The second FIS Freeski Slopestyle World Cup competition of the 2019-20 season hit Italy’s Seiser Alm resort on Saturday where U.S. Freeski Pro Team member Caroline Claire stomped a bold second run to top the podium. 

“Today was unreal,” said Caroline still reeling from the day’s event. “I went into today pretty sore after taking a big fall in practice on Thursday, so I wasn’t really sure how I’d fare in finals. Then finals practice was firing and everything starting clicking for me on the course. I was able to get a few reps of my switch double cork 900, which I wanted to try in my slope run. I’m just happy that when it came down to it, I was able to link up a clean run that included that new trick! It’s always a pleasure to come back to Seiser Alm and ski my best!”

Putting together an ultra-smooth rail line at the top of the course, Carline set herself up in the jumps with a right-side 540 before dropping the heaviest trick of the day in the women’s competition - a switch left double cork 900 safety on the second jump. Finishing things off with left side 720 tail grab, Caroline climbed into the top spot for her second career World Cup victory at the very same venue where she took her first win back in 2017-18 and her first World Cup podium in 2016-17. With her win, Caroline moves into the third position in the FIS Slopestyle Cup Standings. 

Johanne Killi of Norway finished in second, and Elena Gaskell of Canada finished in third. 

For the men, U.S. Freeski Team’s Colby Stevenson took third place. As the top qualifier, Colby earned his fourth World Cup podium at the venue where he claimed his first, and so far only, World Cup win back in 2016-17.

“The weather was better than forecasted and we were able to have an awesome competition,” said Colby. “I nailed my first run and was good enough for third place. I’m happy to land what I had planned. I’m feeling healthy and excited for all the competitions to come!”

Birk Ruud of Norway won the event and Fabian Boesch of Switzerland finished second. 

After a break next week during X Games Aspen in Colorado, FIS Freeski Slopestyle World Cup will continue at the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area where slopestyle qualifications are set to go down on Jan. 29, followed by finals on Jan. 31.

TRICK LISTS
Women

1. Claire - down rail left 270 on, snowpad to tailslide 270 out down rail, up rail rightside slide frontside 450 out, right 540 safety, switch left double 900 safety, left 720 tail

2. Killi - wide rail switch right tailslide 270 out, snowpad to left 270 on down rail, up rail rightside slide frontside 450 off, left 900 tail, switch left 720 safety, switch right 720 japan

3. Gaskell - wide rail left 270 on 270 out, switch right on to the snowpad rightside slide pretzel out, right 900 opposite tail, switch left 900 japan, left 900 tail

Men

1. Ruud - right 450 on pretzel 270 out on waterfall rail, switch left onto the wall to transfer backside 270, left 270 on cork 650 off up rail, switch left double cork 1260 mute, right double bio 1440 mute, right double cork 1620 toxic

2. Boesch - right 270 on pretzel 270 off, super fed, switch left 270 on misty 450 safety off up rail, switch right double bio 1260 safety, left double 1620 tail, switch left double 1440 double japan

3. Stevenson - switch left 270 backswap to switch, switch right 270 pretzel 450 japan, left 270 backslide safety to 270 out, switch left double 1440 stale, switch right double 1260 double japan, left double 1440 cuban

RESULTS
Women’s freeski slopestyle
Men’s freeski slopestyle

CUP STANDINGS
Women’s freeski slopestyle
Men’s freeski slopestyle