Ferreira Back on Top at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix
The FIS Freeski World Cup circuit returned to the United States this week for the first event this season on home soil. The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team went all out in the halfpipe for the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain, Colorado with Alex Ferreira taking the win and Nick Goepper third.
The U.S. men threw down in qualifications, moving seven Stifel U.S. Freeski Team athletes to the 10-person finals. Nick Goepper and Matt Labaugh led their respective heats.
It was a heavy-hitting final on Saturday, with Ferreira continuing his podium streak to stand on the top step again after his perfect 2023-24 season. He had finished second in the last two World Cups. Ferreira is committed to perfecting every bit of his run, shown clearly by his winning 94.75 on run two and landing back-to-back double cork 1620s. It was the first time anyone has done a 16 with a tail grab.
"One of the better feelings in my life, no doubt. I feel fantastic right now," said Ferreira. "I'm kinda speechless. Back on top - the champ is back, baby!"
Goepper continued to prove his commitment to halfpipe is no fluke, taking third place with an 89.25 on his second run. The result marks Goepper's third halfpipe podium since he came out of retirement for halfpipe last season. Canada's Brendan Mackay finished second with a 91.25.
David Wise finished fifth, Birk Irving sixth, Hunter Hess seventh, Matt Labaugh eighth and Aaron Blunck 10th. Blunck took a massive hit on his first run and sat our the second run, but came back to put down a strong third run to the crowd's cheers.
Svea Irving put on an impressive show, and finished just off the podium in fourth with an 85.75 on her first run. China's Eileen Gu, Great Britain's Zoe Atkin and Canada's Cassie Sharpe went 1-2-3 in one of the most competitive fields the women have seen recently.
The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix also marked Hanna Faulhaber's return to competition after a knee injury last year, but took a crash in qualifications and did not make finals.
Next up, the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team heads to Austria for the Klagenfurt and Kreischberg big air World Cup to kick off 2025. The halfpipe squad will take some much deserved time off before they head to Aspen for X Games and the next Toyota U.S. Grand Prix.
