Hall Takes Second at Laax Open
Alex Hall battled through tough conditions today to take second place at the Laax Open, marking his first World Cup podium finish of the season.
While the Laax Open has long been a prestigious and popular contest in the world of snowboarding, this year the event welcomed freeskiers for the very first time. Conditions were challenging, with low visibility and heavy snow that picked up during the second run of finals. Despite the weather, Hall was able to put down a clean and stylish run in classic A-Hall fashion. Hall showed off his technicality and creativity on the rail section before stomping a left double cork 1260, switch right double cork 1080, and switch left double cork 1440. Joining A-Hall on the podium was Switzerland’s Andri Ragettli in first and Birk Ruud of Norway in third.
Cody LaPlante was able to put down two solid runs, the second of which featured a right double cork 1440 and left double cork 1260, to earn sixth place. Colby Stevenson finished in tenth and Mac Forehand in eleventh.
Unfortunately, the women’s finals were canceled due to unfavorable weather and heavy snow, so the results from qualifications stand. Noway’s Johanne Killi took first, her second World Cup win of the season, while Switzerland’s Sarah Hoefflin was second and France’s Tess LeDeaux third, respectively. U.S. athlete Grace Henderson, who claimed her first World Cup podium finish earlier this season, took fifth. Rell Harwood was 11th.
The U.S. Freeski Slopestyle Team now heads back to the States, where Mac Forehand, Colby Stevenson, Alex Hall, and Maggie Voisin will compete in the 2023 X Games in Aspen, Colo.. The rest of the team will gear up for the 2023 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain on February 1-4.
Results
