers, including Marcus Kleveland and Torgeir Bergrem from Norway, Anton Mamaev (RUS), Kalle Jarvilehto (FIN), Tyler Nicholson (CAN) as well as Tiarn Collins (NZL) and Carlos Gerber (SUI), Saturday's finals promise a thrilling and exciting showdown for both, the big air World Cup title and the win in the Super Series.

In the tour within the tour, it's also Seppe Smits (1,200) in front of Kleveland (1,000), McMorris (600) and Mamaev (530).

The finals are slated to take place at 5 PM local time (11 PM CET).

Results

Today will bring the slopestyle qualifiers staged at Stoneham Mountain Resort, some 25 minutes outside of Quebec City with the girls dropping in first at 9 AM local time (3 PM CET).