Seven U.S. Freeskiing Athletes in Grand Prix Finals
MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CA (Feb. 4, 2015) – With a storm moving into the Sierras, seven U.S. Freeskiing team members made it through a tough halfpipe skiing qualification round at the Visa U.S. Grand Prix. Olympic gold medalist Maddie Bowman (S. Lake Tahoe, CA) and David Wise (Reno, NV) were the top American qualifiers, putting together some of their best tricks to qualify into Friday’s finals. Unpredictable wind gusts were a major factor for the majority of the skiers.
“We’re doing the best we can,” Wise explained. “Every rider is adjusting their game plan to the conditions we have. We’re not throwing big runs, we’re just kind of doing consistent things we can land.” Consistency for Wise includes a double cork 1260. Double corks are a staple of every major freeskiing event, but today only three were landed, one by Wise and two by top Canadian qualifiers Justin Dorey and Mike Riddle.
On the women’s side, Bowman seemed relatively unphased by the blustery conditions landing a classic Bowman qualifier run complete with a left 900 and right 720. Devin Logan (West Dover, VT) and Angeli Vanlaanen also put down solid runs to earn them spots in finals along with Kiwi skier and Copper Visa U.S. Grand Prix winner Janina Kuzma.
Competition continues Feb. 5 with slopestyle qualifiers starting at 6 a.m. EST. Live scoring is available on EIM. All Sprint U.S. Grand Prix finals will be live streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra.
RUN HIGHLIGHTS
- Maddie Bowman run: Mute; left 900; right 540 high safety grab; left 540 tail; right 720 safety; switch 7 safety; Air to fakie
- David Wise run: Switch right 900 tail; switch left 720 japan; right 900 tail; left double 1260 mute; alley oop flat 540 octo grab
- Devin Logan run: Mute; japan; flare; left 540 tail; right 540 japan; left 720 safety; switch 3
- Angeli Vanlaanen: Mute; left 540 mute; right 540 safety; left 720 safety; switch 3;
- Aaron Blunck run: Right 900 mute; right alley oop flat 540 mute; right 720 tail; switch cork 5 japan; switch alley rodeo 540 mute; switch 720 japan
- Alexander Ferreira:Right flat spin 540 japan; left 1080 tail; switch 720 japan; left 900 tail; right 900 tail; left 720 tail
- Gus Kenworthy run: Left 900 nose; right 720 tail; switch 720 japan; left alley oop flat 5 japan; left 1080 tail; switch right 900
QUOTES
David Wise, Top American men's qualifier
This is the best the pipe has been. I’m pretty stoked to see Mammoth put a halfpipe together despite the conditions they’ve had this year and unfortunately the wind pick up. We’re doing the best we can, every rider is adjusting their game plan to the conditions we have, we’re not throwing big runs, we’re just kind of doing consistent things, things we can land.
Maddie Bowman, Top American women's qualifier
Today was good, just came down and had a good practice and I just wanted to land a run. The wind was difficult but at least California is going to get some weather. I felt like we were pretty lucky to compete today before the weather moves in.
Halfpipe Qualification Results
Men’s qualification results
Women’s qualification results
LIVE STREAMING SCHEDULE (Times EST)
Feb. 6 – 1:30 p.m. (Halfpipe skiing finals)
Feb. 7 – 1:00 p.m. (Halfpipe snowboarding finals)
Feb. 7 – 4:30 p.m. (Slopestyle skiing finals)
BROADCAST SCHEDULE (times EST)
TV
NBCSN – Feb. 7 – 2:30-2:00PM (Halfpipe skiing & slopestyle snowboarding)
NBC – Feb. 8 – 4:00-5:00 PM (Halfpipe snowboarding)
NBCSN –Feb. 8 – 6:00-7:00PM (Slopestyle skiing)
Follow all the action from Mammoth:
U.S. Freeskiing Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
U.S. Snowboarding Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter