Hall, Stevenson Advance Into Freeski Finals at VISA Big Air

By Annie Fast

December, 3 2021

U.S. Freeski Team athlete Alex Hall airs into a fourth place finish at the VISA Big Air at Steamboat, Co. (Mike Dawsy - U.S. Ski & Snowboard)

U.S. Freeski athletes Alex Hall and Colby Stevenson advanced into finals in a heated qualification session at the Visa Big Air presented by Toyota in Steamboat, Colorado on Friday. Two-time World Cup big air winner Hall earned the fourth place qualifying spot with his signature switch left double cork 1800 buick.

“We’ve been really lucky with the weather the last couple days and the jump has been really good,” said Hall. “I pretty much had to do my hardest tricks to make finals. The level is so crazy nowadays and everyone is so good, so I just had to give it my all. I’m hyped on how I skied—I’m usually just looking to ski my best and if I can make finals, that’s the cherry on top. And Colby’s in there, too with me, so that should be really fun.”

Hall’s U.S. Freeski teammate Stevenson also landed in the top-10 to advance into Saturday’s finals, stomping a switch double cork 1800 stale grab - the first time he’s landed the trick in competition.

“What a crazy qualifier,” said Stevenson. “You either needed to do an 1800 with a different grab than a safety or just go huge and do something creative. I’m just really hyped to make it through, so I couldn’t be more stoked.”

Hall and Stevenson are among a stacked field of ten men advancing into Saturday’s finals with Sweden’s Henrik Harlaut leading the way with the day’s top score for his left nosebutter triple cork 1620 safety grab. Norway’s Christian Nummedal and France’s Antoine Adelisse followed behind Harlaut with the second and third best scores for the men.

Eight women advanced into Saturday’s finals, with France’s Tess Ledeux in the top spot after landing a left double cork 1260 mute grab for a score of 95.75. Switzerland’s Sarah Hoefflin and Norway’s Johanne Killi rounded out the top three women.

VISA Big Air Freeski Finals will run Saturday 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. MST