Gerard Third at Visa Big Air presented by Toyota
Olympic champion and Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team athlete Red Gerard finished on the podium in third in the Visa Big Air presented by Toyota at Colorado's Copper Mountain.
The Visa Big Air featured many of the world’s best snowboarders as they gathered to take on the enormous jump, where runs are judged on difficulty, amplitude, variety and progression.
It's a Colorado bluebird day as Gerard took on the massive feature in Copper and ultimately took home the third spot in his home state in front of his friends and family. He earned himself his 11th World Cup career podium, just a week after he clenched third in Edmonton Big Air World Cup.
Gerard took three runs in finals: switch backside triple 16, back 18 melon and then on his third and final run he was bumped out of the third spot but ultimately answered on the next run with his classic clean switch backside 16 weddle, putting him back in podium position.
Hiroaki Kunitake of Japan nabbed the number one spot and Sam Vermaat of Netherlands the number two.
On the women’s side of things, Hailey Langland just missed the podium in fourth, executing switch front 900 weddle, front 900 slob air and on her third run dropping in switch again with cab 1080 weddle.
Kokomo Murase of Japan nabbed the number one spot and executing a never-been-done trick: back triple 1440 weddle. She was the first woman to compete two 14s and two triples, making history at the Visa Big Air. Mari Fukada of Japan came in second and Mia Brookes of Great Britain was third.
Olympic silver medalist in slopestyle Julia Marino also made finals, but had trouble putting down her tricks and finished in seventh. Rori Avelar of Park City Ski & Snowboard also made finals, but fell during practice and did not start.
Jake Canter, Sean FitzSimons, Fynn Bullock-Womble, Brooklyn DePriest, Chris Corning, Brock Crouch, Lucas Ferry, Judd Henke, Liam Johnson, Luke Winkelmann, Rebecca Flynn and Courtney Rummel were also in Copper for the competition but did not advance to finals.
The Visa Big Air presented by Toyota wrapped up the big air World Cups on the circuit, with the FIS Crystal Globes being handed out at the finish to Kira Kimura for the men and Brookes for the women, marking them the most dominant big air riders on the World Cup circuit in the 2023-24 season. Langland and Gerard were named the U.S. national champions.
The Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team slopestyle/big air athletes now have a long break before traveling to Laax, Switzerland Jan. 17-20 for the next World Cup.
RESULTS
Women's big air
Men's big air
