Stubai Crowns 2024 for French and American athletes at FIS Freeski World Cup Stubai

After 88 freeskiers from five continents faced weather-induced delays, they finally showcased their impressive trick repertoire on Saturday in the battle for the season’s first slopestyle points. Due to schedule changes, Saturday’s qualification results were counted as the final standings. In the men’s, Colby Stevenson (USA) claimed victory, followed by Andri Ragettli (SUI) and Tormod Frostad (NOR). On the women’s side, French skier Tess Ledeux triumphed at the Stubai Glacier, ahead of Swiss athletes Mathilde Gremaud and Sarah Höfflin.

Saturday offered ideal conditions for the athletes at Stubai Zoo. Freshly dusted with snow, bathed in sunshine, and perched at 3,000 meters, the course drew numerous spectators eager to witness the season’s first World Cup Slopestyle event.

American Colby Stevenson Wins First Title at Stubai Glacier
In the men’s competition, it was Colby Stevenson from the USA who emerged victorious. Despite a rocky first run, Stevenson demonstrated exceptional composure, delivering a stellar second run. He opened with a nose butter double cork 1620, transitioned into a switch double cork 1440 with a mute grab, then switched onto the up rail with a cork 810 tail grab out. The run continued with a back 270 out, 180-on and 180-off from the downtube, finishing with a nose butter 450-in, blind 270-out on the final rail. This flawless performance earned the 27-year-old 92 points and a well-deserved win.

It was definitely a mentally tough week. I’m really happy we got to compete. I was nervous after messing up my first run, but I thought, ‘I’ve got nothing to lose. That applies to everyone.’ This is my seventh year at this event—I’ve been third twice before, so finally winning means everything to me. I’m so happy. One of my first World Cup podiums was here back in 2017, so this win feels great. The biggest challenge here is the course’s tight layout. With all the wind and variable speeds, it’s easy to overshoot and lose control for the next feature. That’s what happened to me in my first run.“ (Colby Stevenson, USA)

Close behind was Andri Ragettli (SUI), who holds the record for the most World Cup podiums in freeskiing (now 32). He delivered a strong first run to take the lead but couldn’t improve in his second outing,  finishing just one point behind Stevenson. Tormod Frostad (NOR) secured his first podium finish at Stubai Glacier with a well-executed second run.

French star celebrates birthday with Stubai victory
The women’s competition featured an impressively high level of performance, with several favorites rising to the top. Tess Ledeux, the 2020 Stubai champion, once again showcased her skill and narrowly edged out her rivals. After a disappointing first run, she redeemed herself with an 87-point second run, gifting herself a victory on her 23rd birthday. Her winning run included a cork 900 blunt on the first kicker, followed by a switch bio 900 right side on the second. Her exceptional rail lines also played a crucial role in her success.

„I’m so glad we could compete today; the conditions weren’t easy. But I really love this course. Winning here on my birthday makes me so happy.“ (Tess Ledeux, FRA)

Last year’s winner, Mathilde Gremaud, delivered a flawless first run, scoring 85 points. However, she opted out of a second attempt and dropped to second place. Olympic champion Sarah Höfflin completed the podium in third with 82.25 points. Germany’s Muriel Mohr narrowly missed the podium, finishing in an impressive fifth place.

The female riders line-up was remarkably international, with competitors hailing from 13 nations across five continents, including China, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and the USA.

Saturday’s event saw 28 women and 60 men compete in two qualification runs, with the best score counting toward the final ranking. Athletes could achieve a maximum score of 100 points, evaluated based on trick difficulty, individuality, versatility, and creativity. The demanding 500-meter-long course challenged the athletes but also allowed them to showcase top-tier performances, with creative and dynamic runs thrilling the audience.

The Slopestyle World Cup now takes a short break before resuming in Laax, Switzerland, on January 16, offering athletes their next chance to score World Cup points.