Murase and Collins take Audi SnowJam slopestyle wins

Leading things off with a switch noseslide pretzel 270 out, Murase then went with a big backside 900 on the first jump, followed by a cab 540 on the hip jump, then a frontside lipslide 270 on the second rail feature, before ending things off with a massive frontside 1080 melon on the final hit.

Scoring her second-straight World Cup second-place finish, and in the process jumping up into second place on women’s slopestyle World Cup standings, was Canada’s Jasmine Baird, as the 22-year-old put down a 76.25-scoring second run that included a switch lipslide 270 out on the first rail, into a cab double underflip 900 on the first jump, then a wildcat on the hip feature, a tail slide 270 out on the second rail section and then a backside 720 weddle grab to finish things off for a score 76.25.

Scoring 72.25 for her first career World Cup podium with a third-place finish was Switzerland’s Ariane Burri. The 21-year-old impressed in a big way on Saturday, bloodying her face in a hard slam in her first run, only to charge her second run even harder, with a switch boardslide 270 out on the first rail, a cab 540 on jump number one, then a frontside 360 over the hip, a bluntslide 270 out on the second rail, and a massive backside 720 weddle on the final jump.

With 396 total points on the season and with her closest competitor Baird having only 274, Murase is now assured of winning the women’s Park & Pipe overall crystal globe for 2021/22. Meanwhile, on the slopestyle side of things, the Japanese rider all but has things wrapped up with her 260 points, though Baird with 174 and Melissa Pepperkamp (NED) with 171 points could, theoretically, catch her.

COLLINS CLEANS UP FOR SECOND CAREER WORLD CUP WIN

Over on the men’s side of things the Audi SnowJam final was one of the most hotly-contested of the season, with multiple lead changes and a whole lotta drama right down to the final rider.

Collins’ 90.25-scoring winning run stood out for his pure precision from top to bottom, leading off with a cab 270 on to 450 out, into a switch backside 1260 weddle on the first jump, then a frontside 720 nosegrab over the hip jump, to a frontside 270 to 450 out on the second rail section, and finally a backside 1620 melon that was as clean as you’ll ever see it done.