U.S. Snowboard Team members Chloe Kim and Maddie Mastro proved style and strength, claiming gold and silver in halfpipe 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.

“I think that it was a challenging day today with less than ideal conditions, but everyone stepped up and put down some of their best runs of the year today,” said Rick Bower, U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe Pro Team Head Coach. “So, overall it was a really great day. I am excited to see them one and two.”

It was all smiles today for Kim, as she defended her 2019 World Championship title. Despite less than ideal halfpipe conditions with wind, snow, and a sprained ankle from practice, Kim prevailed. Her first two runs — both identical in their technicality and style — included switch backside rotations, laid-out mctwists, and a frontside 900. Kim, still coming off a competition hiatus for school, has made it clear — she is back.

“I am feeling really good,” said Kim. “I am so grateful to be out here and happy the weather held up for the contest. Winning feels really good!”

Mastro also had a strong performance, earning the silver. She most notably stomped a double Crippler and frontside 900 in her final run, showcasing her best competition run of the season. Mastro, remaining consistent throughout her runs, giving an impressive show of both pre-drop karaoke skills and aggressive riding, defining the best of women’s halfpipe snowboarding.

“It’s something I have been building toward all season and I am going to try and build off that run,” said Mastro. “We haven’t had many contests this year, so it has been a lot more pressure when they do come. So to have all that energy built up and accomplish that run, it’s an amazing feeling that nothing can really compare to — that’s what we work for.”

Today in the men’s halfpipe finals, there was a heavily stacked lineup of talent with Chase Josey finishing fifth, Chase Blackwell sixth, and Taylor Gold in eighth. Japan’s Yuto Totsuka took the gold, upsetting Australia’s Scotty James who settled for silver. Switzerland’s Jan Scherrer claimed bronze.

Blackwell, the U.S. Snowboard team’s up-and-coming rider boosted technical back-to-back double corks and a Cab 1080. Josey presenting some of the most technical runs of the day, showed his deep arsenal of tricks through double Michalchuks and a double Ally-oop, although washing out in two of his runs. Finally, Gold gave a good showing on home soil through boosting his signature McTwist Chicken Wing and double Michalchuk.

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

Interested in organization, athlete, and event related news?
Sign up for our Daily or Weekly Update

Learn more about how to support the U.S. Freeski & Snowboard Teams.
 

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

Interested in organization, athlete, and event related news?
Sign up for our Daily or Weekly Update

Learn more about how to support the U.S. Freeski & Snowboard Teams.

On a challenging, and beautiful track in the scenic Engadin Valley of Switzerland, Jessie Diggins skied to a fifth-place finish, leading three Davis U.S. Cross Country team athletes into the top 14. Hailey Swirbul was 12th, followed by Rosie Brennan in 14th.

Russia’s Yulia Stupak took the victory, skiing away from Norway’s Heidi Weng and Sweden’s Ebba Andersson on the final downhill for her second World Cup victory of the season. Stupak’s victory moved her into second in the overall World Cup standings behind Diggins and bumped Brennan from third to fourth overall.

Coming into the final weekend of racing, Brennan sat third in both the World Cup overall and distance standings, and she knew a solid result would keep her in the top three. From the start, she pushed the pace at the front, however, bad luck struck her on the first of three laps.

“I felt really good off the line today, but unfortunately got my pole kicked and broken about 2.5k into the race,” she said. “It was a bad place to break a pole and it took me a while to get my spare pole so I lost the lead pack at that time. I did what I could to climb my way back, but did not have enough in me. I am really heartbroken that I couldn't find another gear to fight back because I had great skis and had a lot riding on this weekend for the overall World Cup.”

Sporting fast skis, Diggins skied well in the front group, digging deep into the pain cave during the high-altitude race. However, in hindsight, a little less kick would have served her better.

“It was hard in the altitude, but my skis were pretty good,” the 2021 overall World Cup winner said. “I should have had the confidence to ask for less kick, but that’s my fault. But I was really happy with today.”

