Julia Marino of the U.S. Snowboard Team slopestyle and big air team wrapped up her 2022-23 season in style, winning her third slopestyle event of the season in Silvaplana, Switzerland. This win today secured her 12th career podium and eighth World Cup victory. She also received her first ever slopestyle Crystal Globe as a result of her accumulated FIS points from the season. The Crystal Globe is a coveted award that signifies the best athletes in the world for that season. Marino is the true definition of what that means. 

On March 25th, Marino rode her heart out as the only American competitor during the Silvaplana World Cup, where conditions were not ideal. Winds continued to pick up throughout the day, and the light stayed flat for the entirety of the event. However, this did not seem to affect her as she was able to lace both of her runs, ultimately scoring the top spot with an 87.25.

After having back-to-back Slopestyle wins this season, Marino speaks on what it meant for her to clinch the Crystal Globe, “It has been a really fun season honestly. There has been a lot going on but I was really happy to come here and finish off the season with this competition. The course is probably the best course I’ve hit all season. It was a great way to end it off here with all the girls and with a great course.” 

As the season comes to an end for Marino, we take a moment to look back at the amazing accomplishments she had this season. Starting off strong at Mammoth Mountain, California in February, Marino executed a flawless run to place her on top of the podium with a score of 78.59. Following her victory in Mammoth, Marino flew up north to Calgary, Canada where she once again dominated the field to take home another win with a score of 78.36. To end the season off with yet again another win was huge, but to also clinch the slopestyle Crystal Globe was just the cherry on top for Marino. 

When asked what’s next for Marino she mentioned, “I will probably get up to some more shredding since spring is right around the corner. Spring is my favorite time to ride. I have to go to France for a few days, so I might just end up coming back here (Silvaplana) to ride for a few days before heading back home.” 

Results 

Women's slopestyle results
 

Crystal Globe 

Women's standings 

Following a successful two races in Spain, March 16th, the men and women snowboardcross team completed another race day out in Veysonnaz, SUI to add to their already decorated competition season. The weather could not have been more perfect, with all riders seeing blue skies and a light breeze. 

The U.S. women started off strong with many who qualified into the 1/8th finals bracket including Lindsey Jacobellis, Stacy Gaskill, and Brianna Schnorrbush. After battling it out in the first rounds, Jacobellis, Gaskill, and Schnorrbush all advanced onto semifinals, where they would eventually all duel it out for the top spots in the small final. Ultimately, Jacobellis won the small final, which placed her fifth overall, followed by Schnorrbush in second and sixth overall, and rounding it out for the U.S. ladies, was Gaskill in third and seventh overall. 

For the men, the 1/16th finals saw, Senna Leith, Jake Vedder, Nick Baumgartner, and Hagen Kearney who all were hungry to advance to the 1/8th bracket. However, it was only Vedder, the lone U.S. athlete, to advance to the next rounds of races. He placed great times thereafter, but unfortunately was not able to advance passed that. His day concluded with a respectable 11th place, followed by Leith in 19th, Baumgartner in 22nd, and Kearney in 28th. 

The U.S. snowboardcross team will look to finish off their season with a team event in Mt. St. Anne Canada, Mar. 24-26th. 

Results

Women's Results

Men's Results

After spending more than half his life on the competitive snowboard scene, Mick Dierdorff is ready to say goodbye. The 2018 and 2022 Olympian recently announced his retirement from snowboardcross, ending his career at the Bakuriani 2023 FIS Freestyle Ski, Snowboard and Freeski World Championships in Georgia.

31-year-old Dierdorff, a Steamboat Springs, Colorado local, has been racing at the FIS level since 2006. He competed in halfpipe and slopestyle before ultimately deciding to specialize in snowboardcross in 2007. He became a consistent presence on the NorAm podium, and was first nominated to the U.S. Snowboard Team in 2014. He broke through and found success on the World Cup circuit a few years later, landing his first podium finish at Cerro Catedral, Argentina, in 2017. Dierdorff ultimately added two more World Cup podiums to his resume in 2018 and 2021. 

His biggest triumph came in 2019, at the FIS World Championships on home soil in Utah. His years of dedication in the gym and on the race course came together, and he walked away as a double World Champion. Breaking a 14-year streak, Dierdorff became the first American man to win the individual snowboardcross title since Seth Wescott in 2005. Two days later, he did it again, winning gold with teammate Lindsey Jacobellis in the mixed team event. 

His career has been, in many ways, a love letter to his hometown of Steamboat Springs. He grew up training and competing with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, and still volunteers with the club to this day. He told Team USA’s Lisa Costantini in 2022, “I’ve been in and involved with the club my whole life. Whenever they have questions for me, I always try to be there for them. It’s something that I will always be involved with — helping out kids — for the rest of my life.” 

Speaking ahead of his first Olympic appearance in 2018, he said, “Steamboat was a very special place to grow up. The Winter Sports Club in Steamboat has a lodge at the base of Howelsen Hill and there are flags from every Olympian that has been from Steamboat. I’ve been looking at that my whole life, and I always thought how cool it would be to have my name up there. That was one of the first things that hit home when I found out I made the Olympic team: I’m finally going to have my flag up there. It’s such a good feeling.”

With his teammates, Dierdorff will be remembered as a fierce friend and leader. “Mick has always led with honesty, which can be challenging when you are competing with and against your teammates and should be commended,” said snowboardcross 2014 Olympic bronze medalist Alex Deibold. “His work ethic both on and off the hill is apparent with his track record of results. Mick has given 100%, not only in snowboarding, but also in all the fun along the way.”

For Dierdorff’s longtime friend Hagen Kearney, his retirement is bittersweet. “It’s a special thing in any career path to walk away with close friends who turn into family,” he said. “Mick and I grew together throughout our years of racing by helping each other, having the most fun and pushing each other.”

U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt also offered congratulations on behalf of the entire team. She said, “We are so grateful for Mick’s years of dedication to the U.S. Snowboard Team, and so proud of what he has accomplished during his career. He will be remembered for his positive impact on his teammates and everyone around him, and will always be a part of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard family.”

Retirement doesn’t mean things will slow down, however. Dierdorff will stay busy planning his upcoming wedding to fiancée Katie, starting his own contracting business, and giving back to snowboarding as a coach with SSWSC. He’s ultimately at peace with his decision, and ready to move on. “I’m excited. Overall it’s for sure just a bunch of excitement. It’s been so fun,” he said. “No bad feelings… it’s been a good career and I’m ready for the next thing.”