Gu and Svancer on another level in Steamboat big air

“I made that decision (to do the double cork 1440) probably after I landed my second run,” said Gu from the finish area, “I felt like I had done the best of my ability for the dub 1260 and I really wanted to push it. I had a super good early season camp out in Europe where I learned the 1440, did the world’s first, and I had landed it enough that I felt comfortable to do it today. The boys were so inspiring out here throwing absolutely insane tricks, so I really wanted to represent the women as well and kind of step it up to the next level.”

Now with major international wins in all three freeski events – big air, slopestyle and halfpipe – Gu will be carrying some big expectations into her home soil Olympics when we roll into Beijing in two months time.

Second behind Gu was Tess Ledeux (FRA), as the winner of the season opening big air in Chur tried to make some history of her own by going for a last-hit left double 1620 safety in an attempt to knock Gu from top spot. While Ledeux was able to get her skis underneath her, she couldn’t ride out clean, and instead had to settle for a score of 177.50 on the strength of her left double cork 1260 mute and right bio 1080 tail grab.

Still, expect to be hearing about Ledeux making some history of her own with the 1620 in the very near future.

Just back of Ledeux to round out the women’s podium at Steamboat was Johanna Killi of Norway, as the 24-year-old landed a switch right double 1080 Japan and a switch left 1080 tail grab for a score of 177.00. It was her second-straight podium after she also finished in third at the Stubai slopestyle World Cup two weeks ago.

Svancer blows minds with unheard-of combo

Over on the men’s side of things it was Matej Svancer bringing some spice to the table, stomping two tricks that few others in the world would even consider attempting – especially in a men’s competition that saw of level of skiing that once again set a new benchmark.

Svancer lead things off with a switch left triple cork 1440 Tokyo drift – meaning that he purposely landed sideways into a bit of a tailbutter before popping out to complete the rotation.

After that, in run two, he proceeded to launch into a left nosebutter triple cork 1980 safety, throwing an extra half rotation on the trick that had won him the Chur big air World Cup back in October. The two jumps would give him a combined score of 188.50 and his second-straight big air World Cup win.