Rounding out the U.S. women, Katharine Ogden was 33rd, Sophia Laukli was 46th, and Julia Kern was 47th. However, all three were caught up in an early race crash that separated them from the lead pack.

In the men’s 15k race, Alexander Bulshunov exacted some revenge over Norway’s Johannes Klaebo from last weekend’s controversial 50k finish at the World Championships to take the victory by more than 18 seconds over the Norweigan. Norway's Paal Goldberg was third. David Norris was the top American finisher in 41st, followed by Hunter Wonders in 47th, Gus Schumacher 48th, Ben Ogden 51st, Scott Patterson 53rd, Kevin Bolger 60th, and Johnny Hagenbuch finishing 72nd in his first World Cup start.

“I went into it with zero expectations—just wanted to have fun and see the lay of the land,” Hagenbuch said. “It was very hectic in the beginning, and the start took me by surprise...I definitely have a lot to work on. The good news is that I think I have some time to accomplish it!”

Up next, the final race of the 2020-21 FIS Cross Country World Cup season. The women will race a 30k freestyle pursuit, and the men a 50k freestyle pursuit on a point-to-point course that follows mainly along the profile of the prestigious “Engadin Skimarathon” route. 

“Tomorrow we start based on our finish today so it was a really bad day to not finish strong,” Brennan added. “But I will give it all I have tomorrow and do what I can finish the season strong.”

RESULTS
Women’s 10k classic mass start
Men’s 15k classic mass start

STANDINGS
Women’s overall World Cup
Men’s Overall World Cup
Women’s World Cup distance
Men’s World Cup distance

HOW TO WATCH
Sunday, March 14
3:15 a.m. FIS Cross-Country World Cup Women’s 30 km Pursuit - LIVE, Engadin, SUI, 
5:35 a.m. FIS Cross-Country World Cup Men’s 50km Pursuit - LIVE, Engadin, SUI, Streaming Peacock

On her 26th birthday, two-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion Mikaela Shiffrin was second in Saturday’s slalom to lead two Americans into the top five. Paula Moltzan skied to a career-best fifth-place finish in the second of two FIS Ski World Cup slalom races in Are, Sweden.

With Saturday's win, Austria’s 2021 slalom world champion Katharina Liensberger grabbed her maiden World Cup victory, followed by Shiffrin .72 seconds off the pace, and Switzerland’s Wendy Holdener in third place, 1.65 seconds back. 

Shiffrin came out of the gate with fire on Saturday, skiing into first ahead of Liensberger by .19 seconds. Slovakian Petra Vlhova, who won Friday’s slalom had an early error and nearly went over the handlebars, losing a significant amount of time. Even still, Vlhova was able to make the flip, with 27th place. 2017 NCAA slalom champion (University of Vermont) Paula Moltzan was fifth-fastest in the first run. 

Vlhova held the lead for a while, moving from 27th to eighth with a solid and error-free second run. Many athletes struggled second run with the light changing drastically, but Moltzan was able to cross the finish line in the lead by .27 seconds. Her strong skiing allowed her to hold the fifth place, for her career-best result. “I’m really happy with the weekend and super excited to be able to put four clean runs down in a row,” Moltzan shared. “It (consistency) is something I have been working really hard on all season. The whole team showed a lot of speed on the first run, and I can promise there are more great things in the near future for the entire team.”

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Paula Moltzan (@paulamoltzan)

Liensberger came down with a beautiful run, seemingly floating through the gates to take the lead over Holdener by a whopping 1.65 seconds. Shiffrin skied solid but could not keep up with Liensberger, though she was able to hang on to second place. 

“It was a pretty good weekend,” reflected Shiffrin. “Yesterday I was really happy with fighting to stay in the race on the second run, and today it was all-around better skiing. The second run was really tough. It was hard to see and hard to see where the tracks were...I knew that Liensberger would be pushing really hard as she did the same thing yesterday and seemed so comfortable with that level of skiing. I knew that would be a really big fight. I tried to push and kind of keep up with the pace, and some spots felt pretty good, so I can take away some good things from it."

