A look back on fantastic FIS title events

FiS nOrDic JuniOr anD u23 wOrlD Ski chaMPiOnShiPS 2021

by Doris kallen, horst nilgen and Silke Tegethof

nOrDic yOungSTErS aT ThEir bEST

From 8th-14th February 2021, junior and U23 Nordic athletes competed for titles in a total of 20 competitions. Vuokatti (FIN) hosted the Cross-Country events and Lahti (FIN) was home to the Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping athletes. With great organisation under strict Covid-19 protocols, the field of play was kept safe. Due to cold temperatures, the event schedule for Cross-Country events had to be modified. However, all events were held with thrilling fights for titles.

crOSS-cOunTry

Thirteen title events awaited in the junior and U23 categories. With a spectacular Sprint C in the junior categories, Monika Skinder (POL) was crowned the first winner of the events. Niilo Moilanen (FIN) took the Sprint victory in the men’s race, handing the host country its first medal. Lisa Lohmann (GER) and the outstanding Alexander Terentev (RUS) took victories in the U23 categories.

Due to the modified event schedule, the third competition day was a busy one with all distance events for the juniors and U23 taking place. In the 5 km Freestyle, Veronika Stepanova (RUS) took the lead right from the start and crossed the finish line with an incredible margin of 16 seconds. Martin Kirkeberg Moerk (NOR) had his eyes clearly on victory in the 10 km Freestyle, which he won with a margin of 14.9 seconds.

The women’s U23 distance competitions were controlled by Izabela Marcisz (POL) who captured her country’s third medal in the Championships. In the men’s race, Hugo

Lapalus (FRA) was in charge and, with a clear margin of 13.8 seconds, was rewarded with the title in the 15 km Freestyle.

Only 0.3 seconds apart, Team Sweden defeated Team Russia in the women’s Junior Relay, with Norway in third position. The winner in the men’s Junior Relay was Team Norway, which beat Team Finland, while Team Italy edged out Team Russia by only 0.1 seconds for third place.

Norway also enjoyed a clear victory in the U23 Mixed Relay, beating Russia and Sweden.

With the long-distance mass start competitions, the Cross-Country races concluded. The winners were Margrethe Bergame (NOR) and Alexander Ivshin (RUS).

distance winner U23 Hugo lapalus (FrA)

distance comp Cross-Country

Sprint men Juniors relay

Gyda Westvold Hansen (nor) finally won the gold, after coming second two years in a row

nOrDic cOMbinED

For the Nordic Combined athletes, one individual Gundersen method start per gender and a mixed team event were scheduled.

Gyda Westvold Hansen (NOR) finally won the gold, after coming second two years in a row. She followed in the footsteps of Jenny Nowak (GER) to become the third female Junior World Champion in Nordic Combined. The silver and bronze medals respectively went to Westvold Hansen’s teammate Marte Leinan Lund and Lisa Hirner (AUT).

Johannes Lamparter (AUT) was the hot favourite in the men’s event and claimed the gold medal with a big advantage over up-and-coming Matteo Baud (FRA). Stefan Rettenegger (AUT) completed a great day for his country by claiming the bronze medal.

The Nordic Combined Mixed Team Event was held for the second time at the Junior World Ski Championships, with the gold medallists from the first event repeating their win: Team Norway (Eidar Johan Strøm, Leinan Lund, Westvold Hansen and Andreas Skoglund) beat the Austrian squad (Manuel Einkemmer, Lisa Hirner, Sigrun Kleinrath, Rettenegger) but no team celebrated more than the Squadra Azzurra. In a riveting fight, the Italians (Iacopo Bortolas, Annika Sieff, Daniela Dejori and Domenico Mariotti) won the bronze medal from Team Germany.

Ski JuMPing

The best Ski Jumping youngsters in the world performed at a very high level at the Junior World Championships in Lahti.

Austria was by far the most successful team, winning both the men’s and women’s team titles. In the men’s, the Austrians beat Slovenia and Russia. In the women’s, they finished ahead of Russia and Slovenia.

Niklas Bachlinger was the overall winner in the men’s event, beating countryman David Haagen, with Dominik Peter (SUI) finishing third.

The 17-year-old Thea Minyan Bjoerseth (NOR) won the women’s competition from the HS-100 metre hill, ahead of Josephine Pagnier (FRA) and Jerneja Brecl (SLO).

All events were outstanding and a credit to organisers, who stepped in at short notice.

niklas Bachlinger was the overall winner in the men’s event, beating countryman david Haagen

FiS alPinE JuniOr wOrlD Ski chaMPiOnShiPS 2021

by giulia candiago and gianluca de cristofaro

auSTrianS PuT On a ShOw

The 40th edition of the FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships went down in Bansko (BUL) from 3rd-10th March 2021 with six races on the programme. A total of 179 competitors from 44 nations gathered in an attempt to win the gold medals on offer.

With men competing first, it was Giovanni Franzoni (ITA) who secured the first gold medal of the championships by winning the men’s super-G. Franzoni, who had finished 14th in the giant slalom at the senior World Championships in Cortina (ITA), won the race ahead of Lukas Feurstein (AUT), who narrowly missed out on gold finishing only 0.04 seconds behind the Italian. The bronze medal went to Gael Zulauf (SUI).

Franzoni failed to earn a second gold medal on the following day and was forced to settle for silver as Lukas Feuerstein (AUT) topped the podium in the giant slalom race with a solid win. Kaspar Kindem (NOR) captured the bronze medal.

On the men’s final day, Benjamin Ritchie (USA) clinched the slalom gold medal, finishing ahead of Fadri Janutin (SUI) and Joshua Sturm (AUT). The 20-year-old American celebrated a convincing season after scoring a career-best 13th-place at the 2021 World Championships in Cortina in February.

After a two-day break, the women faced a lot of wind in the challenging super-G. The Austrian youngsters delivered impressive performances and swept the podium. Lena Wechner won, ahead of teammates Magdalena Kappaurer and Magdalena Egger.

In the giant slalom, Hanna Aronsson Elfman (SWE) stormed to gold after finishing fourth the previous day in the super-G. Marte Monsen (NOR) claimed silver and bronze went to Neja Dvornik (SLO).

Giovanni Franzoni (ItA) in action

Hanna Aronsson elfman (SWe) topping the podium in the women‘s Giant Slalom

Isabel durungs (SUI) in Seiser Alm (ItA)

Austrian women sweeping the super-G podium

In the concluding race, the slalom title went to 19-year-old Sophie Mathiou (ITA), who clocked the fastest time ahead of Moa Bostroem Mussener (SWE) and AJ Hurt (USA).

Austria proved to be the strongest nation with six medals including two gold.

lukas Feurstein (AUt) celebrating his gold medal in Giant Slalom

FiS SnOwbOarD, FrEESTylE anD FrEESki JuniOr wOrlD chaMPiOnShiPS 2021

by Mateusz kielpinski, chad buchholz und Julia ziemska

JuniOrS EnJOy SPEcial TiME aT kraSnOyarSk

The Krasnoyarsk 2021 FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski Junior World Championships were conducted in Siberia, where the world’s finest young skiers and snowboarders took part in 18 competitions over the course of 10 days of competition from 18th March 2021. Despite the uncertainty and challenges hanging over this season’s iteration of the Junior World Championships, the Krasnoyarsk event was a huge success, with the next generation of ski and snowboard stars strutting their stuff with aplomb.

The snowboard, freestyle ski and freeski programmes in Krasnoyarsk ran the gamut of World Cup events with aerials, aerials team, moguls, and dual moguls competitions taking place, along with ski and snowboard cross, and halfpipe, slopestyle and big air competitions for both freeski and snowboard events over the course of the championships.

It was a stand-out Junior World Championships for the Russians, who topped the medal table by taking 21 of a possible 48 medals in freestyle/freeski competition, and 12 of a possible 42 on the snowboard side of things, including a sweep of the men’s parallel slalom competition.

