Killi and the rest of the women are going to have to reckon with France’s own Tess Ledeux here in Tignes, as the 21-year-old has been dominant on home soil throughout her career. Ledeux has four victories in five starts in France in her career, and she comes into Tignes on a high after claiming Bakuriani 2023 big air gold on March 4th. Ledeux has proven time and again that she steps her game up for home soil competitions, and we expect to see more of the same this weekend.
Then there’s Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland, who is fresh off of becoming the first freeskier to simultaneously hold Olympic and World Championships gold medals in slopestyle after winning in Bakuriani. While Gremaud has been somewhat quiet on the World Cup this season with just one podium to her credit, she proved again in Bakuriani that when she’s in the mood for throwing down there are few in the world who can match her.
And of course don’t forget Megan Oldham (CAN), the X Games 2023 double champion who also grabbed a pair of medals in Bakuriani, earning slopestyle silver and big air bronze. Oldham has taken a huge leap this season, and while she’s not in the running for any globes, she’s a good bet to be in the podium mix for the last couple competitions of the winter.
Lara Wolf (AUT), Sarah Hoefflin (SUI) and Sandra Eie (NOR) should all also be in the conversation come finals time in Tignes for the women.
RUUD AND RAGETTLI IN HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE FOR MEN’S TITLE
For the men it’s going to be all eyes on Norway’s Birk Ruud in the coming days, as the slopestyle and Freeski overall World Cup leader looks to keep going with one of the most remarkable streaks we’ve ever seen in men’s FIS Freeski competition.
Ruud has podiums in every FIS competition he’s entered this season, including four wins and a third place finish in five World Cup starts, as well as Bakuriani 2023 slopestyle gold and big air bronze.