At just 26-years-old, Shiffrin has 69 career World Cup victories, three Olympic medals (two gold), and eleven world championship medals (six gold). Her illustrious career seems to be one mind-blowing statistic after another, so here's another to add to the collection: in her last 51 slalom starts, Shiffrin was on the podium 47 times (92%) with 36 victories (71%).

For the second-straight day, Nina O’Brien grabbed 22nd, after making an incredible recovery second run for the solid result. Katie Hensien, AJ Hurt, Lila Lapanja, and Resi Stiegler also started for the Americans. Hensien and Stiegler skied strong, but finished just outside of the 30, while Hurt and Lapanja did not finish.

In what is becoming quite the exciting race for the slalom globe, Shiffrin is now sitting in third with 575 points, behind Vlhova (612 points), and Liensberger (590 points). With her eighth place on Saturday, Vlhova has extended her lead in the World Cup overall standings to 96 points, with 1,352 points to Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami 1,256 points. 

What can fans expect at Finals? “The only thing you can really expect is that Finals will be an exciting show,” said Shiffrin. “I have no idea how it’s going to turn out. Kathi and Petra are both very strong, and today Petra had a really big mistake on the first run, but you could see the second run she was coming back really strong. Anything is possible at Finals, and I’m not totally out of the fight, which after yesterday, is a little bit of a surprise even, so we’ll see.”  

Up next for the FIS Ski World Cup circuit is World Cup Finals in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.  

RESULTS
Women’s slalom

STANDINGS
Overall
Slalom

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST.

Sunday, March 14
4:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men’s Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Kranjska Gora, SLO, Streaming Peacock
7:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men’s Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Kranjska Gora, SLO, Broadcast Olympic Chanel, Streaming Peacock
 

The U.S. Freestyle Aerials Team wrapped its season Saturday with World Cup Finals at Shymbulak Mountain Resort in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on the same site as the 2021 FIS Freestyle Ski World Championships earlier this week. Unfortunately, the U.S. was only able to field two athletes due to positive COVID-19 cases and associated quarantine for close contacts. U.S. Ski Team member Dani Loeb and Park City Ski & Snowboard athlete Tasia Tanner were exempt from the quarantine process and therefore able to jump. 

Both Loeb and Tanner made the first finals round, the second World Cup finals appearance for each. Loeb performed a full full to earn a 77.17, which earned her a 10th place finish, matching her best from Moscow in January. As the 2021 NorAm Cup Champion, Tanner earned a spot in World Cup Finals and matched her career-best result from Deer Valley with an 11th place after stomping a high-scoring lay full. first time at worlds

"It was the best scoring full full that ever I've done," said Loeb. "I was super excited to perform it how I did. It was a bummer to not have my team physically there, but their support from texts and calls was awesome. The whole team was texting Tasia and me nonstop. The other teams were also very supportive and cheering us on. It was a bittersweet way to end the season."

Canada’s Marion Thenault won for the women with Russia’s Liubov Nikitina in second and Kazakhstan’s Zhanbota Aldabergenova rounding out the podium in third. On the men’s side, Switzerland took first and second with Pirmin Werner and Nicolas Gygax, respectively, and Canada’s Lewis Irving was third. 

Despite a majority of the team not competing in the final event of the season, the United States still won the Nations Cup, a feat not achieved since 2016. The Nations Cup is a true team effort as each athlete’s results contribute to crown the world’s best aerials team. The U.S. managed to edge out Russia by 11 points, showing the depth and potential of the U.S. as there certainly were results left on the snow Saturday. 

“I am so proud of our whole team in earning the Nations Cup this season,” said Head Aerials Coach Vladimir (Vlad) Lebedev. “This season was likely the hardest season any of us will ever experience. To achieve this together is amazing. We worked hard all year with this goal in mind. Through the difficult travel, all of the training, and the highs and lows of the competition season, this was on our radar. To prove that we are the number one aerials team in the world feels especially sweet this season. Thank you to all of the athletes, coaches and staff for all of your hard work. I look forward to celebrating together once we are all safely back in the U.S.”

