Seiser Alm Hosting Freeski, Snowboard World Cup

Thirteen freeskiers and eight snowboarders are ready to represent the U.S. at the FIS World Cup slopestyle competition in Seiser Alm, Italy Jan. 24-27. This is the third time that Seiser Alm Snowpark has hosted a World Cup snowboard and freeski event.

“I look forward to coming to Seiser Alm every year,” said Lyon Farrell (Haiku, Hawaii). “The park is absolutely epic, and the people are too. I am so excited to be headed back to compete!”

Joining Farrell in the snowboard competition are numerous U.S. Snowboard Team athletes including Brandon Davis (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.), Ryan Stassel (Anchorage, Alaska), Chandler Hunt (Park CIty, Utah) and Sean Fitzsimons (Hood River, Ore.). Also, Americans Eric Beauchemin (Harrisburg, Penn.), Will Healy (Riverside, Conn.) and Dave Retzlaff (Holly, Mich.) are set to compete.

For the freeskiers, U.S. Freeski Team member Colby Stevenson (Park CIty, Utah) will be leading the way alongside Americans Deven Fagan (Brownfield, Maine), Kernan Fagan (Brownfield, Maine), Peter Raich (Park City, Utah), Tim Ryan, (Waterville Valley, N.H.), Ryan Stevenson (Washington, N.J.), and Quinn Wolferman (Missoula, Mont.). For the women, Julia Krass (Hanover, N.H) is searching for the win with teammate Eileen Gu (San Francisco, Calif.) who is coming fresh off her first World Cup podium in Font Romeu, France. In addition, U.S. Rookie Team members Grace Henderson (Madbury, N.H.), Marin Hamill (Park City, Utah), Rell Harwood (Park City, Utah), and American rail master Taylor Lundquist (Park City, Utah) will compete.

The freeski men are chasing U.S. Freeski Team’s own Alex Hall (Park City, Utah) and Mac Forehand (Winhall, Vt.) who currently hold the top two spots in the World Cup slopestyle standings. Meanwhile, Gu will be looking to take over PyeongChang Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hoefflin from Switzerland, who is currently sitting in the top position in the standings. With Gu just behind Hoefflin and coming in with momentum from Font Romeu, look for Gu to step her game up in Seiser Alm. In addition, Krass will focus on significantly improving her current position - 13th in the World Cup slopestyle standings.

On the snowboard side, following the Laax World Cup in Switzerland, Farrell is currently sitting in ninth in the World Cup standings trying to catch his teammate and current standings leader, Chris Corning (Silverthorne, Colo.) who is leading the World Cup standings in slopestyle. Ryan Stassel (Anchorage, Alaska) is in 12th and Sean Fitzsimons (Hood River, Ore.) is in 18th.

The 2018 Seiser Alm World Cup proved to be a very successful stop for U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes topping the podium in three of four competitions. Caroline Claire (Manchester Center, Vt.) finished first alongside two-time Olympic medalist Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, Ind.), and Chris Corning (Silverthorne, Colo.). U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes will be pushing to continue this success at the 2019 FIS World Cup slopestyle in Seiser Alm, Italy.

STANDINGS
Men’s World Cup freeski slopestyle
Women’s World Cup freeski slopestyle
Men’s World Cup snowboard slopestyle
Women’s World Cup snowboard slopestyle

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
*Same-day broadcast

FREESKIING
Sunday, Jan. 27
6:30 a.m. - Men’s and women’s slopestyle - Seiser Alm, Italy - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
7:00 a.m. - Men’s and women’s slopestyle - Seiser Alm, Italy - Olympic Channel-TV*

SNOWBOARDING
Saturday, Jan. 26
6:30 a.m. - Men’s and women’s slopestyle - Seiser Alm, Italy - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold