The US Grand Prix was the third Halfpipe competition out of four in the FIS Freestyle World Cup. The occasion for the riders to solidify their positions or make a move at the overall standings but also to compete a last time before the X Games Oslo at the end of the month.
Ladies:
Maddie Bowman signed a great performance in Park City. The young woman started the competition pretty well, landing back-to-back 900s to get the mark of 86.40. She managed to improve the score in her second run. Bowman skied a very clean and smooth round with two 900s and a switch 720 as an ending hit. With a mark of 86.60 she was on the podium but in second place. The American skier raised the bar on her last try, getting a 89.80 from the judges, enough to win the competition.
Ayana Onozuka made it again to the podium, this time in second place. She made a strong impression as of her first trial, landing switches and being very clean and technical. She couldn’t improve her mark of 88.80 on her two last runs.
At the third place is Marie Martinod. The French skier could keep a huge amplitude on each of her runs. She scored a mark of 84.20 on her first try to get to the third place. Martinod showed great things on her second run, doing back-to-back flairs and a 900 as final hit. She even raised up her score on the third attempt to solidify her place on the podium.
After 3 competitions in the FIS Freestyle Halfpipe World Cup, Ayana Onozuka leads the overall standings.
Men:
Aaron Blunck has been stunning today in the Park City pipe. The young man landed three doubles in his first run, managing to keep a high amplitude and being as clean as possible. He raised the bar high, getting the great score of 94.20. The American skier didn’t land his second run completely, and didn’t up his score either at his third attempt. His first huge run allow him to win the US Grand Prix.
No one can stop Benoit Valentin. The young Frenchman has been enormous in Park City, landing a double 1260 and right then a left double 1260 to get the score of 92.00 at his first run. At his second attempt, the skier from La Plagne raised up his score at 92.80. He couldn’t get a higher grade at his last try but definitely impressed. Valentin has shown a huge consistency landing entirely his three runs. This is another well deserved podium for him.
Kevin Rolland gets a podium a week after his gold medal at the X Games Aspen. The Frenchman impressed on his first run by his amplitude and mastery on his jumps. He especially landed a huge double 1260 as last hit, getting the score of 88.80. Rolland unfortunately couldn’t land his two other runs, landing a bit low at his second attempt and tumbled down at his third try. His great first run sent him to the third place.
Aaron Blunck takes the lead of the FIS Freestyle World Cup after 3 competitions.
The last competitions will take place in Tignes (France) on the 9th and 10th of March 2016.