Another notable achievement for the team this year was Winter Vinecki’s second place in the overall World Cup standings, the first American Grand Prix podium finish since Mac Bohonnon’s second place in 2017 - and the first American female podium finish since Ashley Caldwell earned the overall title in 2016. 

"I am so excited for the season that I had!" said Vinecki. "I went into the season hungry for my first podium. To come out with three podiums, including a win, and now a silver medal in the overall World Cup Tour, is a dream come true. The season was certainly full of challenges and not being able to compete for the win in the overall standings in this last World Cup (due to COVID) was a big disappointment. I would have loved to stand on that podium with those other amazing women for the overall award ceremony too, but you can bet I was smiling from my hotel room. I already can’t wait to get back training and prepare for our Olympic season next year!"

Seven teammates joined Vinecki in the top 15 overall standings. On the women’s side, Megan Nick finished sixth, Ashley Caldwell seventh, Kaila Kuhn ninth and Megan Smallhouse 15th. Justin Schoenefeld was this season’s top American man, finishing eighth. Chris Lillis finished 12th and Eric Loughran 14th. 

The aerials athletes are safely in quarantine and testing of U.S. Freestyle Ski Team athletes and staff is ongoing. While this is a disappointing way to end the season, the health and safety of all U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes and staff is the organization’s top priority. U.S. Ski & Snowboard looks forward to bringing all athletes back to the U.S. upon completion of mandatory quarantine periods.

Results
Women’s Aerials
Men’s Aerials

Standings
Women’s Aerials
Men’s Aerials
Nations Cup

U.S. Freeski Team member Birk Irving took halfpipe bronze at the Aspen 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships, featuring the Visa Big Air presented by Land Rover. Alex Ferreira and Hanna Faulhaber each finished fourth for the U.S.

The day presented difficult spring pipe conditions for athletes, including an icy left wall and soft sun-splashed right wall. Regardless, the U.S. Team made an impressive showing of style across women's and men's teams.

"I didn't put down all the runs I wanted to, but for my first run to hold all the way through, with this level of skiing, is so insane," said Irving. "I couldn't have asked for a better day, the pipe was so good, and the level of skiing right now is so gnarly."

Twenty-one-year-old Irving was able to show a true sense of confidence competing in the pipe, with the best skiing we've seen from this young man. While his second and third runs did not prove as strong, Irving came out of the gate on his first run with a left double 1440, reserving his spot on the podium.

Defending his home turf, Alex Ferreira took home fourth place with a solid second run, including a clean left double 1080 and right double 1080.

"It was awesome to do the contest today and I think everyone is having a great time," said Ferreira. "What more could you ask for? Obviously, I am biased: I think Aspen is the greatest place in the world."

Teammates Aaron Blunck came in fifth, David Wise in 10th, and Lyman Currier in 11th.

On the women's side, Faulhaber - a sixteen-year-old and Basalt local - put on an impressive show of amplitude while claiming fourth in women's halfpipe in her first World Championships. All three runs for Faulhaber included immense airtime and back-to-back flairs showcasing her best in her hometown pipe. 

"It was amazing to be with the U.S. Freeski Team and compete against them, " said Faulhaber. "I've always looked up to my teammates growing up, so competing against them at such a big event is amazing."

Teammates Brita Sigourney and Devin Logan were fifth and sixth respectively.

RESULTS
Men's Freeski HP Finals
Women's Freeski HP Finals

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

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

Saturday, March 13   
11:30 a.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Freeski Slopestyle - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock
12:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Snowboard Slopestyle - next-day broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBC
1:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Freeski Slopestyle - same-day broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast Olympic Channel
3:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Snowboard Halfpipe - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast Olympic Channel, Streaming Peacock

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. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Championships Event Recap, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBC

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

Snowboard:
March 13 - Halfpipe finals
March 14 - Big air qualifications
March 16 - Big air finals

Freeski:                      
March 13 - Slopestyle finals
March 15 - Big air qualifications
March 16 - Big air finals
 

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

 Interested in organization, athlete, and event related news?
Sign up for our Daily or Weekly Update

Learn more about how to support the U.S. Freeski & Snowboard Teams
 

Jamie Anderson kicked off the World Championships with flair and triumph, taking the silver medal in slopestyle on the first day of finals at the Aspen 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships, featuring the Visa Big Air presented by Land Rover, at Buttermilk in Aspen, Colo., Friday.

