Stevenson Silver, Hall Bronze In World Champs Slopestyle

U.S. Freeski Team members Colby Stevenson claimed the slopestyle silver and Alex Hall took the bronze at the Aspen 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships, featuring the Visa Big Air presented by Land Rover at Buttermilk in Aspen, Colo., Saturday. Sweden’s Andri Ragettli won the gold.

Despite variable conditions with increasing winds and cloud coverage throughout the morning, the U.S. Freeski Team battled it out on the course. U.S. Freeski Team Head Coach Skogen Sprang agreed the athletes put on a show. “They skied amazing and powered through the challenging conditions with the wind today,” Sprang said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them. They laid down their runs and skied great.”

In his second World Championship start, Stevenson, who qualified third for Saturday’s final, put down a solid first run with clean airs and rails although leaving plenty of room for improvement. On his second run, he did just that and stepped it up a notch with two switch doubles and a double cork 1620, moving him from eighth place to the top seat and bumping Britain's James Woods to second. Stevenson held on to the top spot until Ragettli slid into the gold medal position on his third and final run.

“Any day I come out and land a run, that’s a win for me,” said Stevenson. “Especially for Alex (Hall) to be on the podium with me too in these conditions. There is a lot more pressure when there are elements involved other than the run ahead of you — you’ve got the wind, maybe snow coming in, and flat light. Definitely a lot of added pressure. Really stoked to come out and stomp a run.”

Hall, who was the top qualifier, had a different story of triumph following his first two runs. Hall struggled uncharacteristically with the first rail feature, which resulted in a throwaway for his first two runs. By the third and final run, even with increasing and undesirable winds, Hall gritted his way to bronze medal position with two switch doubles and a double 1620 Buick on his final air.

“I couldn’t make it past the first rail which was a little frustrating,” said Hall. “I was struggling with that rail all day. So I switched it up for the last run since I was pretty down the drain mentally, but once I got past the first rail I got a little more hyped to do the rest of the run. I am stoked it worked out for the last one!”

Marin Hamill, U.S. Freeski Rookie Team member made her World Championship debut by qualifying second and finishing in fifth place overall. She has already earned seven World Cup top-10 finishes, and continues to improve every event. Saturday, Hamill proved her strength all throughout her runs, steadily improving her jumps and rails.

“I didn’t ski that well in my runs as I wanted to, but I still had a blast until the wind came,” said Hamill. “This definitely boosted my confidence, knowing that I can land a run here.”

China’s Eileen Gu won the gold, Swiss Mathilde Gremaud took the silver and Canada’s Megan Oldham claimed the bronze.

The U.S. Freeski Team will resume competition Monday at the Aspen 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships, with the Visa Big Air presented by Land Rover qualification round.

RESULTS
Men’s Freeski Slopestyle
Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle
 

START LISTS
Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe
 

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

Sunday, March 14
12:00 a.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Freeski Halfpipe - next-day broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
11:55 a.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Women’s Snowboard Big Air Qualifying - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock
12:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Snowboard Halfpipe - next-day broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBC
2:10 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Men’s Snowboard Big Air Qualifying, heat 1 - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock
4:25 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Men’s Snowboard Big Air Qualifying, heat 2 - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock

Monday, March 15
11:55 a.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Women’s Freeski Big Air Qualifying - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock
2:10 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Men’s Freeski Big Air Qualifying, heat 1 - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock
4:25 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Men’s Freeski Big Air Qualifying, heat 2 - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock

Tuesday, March 16
12:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Freeski Big Air - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN, Streaming Peacock
1:30 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Freeski Slopestyle - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
3:30 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Snowboard Big Air - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN, Streaming Peacock

Sunday, April 11
2:00 p.m. World Freestyle Championships Event Recap, Aspen, Colorado, Broadcast NBCSN

SCHEDULE
Aspen 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships
Slopestyle, Halfpipe, and Big Air
March 10-16

Snowboard:
March 14 - Big air qualifications
March 16 - Big air finals

Freeski:
March 15 - Big air qualifications
March 16 - Big air finals
 

FOLLOW
Instagram - @ussnowboardteam
Instagram - @usfreeskiteam
Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard

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