Rookies Shine in Aspen
Uncharacteristic warm temperatures and variable cloud cover conditions set the tone for the Visa Big Air presented by Toyota final in Aspen, with riders battling slow takeoffs and ever changing visibility on the final day of FIS Park & Pipe World Cup competition in Aspen.
Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team rookies Hahna Norman and Lily Dhawornvej held it down on the women's side of competition. In her first World Cup Big Air finals, Norman put down her signature double wildcat indy and a frontside double 10 weddle on her first two jumps, but was unable to nail her final back 9 and finished the day in fifth overall. Dhawornvej's back 9 stalefish put her in podium position after the first jump but a hand drag on her cab 9 stalefish knocked her out of the top three. Despite cleaning it up on her third and final jump, Dhawornvej was unable to crack into the top three and finished the contest in fourth place.
Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team veterans Red Gerard and Chris Corning joined young gun Ollie Martin in the Visa Big Air presented by Toyota men's final. Two-time Olympian Corning came out swinging, dropping a huge back 18 melon to kick things off for the Americans. Teammate Gerard followed him up with a switch back 16 weddle and Martin, the rookie, a huge back triple 18 that sent shock waves through the field of competitors. Despite all three Americans stomping two of three runs, the trio was unable to hold off the likes of Japan's Taiga Hasegawa and Yuto Miyamura, both earning a spot on the podium in a clutch third and final jump. Canada's Eli Bouchard had a breakout big air performance and stole the top spot from the Japanese, taking first overall in Aspen. The Americans all finished within the top eight, Martin taking fourth, Gerard fifth and Corning eighth overall, respectively.
Both having breaking rookie seasons, Dhawornvej and Martin took the title of Big Air National Champion as the top two American big air finishers in Aspen.
The Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team turns their focus to Calgary for the next FIS Park & Pipe World Cup, Feb. 19-23.