"I honestly feel so happy," said Anderson. "I gave it my all today." 

Spring conditions provided an ideal riding environment and the perfect weather, and dialed course, allowed for a solid showing in both men's and women's snowboard slopestyle finals.  

After finishing second in qualifiers, Anderson put down a solid first run in finals to take the top seat after the first of three runs with a notable frontside 720 Weddle on her final air. In her second run, Anderson attempted to raise the bar and land a 1080 Weddle on the final air, although under-rotating and slid out. Among her mix in the third and final run, Anderson perfectly styled her rails and first two airs; although attempting to finish what she started, she washed out of her final frontside 1080 Weddle and was unable to take over first place. 

"Although I wasn't able to connect my 10, I am genuinely so happy for Zoi (Sadowski-Synnott)," said Anderson. We've been battling all year, and that last run she put down was flawless. The future (of women's snowboarding) is in good hands. I am proud of her and all the girls." 

New Zealand's Zoi Sadowski Synnott completed a strong run with a backside 1080 on her final air to take the gold, while Australia's Tess Coady took the bronze.

The men put on an equally impressive display of talent, with Norway's Marcus Kleveland winning the gold, Canada's Sebastien Toutant with the silver, and Finland's Rene Rinnekangas taking the bronze. U.S. Freeski Team's Red Gerard was fourth, Dusty Henricksen seventh, Chris Corning 11th, and Lyon Farrell 12th.

"Today was a gorgeous day," said Toutant. "The course was perfect, the weather was perfect, and everyone killed it." 

After his first run, Gerard held the top spot through his clean and confident rails and jumps, pulling a switch back triple Weddle in the final air. His second run included a stylish switch Blunt 270, although washing out a back 1260 Melon on his second air, in-venue announcer Jon "DC" Oetken awarded Gerard with the 'Best Craig Kelly Tribute Melon Grab' of the day.

Teammates Henricksen, Corning, and Farrell all stepped up in their runs, displaying loads of talent. Henricksen completed his rails and a considerable back Triple Weddle on the final air — styled in spring t-shirt fashion. Corning had an exceptionally stylish 50-50 backside to Rodeo in the rails both runs, also attempting a quad 1800 melon on the final air, while Farrell proved his skills through a clean rail section and a back 1620 Melon. 

Tune in for more World Championships snowboarding action Saturday with snowboard halfpipe finals, where Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim will look to defend her World Championship title. 

RESULTS
Women’s snowboard slopestyle 
Men’s snowboard slopestyle

START LISTS
Women’s snowboard halfpipe
Men’s snowboard halfpipe

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

Saturday, March 13   
11:30 a.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Freeski Slopestyle - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock
12:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Snowboard Slopestyle - next-day broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBC
1:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Freeski Slopestyle - same-day broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast Olympic Channel
3:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Snowboard Halfpipe - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast Olympic Channel, Streaming Peacock

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. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Championships Event Recap, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBC

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

 Interested in organization, athlete, and event related news?
Sign up for our Daily or Weekly Update

Learn more about how to support the U.S. Freeski & Snowboard Teams
 

Two-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion Mikaela Shiffrin was third in Friday’s slalom to lead three Americans into the top-25 at Are, Sweden, despite a massive mistake and big recovery. Paula Moltzan matched her career-best FIS Ski World Cup result, with ninth. 

Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova, who was second to Shiffrin in last weekend’s slalom on her home turf in Jasna, showed super strong and solid skiing to ski into first the first run, .41 seconds ahead of Shiffrin. Austria’s Katharina Liensberger was the third-fastest in the first run. Second run, Vlhova handled the warmer, softer conditions well and skied to the victory, with Liensberger in second place, and Shiffrin rounding out the podium in third, despite an error and recovery second run. Despite her mistake, Shiffrin was happy with her skiing. 

