U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Chris Corning (Silverthorne, Colo.) came out on top with another clutch performance in the FIS Snowboard World Cup slopestyle competition in Laax, Switzerland, earning his first slopestyle World Cup victory of the season.

“Winning Laax was amazing,” said Corning. “This contest is a really big one and to have some top guys there made it even better. I had so much fun everyday hitting the park and then having pow laps after. Laax is a beautiful place and I could not be happier with this week”

Resembling his performance at the World Cup event in Kreischberg, Austria, Corning put it all together on his last run with a cab 180 to a frontside 180 on 360 out, backside rodeo 540 - which has become a staple in his run - a cab 1260, frontside 1440, backside triple cork 1440 and a very technical backside 270 on 270 off.

Just like Corning, Judd Henkes (La Jolla, Calif.) was also able to land his run on his last opportunity putting him just outside podium contention in fourth. Lyon Farrell (Haiku, Hawaii) finished seventh, NIkolas Baden (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) 10th,  and U.S. Rookie Team member Sean Fitzsimons (Hood River, Ore.) 11th.

On the women’s side, Julia Marino (Westport, Conn.) represented the U.S. in the final round of competition. Unfortunately, Marino couldn’t put her run together quite as cleanly as needed to take the fight for podium spots to the talented international field. Despite landing her cab double-underflip 900 on both runs, it was the rest of her run that posed a challenge. Marino finished fourth behind Norway’s Silje Norendal in the top spot with Swiss riders Celia Petrig and Sina Candrian in second and third respectively.

Following the Cardona, New Zealand, and Modena, Italy, World Cup big air events, the friendly rivalry between Japan’s Takeru Otsuka and Corning is clearly developing into something special. With the 2019 FIS World Championships in Utah right around the corner, Corning jumps into first-place in the World Cup slopestyle standings ahead of Otsuka, who currently holds the top spot in the World Cup big air standings, right in front of Corning in second-place.

“It was a bummer Otsuka couldn’t be here, but I am happy to have that yellow bib back and be back at the top,” said Corning. “I love going for that globe and hope to keep the yellow bib the rest of the season!”

After snow earlier in the week, the weather decided to play nice in Laax complete with sun, occasional light snow and no wind. The conditions and creative course consisting of two rail features, four jump features, and even a snowboardcross inspired turn before the last rail made the competition a fun one to watch.

The U.S. Snowboard Team’s halfpipe athletes will compete in the final round of competition Saturday for both the men and the women. Expect Chloe KIm (Torrance, Calif.) and Chase Josey (Sun Valley, Idaho) to try to repeat their winning performances from 2017. With valuable FIS 2019 World Championship Team spots on the line, U.S riders will be looking to perform their best in Switzerland. See how to tune in and catch the action below.

RESULTS
Men’s slopestyle
Women’s slopestyle

WORLD CUP STANDINGS
Men’s slopestyle
Women’s slopestyle

START LISTS
Men’s Halfpipe
Women’s Halfpipe

HOW TO WATCH
*Subject to change
*All times EST

Saturday, Jan. 19
11:30 a.m. - Men and women’s halfpipe - Laax, SUI - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold