Henderson Siblings Top Americans in Visa Big Air presented by Toyota at Copper
Brother and sister Hunter and Grace Henderson were the top performing Americans at the Visa Big Air presented by Toyota at Copper Mountain, a FIS Freeski World Cup, with Hunter finishing fifth for the men and Grace seventh for the women.
Hunter put together two solid jumps—a switch left dub 18 and a left dub 16—to score his best big air result in his career. Grace laced her second hit, with a left dub 10 and then put down a switch left 9.
The siblings were stoked to have put down solid finishes together. “Traveling around with my sister is one my favorite parts of doing all of this,” said Hunter. Grace agreed, “Not many people get to have your best friends and your family with them, and I have my very best friend and my family with me everywhere I go and it’s awesome.”
Rookie Troy Podmilsak was sixth, with a big first score on his right triple cork 18 that placed him in the running for a podium, but couldn’t quite put down a second jump to keep him in the top three. Mac Forehand was eighth, throwing a huge left 1980 on his second jump. Alex Hall was ninth, putting down a switch left 18, and stuck to his style of skiing with a unique right dub 19 pull back for his second and third hit.
Birk Ruud of Norway took the win, with three massive hits that scored all jumps in the 90s. Timothe Sivignon of France was the second and Sebastian Schjerve was third.
Canadian Megan Oldham won for the women, while Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland was second and Olivia Asselin of Canada was third.
The Visa Big Air presented by Toyota was a huge success, with excited fans cheering at the finish of the scaffolding big air jump that came right down to the village. Copper feels like a home base for many of the U.S. Freeski Team skiers, who spend weeks training at the venue each fall and return for multiple comps throughout the season.
“We’ve been competing at Copper since USASA Nationals,” said Grace. “With my family and friends here, it’s so much fun. It feels like home.”
The halfpipe team competes next at Copper with the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe comp going off on Saturday, Dec. 17. Watch it live on Outside.
RESULTS
Women’s freeski big air
Men’s freeski big air
HOW TO WATCH
All times EST - Please refer to this link for most up-to-date schedule.
Friday, Dec. 16, 2022
3:00 p.m. - Toyota U.S. Grand Prix snowboard halfpipe finals - streaming LIVE on Outside
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022
11:30 a.m. - Visa Big Air presented by Toyota snowboard big air finals - streaming LIVE on Outside
3:00 p.m. - Toyota U.S. Grand Prix freeski halfpipe finals - streaming LIVE on Outside
Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022
12:30 p.m. - Toyota U.S. Grand Prix snowboard halfpipe finals - tape delayed on NBC and simulcasted on Peacock
4:30 p.m. - Visa Big Air presented by Toyota freeski and snowboard finals - tape delayed on NBC and simulcasted on Peacock
Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022
5:00 p.m. - Toyota U.S. Grand Prix freeski halfpipe finals - tape delayed on NBC and simulcasted on Peacock