“It was a big fight,” Shiffrin reflected after her run. “I’m pretty excited with the feeling I had...I was pushing and had a scary moment, and stayed in the course but also pushed forward more, and I’m pretty happy with it actually. I mean, yeah, I didn’t win, but I felt some really good, powerful skiing...some really good turns...and in tricky conditions. I’ll learn from this mistake, but I did that because I was pushing and I’m proud of that.”

Shiffrin, who is known for her perfect turns and rarely making mistakes, was stoked about her run and the risks she took. “I was in this attitude like ‘really aggressive’ and then that happened and I almost couldn’t stay in the course and when I finally got it back together I was like, ‘Oh my gosh! Keep pushing!!’ Shiffrin commented. “I used to be pretty good at having small mistakes and still keep going with the speed, and not getting scared because of it...and I felt that this run that I was still going. So, it was a really good thing to feel, and I haven’t really done that yet this year. It’s nice to be fast when you have a perfect run, but it’s better for me to also feel like you can also be fast even if you’re not totally on point but you have the right attitude, so it was a good thing.” 

Moltzan, who turned in the 15th-fastest first run, had the seventh-fastest second run to end up ninth—to match her career-best. For the first time in her career, she will be starting in the top-15 on Saturday. Nina O’Brien finished 22nd on the day, which is her second-best result in slalom of the season. 

In the race for the slalom globe, Shiffrin is now a mere 85 points behind Vlhova (580 points), with 495 points. Liensberger is on Shiffrin’s heels with 490 points, with two World Cup races to go on the calendar. With her victory on Friday, Vlhova has taken the lead in the World Cup overall standings by 64 points, with 1,320 points to Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami 1,256 points. 

Shiffrin took time to praise Vlhova’s skiing, and also reflected on how she can learn from her rival’s skiing. “Petra is skiing totally on point, and you could see it both runs today,” she added. “And she handled the conditions in the first run and second run well, especially the second run, she was managing it well and when I watch her I’m like, ‘Ok, what’s her discipline like, and how high of a level she is compared to everyone else, and how much can I raise my level to get closer to that?’” 

Katie Hensien also started for the Americans and had the 25th fastest time after the first run, but went down on her hip at the fourth gate and DNFed the second run. Resi Stiegler had a solid top section first run, but finished just outside of the 30. AJ Hurt and Lila Lapanja also started for the Americans but did not qualify for a second run. 

Up next for the women is another slalom on Saturday to wrap the tech series before World Cup Finals in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. 

RESULTS
Women’s slalom

STANDINGS
Overall
Slalom

HOW TO WATCH 

All times EST.

Saturday, March 13  
12:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women’s Slalom - next-day broadcast, Are, SWE, Broadcast NBCSN
3:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men’s Giant Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Kranjska Gora, SLO, Streaming Peacock
4:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women’s Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Are, SWE, Streaming Peacock
6:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men’s Giant Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Kranjska Gora, SLO, Broadcast Olympic Channel, Streaming Peacock
7:45 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women’s Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Are, SWE, Broadcast Olympic Channel, Streaming Olympic Channel and Peacock

Sunday, March 14
4:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men’s Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Kranjska Gora, SLO, Streaming Peacock
7:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men’s Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Kranjska Gora, SLO, Broadcast Olympic Chanel, Streaming Peacock
 

Jessie Diggins will wear the FIS World Cup Cross Country yellow leader’s bib into the final races of the season this weekend in the beautiful Engadin Valley in Switzerland. But most importantly, she’ll take that yellow bib home next week along with the Crystal Globe as the first American woman, and second American, to win the overall title.

“To be able to do anything and be mentioned in the same sentence as Bill Koch (the first American to win the overall World Cup title in 1982) is really incredible. I’ve been looking up to him for a very long time,” said Diggins, who has experienced one of her best seasons ever, which included the overall victory in the 2021 FIS Tour de Ski - the first American to win the event. In addition, she earned nine podium finishes on the World Cup Tour this season - including four victories. “The overall World Cup Globe is the biggest thing that I can ever achieve!”

