Marino and Parrot take win at Big Air World Cup finals

Julia Marino (USA) and Max Parrot (CAN) have triumphed in the 2017-18 FIS Snowboard World Cup season's final event. The US rider and the home town favourite took home the win in the big air event of the famous Jamboree festival staged right between two highways in downtown Quebec City.

In front of an huge crowd which had gathered at L’Îlot Fleurie to cheer for the top six female and best ten male qualifiers, Marino secured her career's third stomping a smooth cab double underflip 900 and frontside 720.

Earning a dominant 168.50, the 20-year-old closed out her season in style: ”It's really cool to see how many people came to watch us and support us. They blocked up the highway, so it's really cool. It's been real fun to dropping in to all of this big party. It was a smaller field of girls but it's still awesome to come out here and put down some runs and have a good time,” Marino said.

Knowing that spectators had pinned a lot of hopes on her in the women's event, local hero Laurie Blouin (CAN) was able to finally live up to her own and the crowd's expectations at this unique in-city event.

Although the 2018 Slopestyle Silver medallist would have loved to throw down some bigger tricks, she managed to land a frontside 720 and a cab underflip 540 to finish in second with a 148.00.

“I'm just happy that I podiumed here as I had so much pressure over the past years. I might not have done the trick that I wanted but I'm just stoked to be on the podium in front of such a crowd and my family,” the 21-year-old goofy rider stated with relief.

Loranne Smans (BEL; 137.75) snatched her first ever World Cup podium as third landing a frontside 720 frontside and a backside 360 mute.

In the men's event, Parrot secured his career's sixth with an almost perfect 195.25. After winning the Jamboree big air back in 2016 and finishing second last year, it was a main concern for him to perform well today again in order to being able to give back:

It feels amazing being in Quebec and riding, especially as all my family and friends are able to come here. They are cheering me all year long, and this is the only contest I can do back home. So, it was a must to come here and a must to show my best tricks. The goal was to put down a show for them, and it worked out,” explained Parrot.

The rider from Bromont had already earned a score in the 90s in his first run but decided to step up his game in his second and third attempt of this three run, best two combined count final to please the crowd.

After bringing down a picture perfect frontside triple 1440, he also landed a backside triple 1620 to walk away with his career's sixth on the World Cup tour.

“Before the last hit, I already knew I would be first or second, so I was already really happy and just enjoying as much as I can. It's great to finish well on the last event of the FIS World Cup season. It's been a great season.”

Switzerland's Jonas Boesiger (182.25) who threw down a backside triple 1440 and a switch backside 1260 as well as 2012 Quebec winner Antoine Truchon (168.00) who landed a switch backside 1260 and a frontside 1260 melon rounded out the podium as respective second and third while Emil Zulian from Italy missed out his first ever World Cup podium by inches (167.25).

The World Cup titles went to Anna Gasser (AUT) and Chris Corning (USA) who both sat out the final competition of a long season.

Corning, who had also brought home the crystal globe for winning the Slopestyle World Cup title last week crowned his season as best rider of the freestyle snowboard tours.

In the women's standings, it was Miyabi Onitsuka (JPN) claiming the Snowboard Freestyle Overall World Cup title.

The FIS Snowboard World Cup will return next winter with the first event taking place in New Zealand where a Big Air World Cup is scheduled in Cardrona from 23 to 25 August, 2018.

The preliminary long term calendar can be downloaded .

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