The world’s best freeskiers will be on hand at Cardrona Alpine Resort this week to compete in the final competition of the Audi quattro Winter Games New Zealand - a competition which will also kick off the brand new 2018/2019 season.
Following the big success of the 2018 FIS Junior Freestyle Ski World Championships that saw the future of freesking pushing the limits at Cardrona’s prime park set-up, the anticipation couldn’t be higher for the first big air stop in 2018/2019. And with some of the top names in the sport present here in Cardrona, freeski fans everywhere can expect nothing less than a world-class opener.
In the ladies’ event watch out for Kelly Sildaru (EST), who won last year’s slopestyle competition in Cardrona and is coming off a fresh winning streak at the junior world championships where she claimed three medals, including golds in both halfpipe and slopestyle.
However, Sildaru will have to face down reigning big air crystal globe-winner Silvia Bertagna (ITA), as well as the Sochi Olympic slopestyle gold medallist Dara Howell (CAN), both of whom have the skills to match the 16-year-old Estonian.
When looking for favourites on the men’s side of things, keep an eye on the veterans James Woods (GBR), Andri Ragettli (SUI), Oscar Wester (SWE) and the strong contingent of Freestyle Canada athletes led by Alex Beaulieu-Marchand, Teal Harle and Evan McEachran.
Then let’s not forget about top US product Alex Hall, and local hero Jackson Wells of the famed Kiwi Wells brothers who will be looking to represent for the family in front of the home crowd.
Last but not least there’s the whole bunch of newcomers straight off great two weeks of competition at the junior world championships, including the likes of Ryan Stevenson (USA), Mac Forehand (USA), Kim Gubser (SUI) or Birk Ruud (NOR) just to name few.
The big air qualifications are scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 5 starting from 10:10 LOC with the finals slated to go down on Friday, September 7 at 12:00 LOC.
QUICK LINKS:
- Start list - Ladies
- Start list - Men heat 1
- Start list - Men heat 2
- FIS Freeski big air World Cup data page
- Winter Games NZ homepage