Diggins will lead 13 Davis U.S. Cross Country teammates into Saturday’s classic mass start and Sunday’s freestyle pursuit, including Rosie Brennan, who sits third in the overall World Cup standings and is tied for third in the overall World Cup distance standings. Solid results this weekend from Brennan could place two Americans in the top three overall and distance standing for the first time in history. Diggins, who mathematically has wrapped up both the overall and distance titles, will be presented with the World Cup Crystal Globes following Sunday’s race.

Johnny Hagenbuch, who won the American Birkebeiner race last week, will start his first World Cup this weekend. He’ll be joined by Gus Schumacher, Scott Patterson, David Noris, Ben Ogden, Kevin Bolger, and Hunter Wonders in Saturday’s 15k classic mass start, and Sunday’s 50k freestyle pursuit that follows mainly along the profile of the prestigious “Engadin Skimarathon” course. 

Joining Diggins and Brennan this weekend in the women’s 10k classic mass start and Sunday’s 30k freestyle pursuit are Julia Kern, Hailey Swirbul, Sophia Laukli, and Katharine Ogden.

Unfortunately, Sophie Caldwell Hamilton and Simi Hamilton will not be able to join their teammates this weekend. Sophie tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday morning following the conclusion of the 2021 FIS Nordic Ski World Championships. She is asymptomatic and entered quarantine upon learning of the results when she arrived in Switzerland. Simi and the rest of the staff and athletes on the U.S. Team have all tested negative. However, as a close contact, Simi was quarantined upon arrival in Switzerland as well. Both have tested negative twice since their arrival in Switzerland. However, under the Swiss COVID-19 Protocol, both athletes will be required to quarantine through the weekend.

“This weekend I was planning to race my final races as a professional skier, but it looks like my final race was really two weeks ago,” Sophie wrote on Instagram in announcing her retirement from the sport Thursday evening. “When I think about the last nine years, it’s impossible to fit all the memories on a page, but I do know that I want to say thank you. Thank you to my family, my coaches, my teammates, my partners, and my friends.”

“After 11 incredible years on the World Cup, it’s time to officially say goodbye,” Simi wrote on his Instagram page Thursday evening. “I was hoping that I could use this post to say that this weekend’s World Cup Finals would be my last as a professional ski racer, but that would have been too smooth-sailing for 2021. Instead, I’ll be watching my friends race their last races of the season while in isolation in my room just a few km’s from the race trails.”

U.S. Ski & Snowboard looks forward to bringing Sophie and Simi back to the U.S. upon completing their mandatory quarantine periods.

NBC’s Peacock Streaming Platform will provide live coverage of this weekend’s races.

STANDINGS
Women’s World Cup Overall
Men’s World Cup Overall
Women’s World Cup Distance
Men’s World Cup Distance
Women’s World Cup Sprint
Men’s World Cup Sprint

HOW TO WATCH
Saturday times are Eastern Standard Time
Saturday, March 13   
5:40 a.m. FIS Cross-Country World Cup Men’s 15km Mass Start, Engadin, SUI, Streaming Peacock
9:30 a.m. FIS Cross-Country World Cup Women’s 10km Mass Start - LIVE, Engadin, SUI, Streaming Peacock

Sunday, March 14
Sunday times are Eastern Daylight Time
3:15 a.m. FIS Cross-Country World Cup Women’s 30 km Pursuit - LIVE, Engadin, SUI, Streaming Peacock
5:35 a.m. FIS Cross-Country World Cup Men’s 50km Pursuit - LIVE, Engadin, SUI, Streaming Peacock
 

Jessie Diggins will wear the FIS World Cup Cross Country yellow leader’s bib into the final races of the season this weekend in the beautiful Engadin Valley in Switzerland. But most importantly, she’ll take that yellow bib home next week along with the Crystal Globe as the first American woman, and second American, to win the overall title.