The other top national performance of Krasnoyarsk 2021 was from Japan’s snowboard team, which claimed five of a possible six gold medals across the halfpipe, slopestyle and big air competitions, while settling for a silver in the women’s slopestyle competitions.

On an individual level, highlight performances came from the likes of Matej Svancer (CZE), who claimed gold in both the freeski slopestyle and big air competitions with World Cup-calibre skiing, and Sofia Nadyrshina (RUS), who won gold in the parallel

Women’s Parallel Slalom podium with Sofia nadyrshina (rUS) winning gold, Maria volgina (rUS) silver and Flurina neva Baetschi (SUI) grabbing bronze

slalom, parallel giant slalom, and parallel team competition with her teammate Iaroslav Stepanko. Stepanko, for his part, also took Krasnoyarsk 2021 gold in the parallel giant slalom and silver in the parallel slalom.

When all was said and done it was an exceptional Junior World Championships experience in Krasnoyarsk, with Siberia’s third-largest city stepping up to successfully host one of the world’s biggest snowsports events of the season under extremely challenging circumstances. With world-class venues and strong organisation providing an ideal playing field for the stars of tomorrow to shine, Krasnoyarsk 2021 will be remembered as a special experience for all involved.

Full results for all Krasnoyarsk 2021 competitions are available at fisski.com.

FiS alPinE wOrlD Ski chaMPiOnShiPS 2021

by giulia candiago and gianluca de cristofaro

EXciTing FOrTnighT in cOrTina

Held in Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA) from 7th-21st February, the 2021 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships was the highlight of the season, with the involvement of over 700 volunteers and 550 media representatives. Thirteen World Championship titles were awarded during 14 exciting days that saw over 400 athletes from 68 different nations fight for medals.

In the women’s field, one of the stars was Mikaela Shiffrin (USA). After a shaky start to the season, Shiffrin was impressive in winning four medals. She cemented her claim as the best American alpine skier ever by winning a record-breaking sixth World Championships gold medal.

Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) also enjoyed an impressive championships, claiming the gold medals previously missing in her career. She confirmed her supremacy in super-G and amazed in the giant slalom. The Swiss star edged Shiffrin by 0.02 seconds, the smallest victory margin in giant slalom in the history of the World Championships. Finally, GutBehrami completed her medal collection with a bronze in downhill.

Katharina Liensberger (AUT) was the real surprise of Cortina 2021. In an incredibly exciting women’s giant slalom, Liensberger took bronze. After securing gold in the parallel event, she clinched her third medal, becoming slalom world champion and confirming herself as the Austrian skier of the moment.

Among the men, the big star of the World Championships was Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT). The speed specialist walked away with two gold medals, securing both the super-G and the downhill title, prevailing over a strong field.

One of the most exciting races of the Championships was the men’s giant slalom,

lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) rejoiced at the end of Cortina 2021 giant slalom second run to win the gold medal

katarina liensberger (AUt) attacks Cortina 2021 slalom to win her first gold medal

the men‘s giant slalom podium with Faivre (FrA) claiming gold in front of de Alpiprandini (ItA) and Schwarz (AUt)

Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) winks with her four medals at Cortina 2021 World Championships

vincent kriechmayr (AUt) showcasing his two gold medals

with first-timers filling the podium. Mathieu Faivre (FRA) grabbed gold with his first giant slalom victory since 2016. Meanwhile, Luca de Aliprandini (ITA) made home fans proud, finishing second and claiming his first-ever career podium. Bronze went to Marco Schwarz (AUT), who secured his second medal of the Championships, finishing on the giant slalom podium for the first time.

Faivre celebrated a fantastic week and also claimed gold in the men’s parallel, while in the mixed team parallel Norway proved to be the fastest team on course.

It was a bitter-sweet event for overall World Cup winner Alexis Pinturault (FRA). Despite failing to secure a top spot in the giant slalom, Pinturault scored a bronze medal in the super-G and a silver in the alpine combined, won by Schwarz.

