The first half of the FIS Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding Super Series Milan big air World Cup weekend saw freeski competition take to the giant scaffold jump set-up at Milan’s EXPerience Park, just outside of the city’s core. There, Germany’s Lisa Zimmermann and Switzerland’s Kai Mahler were able to rise to the top in what turned out to be an exceptionally entertaining big air competition, setting a high bar for things to come on the Super Series tour.
On the ladies’ side, Zimmermann (GER) - the 2013/14 slopestyle World Cup crystal globe winner - was on fire from start to finish of the event, qualifying first after stomping both her hits in the seeding round, before stepping up under the lights in the finals and putting down near-perfect tricks on the first two of her three attempts. With a switch left-side 720 high safety in her first jump and left-side 900 high safety in her second hit, Zimmermann had first-place all locked up with 181.0 points before even dropping in for her final hit in the best-two-out-of-three finals format.
“It feels great to stand on top of the podium today,” Zimmermann said following the awards ceremony, “The organizers did a great job preparing the ramp and it was a great competition. I’m super happy to have been a part of it.”
Zimmermann was followed up by Mathilde Gremaud (SUI) in the six-skier final, as the 16-year-old landed on the podium in just her second-ever World Cup competition. Skiing as if she felt no pressure at all at the huge venue, Gremaud stomped a left 720 tail and a switch left 720 mute to earn herself a combined two-jump score of 157.2 points and the first of what should be many World Cup podiums.
“I couldn’t be more happy to get on the podium on just my 2nd ever World Cup appearance,” a surprised Gremaud said from the finish are, “I had nothing to lose so I just did my best and ended up on the second place.”
Third-place went to current big air World Cup leader Emma Dahlstrom (SWE), who struggled at times during the day but still ended up missing out on second spot by only .2 points, ending with a score of 157.0 after landing a switch left-side 720 double japan and a right 540 safety.
On the men’s side, it seemed as if all skiers were in top gear from the outset, with a dizzying stream of triples being thrown from competitors all up and down the final results sheet. With skiers like Henrik Harlaut (SWE), Luca Schuler (SUI) and Andri Ragettli (SUI) all stomping big-time tricks but finding themselves off the podium at the end of the night, you know the competition level was world-class.
Mahler would own the day with an impressive display of technical creativity, stomping a carved left-side triple 1620 safety (which, with a score of 94.8, would be the top jump of the day) and a super slick switch double misty 1260 mute to earn himself a combined score of 179.8 and the top spot on the podium.
“It feels amazing to win the competition tonight,” Mahler said, smiling, “It’s been a while since the last time I’ve stood on the podium so it’s really a great feeling. I’ve learned the triple 16 a month ago and I’m super stoked to be able to pull it down here.”
Bullying his way into second place was Oystein Braaten (NOR), who was able to stomp a switch left double 1440 tail grab on his final hit to bump his countryman Eirik Sateroy (NOR) into second and knock Ragettli off the podium. That jump, combined with an earlier left-side triple 1440 safety, gave him a score of 179.6, just .2 shy of Mahler.
After the competition, Braaten was impressed with what had gone down. ”It was really good night,” he said, “The jump was amazing, for sure the best city big air I’ve ever tried. Everyone skied so good. I had some expectations before the competition, but coming in second place with this level of riding feels always good.”
Sateroy (who, like Gremaud, was in just his second World Cup competition) took third place with a one-two punch of left triple 1440 safety and then a switch left double 1080 tail, for a score of 173.4.
On the big air World Cup leaderboard, Dahlstrom now has 160 points, 54 ahead of Giulia Tanno’s (SUI) 106. On the men’s side, Dahlstrom’s compatriot Henrik Harlaut was able to maintain a narrow hold on top spot in the men’s standings despite a ninth-place finish on Friday, with 129 points to Mahler’s 124.
Source: fis-ski.com
