Four Americans Top Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Qualifications

Day Two of competition is in the books at the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain, Calif. and 18 U.S. athletes qualified through to finals in men’s freeski halfpipe, women’s freeski slopestyle, and men’s and women’s snowboard slopestyle. 

In men’s freeski halfpipe, the U.S. Freeski Team went five for five in heat one, led by defending Mammoth Grand Prix champion Birk Irving. 

“I feel good,” said Birk. “The pipe was a bit scary today. It was pretty vert and icy because it got so warm yesterday, but it was fast and we managed. Mammoth did a great job of painting it and made it easy to see in the flat light. I ended up putting a run down and getting into the top spot. For finals, I have a couple of more difficult runs I want to try, so we will see what happens.”

Taylor Seaton, Aaron Blunck, Jaxin Hoerter, and Hunter Hess followed suit in heat one to make their way to finals. In heat two, Lyman Currier took the top spot and David Wise qualified fifth. 

In men’s snowboard slopestyle, U.S. Snowboard Rookie Team member and Mammoth local Dusty Henricksen qualified first in his heat. 

“I didn’t have the highest expectation in qualifications today,” said Dusty. “ I know that I’m competing against the best of the best and I’m super hyped to have put down a run and make finals. The course was super fun and flowy, conditions weren’t ideal with the lighting, but other than that we got super lucky with the weather. I might try and bump up the difficulty a little bit for finals if conditions allow.”

Dusty is coming fresh off of a gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games Lausanne 2020 and will be looking for his first World Cup podium. Joining Dusty in finals are U.S. Snowboard Pro Team athletes Luke Winkelmann and Judd Henkes, as well as Americans Storm Rowe and Dave Retzlaff. 

Coming in off of her sixth X Games Gold medal, Jamie Anderson qualified first overall in women’s snowboard slopestyle. Also qualifying through to finals is U.S. Rookie Team member Jade Thurgood and American Isabella Gomez. This will be Jade’s first-ever World Cup final.

U.S. Freeski Pro Team member Maggie Voisin led the U.S. in slopestyle qualifiers finishing second overall. 

“I think we really lucked out with weather today,” said Maggie. “It’s a more mellow course, but when the wind comes out, it can definitely be variable. None of that Mammoth wind came into play and the sun came out for a while. I’m super happy to qualify into finals and it’s time to step it up.” 

U.S. Freeski Rookie Team members Marin Hamill and Rell Harwood will join Maggie in finals. 

RESULTS
Men’s freeski halfpipe
Women’s freeski slopestyle
Men’s snowboard slopestyle
Women’s snowboard slopestyle 

START LISTS
Friday, Jan. 31
Men’s freeski slopestyle
Women’s freeski slopestyle
Men’s snowboard halfpipe
Women’s Snowboard halfpipe

Saturday, Feb. 1
Men’s freeski halfpipe
Women’s freeski halfpipe
Men’s snowboard slopestyle 
Women’s snowboard slopestyle
 

HOW TO WATCH
Subject to change
All times EST
*Same-day delayed broadcast
** Next-day broadcast

FREESKI
Friday, Jan. 31
12:30 p.m. - Men and women’s slopestyle, Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix, Mammoth, Calif. - NBCSN, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports Gold.

Saturday, Feb. 1
6:35 a.m. - Men and women’s skicross, Megeve, FRA - Olympic Channel.com, NBC Sports Gold
4:00 p.m. - Men and women’s halfpipe, Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix, Mammoth, Calif. - Olympic Channel.com, NBC Sports Gold

SNOWBOARD
Friday, Jan. 31
4:00 p.m. - Men and women’s halfpipe, Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix, Mammoth, Calif. - NBCSN, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports Gold

Saturday, Feb. 1
1:00 p.m. - Men and women’s slopestyle, Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix, Mammoth, Calif. - NBCSN, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports Gold
5:00 p.m. - Men and women’s halfpipe, Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix, Mammoth, Calif. - NBC**
11:30 p.m. - Men and women’s halfpipe, Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix, Mammoth, Calif. - NBCSN**

Sunday, Feb. 2
3:00 p.m. - Men and women’s slopestyle, Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix, Mammoth, Calif. - NBC**

Note: All televised events to stream across NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA app, Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass, available here: https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/snow.