Steamboat big air World Cup ready for lift-off

And, finally, we’re all very much looking forward to seeing China’s Ailing Eileen Gu drop in on her first World Cup competition of the season, after she pulled out of both Chur and Stubai following crashes in training at each competition. After becoming the first female freeskier ever to land a double cork 1440 a few weeks ago in training, Gu asserted once again that she’s one of the most well-rounded freeskiers in the world. Expect big things from her this week in Steamboat.

Others to watch out for in the women’s field include the host US team, with Maggie Voisin, Marin Hamill and Caroline Claire all podium threats, as well as 2019/20 big air crystal globe winner Giulia Tanno of Switzerland, the Norwegian team of Johanne Killi and Sandra Eie, Isabel Atkin and Katie Summerhayes of Great Britain, and Silvia Bertagna of Italy.

Two notable absences from this week’s competition are Anastasia Tatalina and Lana Prusakova, the respective big air gold and silver medallists from the Aspen 2021 World Championships last March, as the Russian freeski team has elected not to make the travels to Steamboat.

WHO TO WATCH – MEN

The men’s season opener in Chur was nothing short of outrageous, with the top-3 skiers one-upping each other throughout the competition and earning their podium spots with absolutely mind-blowing tricks to thrill the 13,000+ fans in attendance there in Switzerland.

Tops amongst the three was Austria’s Matej Svancer, who claimed his maiden FIS Freeski World Cup win with an incredible nosebutter left double cork 1800 that earned him a nearly unheard-of score of 99.00 out of 100. After putting himself on the “Up-and-comers” list over the last couple of seasons with Youth Olympic Games and Junior World Championships gold medals, Svancer in Chur very clearly proved that he has graduated to the ranks of freeskiing’s elite and should be expected to stay there for the foreseeable future.