Freeski Kicks Off Season in Chur; Podmilsak Throws Never Before Done Trick

The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team kicked off the 2024-25 World Cup season today in Switzerland for Big Air Chur. Chur is an iconic venue that combines freeskiing, live music and great vibes.

Troy Podmilsak, reigning big air world champion and X Games big air gold medalist, wrapped up the day in eighth. Though it was not the result Podmilsak hoped for, he put down an exciting new trick that had never been done in competition. Podmilsak's coach calls it a left flat 360, right pretzel 720, and the highlight of this trick is the rotation change Podmilsak does in midair. The judges loved this innovative move and rewarded Podmilsak with a 91.00 for run two. Unfortunately, he could not put down another clean run today, ending with 115.25 in eighth place.

Rell Harwood, another X Games big air medalist, had a clean first run that resulted in a 70.00 from the judges. After run one, Rell elected to sit out the rest of the event and received a DNS for runs two and three. Harwood also finished the day in eighth.

Cody Laplante narrowly missed qualifying for finals and finished the event in 13th.

When asked to name his new trick today, Podmilsak says, "I don't really know, to be honest, there are hundreds of different names you could call it...The Berco Flip, Dean Bercovitch, he made this trick." Bercovitch is a Canadian freeskier who competed in big air and slopestyle through 2017. 

Head Coach Dave Euler said, "Super proud of Rell, Cody, and Troy this event. Results aside, they all skied amazingly and are putting together new tricks. Excited to keep the momentum building as we head into Stubai Camp and the first World Cup slopestyle of the season next month."

Next, the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team will be back in action on Nov. 23, 2024, in Stuabi, Austria, for a slopestyle event.

RESULTS
Women’s big air
Men’s big air