3 Move on to Finals at Winter Games NZ

QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand (Aug. 21, 2015) – Some of the world’s top riders soared into perfect blue skies at Cardrona Alpine Resort to launch the first snowboard event of Audi quattro Winter Games NZ 2015—the slopestyle qualifiers. Americans Chris Corning (Arvada, CO), Jamie Anderson (S. Lake Tahoe, CA) and Hailey Langland (San Clemente, CA) qualified for the slope finals.

In the qualifying heats for the FIS Snowboard World Cup Slopestyle, Japanese rider Yuki Kadono laid down an impressive first run that turned out to be the best score of the day. Japan’s Keita Inamura and Canada’s Michael Ciccarelli rounded out the podium in second and third, respectively. Corning was the only American man to qualify, finishing in 10th. Red Gerard (Silverthorne, CO) just missed the finals, taking 11th. Sean Neary (New York) was 13th, Lyon Farrell (Paia Haiky, HI) 16th, Brock Crouch (Mammoth Lakes, CA) 17th and Asher Humphreys (Breckenridge, CO) 27th.

In the women’s comp, Olympic champion Anderson took the top score in her first run, a clear ten points ahead of the next two competitors, Canada’s Laurie Blouin and Switzerland’s Elena Koenz. Anderson, the reigning Audi quattro Winter Games NZ champion, nailed a half-cab tap, a frontside boardslide, transfer to frontside lipslide, a boardslide pole jam 270 out, backside 540 mute, switch backside 540 indy and a frontside 720 indy.

Anderson enjoyed the chance to get funky. “The course is really fun,” she said. "There’s a really sick rail line, it’s super creative, and really good jumps.”

Langland was the only other American to qualify for the finals, taking fifth place. Kirra Kotsenburg (Park City, UT) took 10th and Julianne O’Neill (Silverthorne, CO) was 16th.

Head judge Ola Sundekvist was impressed with the standards on show on the slopes. “The qualifiers were of a high level today,” he said. “It was really fun to watch.”

Audi quattro Winter Games NZ 2015 continues with snowboarding slopestyle finals on August 22, 2015.

RESULTS
Men’s slopestyle qualifier
Women’s slopestyle qualifier