U.S. Snowboard Team Wins Marc Hodler Trophy

The U.S. Junior World Snowboard and Freeski Teams wrapped up a very successful two weeks at the 2018 FIS Junior Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships, winning a combined 10 medals, and the snowboard team winning the Marc Hodler Trophy, awarded to top nation at the championships.

The battle for the Marc Hodler Trophy came down to the wire with final two events of the championships, the parallel slalom and parallel giant slalom, being the largest barrier for the U.S. Team. The Russians put up a strong challenge, winning 10 of the 12 medals awarded in the final two events, however, the U.S. Snowboard Team took the trophy with 104 points to the Russian team’s 91.

On the freeski side, the U.S. Team finished just behind Russia in the Marc Hodler Trophy standings - 121 points to 97. With two podiums in big air and one each in skicross and halfpipe, it is clear the U.S. is ready to kick off the 2018-19 season. Overall, there were strong performances from a mix of U.S. Team athletes, USASA Alumni, and Project Gold Campers landing and executing big runs at New Zealand’s Cardrona Alpine Resort.

“This was the most successful FIS Junior Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships the U.S. Team has ever experienced,” noted U.S. Ski & Snowboard Sport Development Manager, Snowboard and Freeskiing Abbi Nyberg. “Looking forward, U.S. athletes are poised for a bright future heading toward the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.”

FIS JUNIOR SNOWBOARD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Luke Winkelmann – Silver – Big Air (Winhall, Vt.; U.S. Snowboard Team; USASA Southern Vermont Series)
• Tessa Maud – Silver – Halfpipe (Carlsbad, Calif.; U.S. Snowboard Team; USASA Unbound Series)
• Toby Miller – Gold – Halfpipe (Truckee, Calif; U.S. Snowboard Team; USASA North Tahoe Series)
• Jake Vedder – Gold – SBX (Pinckney, Mich.; U.S. Snowboard Team; USASA Great Lakes Snow Series; 4/16/98)
• Mike Lacroix – Bronze - SBX (Shrewsbury, Mass.; USASA Massachusetts Series)
• Livia Molodyh – Silver – SBX  (Hubbard, Ore.; USASA Mt. Hood Series )

FIS JUNIOR FREESTYLE WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Mac Forehand – Gold - Big Air (Winhall, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School, USASA Southern Vermont Series)
• Ryan Stevenson – Silver - Big Air (Washington, N.J.; USASA Rocky Mountain Series)
• Mazie Hayden – Silver – SX (North Clarendon, Vt.; Killington Mountain School, USASA Southern Vermont Series)
• Dylan Ladd - Silver - Halfpipe (Lakewood, Colo.; USASA Rocky Mountain Series, Winter Park Competition Center)