Stassel and Marino Podium at Olympic Test Event

Just one week after the Milan Big Air, snowboarders headed to PyeongChang for the big air Olympic test event on Saturday. Ryan Stassel (Anchorage, AK) and Julia Marino (Westport, CT) grabbed podiums for the U.S. team.

Big Air Fenway champion Marino grabbed another podium result at the FIS Snowboard World Cup in South Korea. (Getty Images-Han Myung-Gu)

On the tallest big air scaffolding ramp in the world in the heart of PyeongChang's Alpensia resort, reigning slopestyle champion Stassel threw down huge jumps with a variety of tricks—including a switch backside 1260 and a backside triple cork 1440s—to take third. He finished behind Canadians Mark McMorris and Max Parrot.

After winning the Big Air at Fenway last season, Julia Marino showed that she’s here to stay in big air, landing on the podium in second place. She finished behind Austrian Anna Gasser and ahead of Katie Ormerod of Great Britain.

Stassel goes big during the qualifying round at Alpensia Ski Jumping Center. (Getty Images-Han Myung-Gu)

“We are fortunate to have a U.S. team full of such bold, courageous and talented riders,” said Head Coach Mike Jankowski. “Momentum is on our side as we transition into our Olympic prep season and the team is ready to keep charging ahead towards 2018.”

After a full month on the road at a camp in Stubai, Austria and competing at the Milan Big Air, U.S. Snowboarding now heads back to the states. “And going home with these solid results makes the trip even sweeter,” said Jankowski.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ryan Stassel was third in the PyeongChang big air Olympic test event.
• Big Air at Fenway champion Julia Marino was second.
• Qualifying for finals, Chris Corning (Silverthorne, CO) finished fifth and Red Gerard (Silverthorne, CO) took ninth. Hailey Langland (San Clemente, CA) was fourth and Jamie Anderson (S. Lake Tahoe, CA) fifth.
• Next up, the riders head back to the states for the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix at Copper Mountain for a halfpipe and big air.

QUOTES
Mike Jankowski - Head Snowboard Coach
We are fortunate to have a U.S. team full of such bold, courageous and talented riders. Momentum is on our side as we transition into our Olympic prep season and the team is ready to keep charging ahead towards 2018.

RESULTS
Big Air Women
Big Air Men