“To be able to do anything and be mentioned in the same sentence as Bill Koch (the first American to win the overall World Cup title in 1982) is really incredible. I’ve been looking up to him for a very long time,” said Diggins, who has experienced one of her best seasons ever, which included the overall victory in the 2021 FIS Tour de Ski - the first American to win the event. In addition, she earned nine podium finishes on the World Cup Tour this season - including four victories. “The overall World Cup Globe is the biggest thing that I can ever achieve!”

Diggins will lead 13 Davis U.S. Cross Country teammates into Saturday’s classic mass start and Sunday’s freestyle pursuit, including Rosie Brennan, who sits third in the overall World Cup standings and is tied for third in the overall World Cup distance standings. Solid results this week from Brennan could place two Americans in the top three overall and distance standing for the first time in history. Diggins, who mathematically has wrapped up both the overall and distance titles, will be presented with the World Cup Crystal Globes following Sunday’s race.

Johnny Hagenbuch, who won the American Birkebeiner race last week, will start his first World Cup this weekend. He’ll be joined by Gus Schumacher, Scott Patterson, David Noris, Ben Ogden, Kevin Bolger, and Hunter Wonders in Saturday’s 15k classic mass start, and Sunday’s 50k freestyle pursuit that follows mainly along the profile of the prestigious “Engadin Skimarathon” course. 

Joining Diggins and Brennan this weekend in the women’s 10k classic mass start and Sunday’s 30k freestyle pursuit are Julia Kern, Hailey Swirbul, Sophia Laukli, and Katharine Ogden.

Unfortunately, Sophie Caldwell Hamilton and Simi Hamilton will not be able to join their teammates this weekend. Sophie tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday morning following the conclusion of the 2021 FIS Nordic Ski World Championships. She is asymptomatic and entered quarantine upon learning of the results when she arrived in Switzerland. Simi and the rest of the staff and athletes on the U.S. Team have all tested negative. However, as a close contact, Simi was quarantined upon arrival in Switzerland as well. Both have tested negative twice since their arrival in Switzerland. However, under the Swiss COVID Protocol, both athletes will be required to quarantine through the weekend.

“This weekend I was planning to race my final races as a professional skier, but it looks like my final race was really two weeks ago,” Sophie wrote on Instagram in announcing her retirement from the sport Thursday evening. “When I think about the last nine years, it’s impossible to fit all the memories on a page, but I do know that I want to say thank you. Thank you to my family, my coaches, my teammates, my partners, and my friends.”

“After 11 incredible years on the World Cup, it’s time to officially say goodbye,” Simi wrote on his Instagram page Thursday evening. “I was hoping that I could use this post to say that this weekend’s World Cup Finals would be my last as a professional ski racer, but that would have been too smooth-sailing for 2021. Instead, I’ll be watching my friends race their last races of the season while in isolation in my room just a few km’s from the race trails.”

U.S. Ski & Snowboard looks forward to bringing Sophie and Simi back to the U.S. upon completing their mandatory quarantine periods.

NBC’s Peacock Streaming Platform will provide live coverage of this weekend’s races.

STANDINGS
Women’s World Cup Overall
Men’s World Cup Overall
Women’s World Cup Distance
Men’s World Cup Distance
Women’s World Cup Sprint
Men’s World Cup Sprint

HOW TO WATCH
Saturday times are Eastern Standard Time
Saturday, March 13   
5:40 a.m. FIS Cross-Country World Cup Men’s 15km Mass Start, Engadin, SUI, Streaming Peacock
9:30 a.m. FIS Cross-Country World Cup Women’s 10km Mass Start - LIVE, Engadin, SUI, Streaming Peacock

Sunday, March 14
Sunday times are Eastern Daylight Time
3:15 a.m. FIS Cross-Country World Cup Women’s 30 km Pursuit - LIVE, Engadin, SUI, Streaming Peacock
5:35 a.m. FIS Cross-Country World Cup Men’s 50km Pursuit - LIVE, Engadin, SUI, Streaming Peacock