Sebastian Foss-Solevaag (NOR) followed up his first World Cup victory with an incredible slalom World Championship title on the Drusciè slope. On the final day, FossSolevaag claimed gold with a sensational second run, sharing the podium with Adrian Pertl (AUT) and teammate Henrik Kristoffersen.

Overall, Austria was the dominant nation, achieving five gold medals, one silver and two bronze.

FiS nOrDic wOrlD Ski chaMPiOnShiPS 2021

by Doris kallen, horst nilgen and Silke Tegethof

rEcOrDS ShaTTErED anD hiSTOry MaDE

From 23rd February-7th March 2021, the world’s elite Nordic sports athletes gathered in Oberstdorf (GER) for five title events in Nordic Combined, seven in Ski Jumping and 12 in Cross-Country.

With the Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping women competing on the large hill and marking their debut at the World Ski Championships, the Nordic family was finally complete.

Despite the absence of spectators because of strict Covid-19 protocols, the Nordic World Ski Championships 2021 were a tremendous success, thanks to outstanding performances and historic achievements.

Ski JuMPing

The first winner of the World Championships was Ema Klinec (SLO), who jumped to victory on the HS 106 metre normal hill.

In the second competition, the Austrian women scored a narrow victory ahead of Slovenia. Daniela Iraschko-Stolz, Sophie Sorschag, Chiara Hölzl and Sara Marita Kramer won with the tiny margin of 1.4 points after eight jumps. The tension during the highclass competition was thrilling. Third place went to Norway.

There was another surprise in the third competition of the World Championships, with 34-year-old Piotr Zyla (POL) winning the men’s competition from the HS 106 metre normal hill. It was the biggest win of Zyla’s career. Second and third places were taken by Karl Geiger (GER) and Anze Lanisek (SLO).

In the mixed team competition, also surprisingly, Germany secured the title. Katharina Althaus, Markus Eisenbichler, Anna Rupprecht and Karl Geiger won the event ahead of Norway and Austria.

In the women’s World Cup premiere on the large hill, Maren Lundby (NOR) secured the title. Lundby used all her experience and won in style, ahead of Sara Takanashi (JAP) and Nika Kriznar (SLO).

The next surprise was in the men’s competition from the large hill: the experienced Stefan Kraft (AUT) overcame the illnesses and injuries that had affected his form leading up to the event to claim the win.

In the final men’s team competition, the home team secured the title. Pius Paschke, Severin Freund, Markus Eisenbichler and Karl Geiger won ahead of Austria and Poland.

the first winner of the World Championships was ema klinec (Slo), who just jumped to victory

the home team secured the title - Pius Paschke, Severin Freund, Markus eisenbichler and karl Geiger (Ger)

ema klinec (Slo) jumped to victory ahead of Maren lundby (nor) and Sara takanashi (JAP)

lukas Greiderer takes the team Sprint gold home in style

Jumping for joy - team norway take gold

Jarl riiber defended his title

Johannes lamparter‘s star rose during oberstdorf 2021

nOrDic cOMbinED

Much like two years ago, Jarl Magnus Riiber (NOR) was the athlete to beat and, much like in Seefeld (AUT), he came through in only half of the four men’s events. Riiber successfully defended his title on the normal hill and, as expected, won the gold medal in the team event with teammates Espen Andersen, Jørgen Graabak and Jens Lurås Oftebro.

On the large hill, however, the star of youngster Johannes Lamparter (AUT) rose, with the 19-year-old dominating the second week by claiming only the second World

Championship individual gold for Austria since 2015. He also clinched the Team Sprint title with teammate Lukas Greiderer.

In total, Riiber led the medal count with two golds and two silvers but Lamparter was hot on his heels with two golds and a team event bronze. Ilkka Herola (FIN), Akito Watabe (AUT) and Jens Lurås Oftebro (NOR) claimed the remaining individual medals.

The result of the inaugural women’s World Championship event had not been predicted by anyone: Team Norway swept the podium with Gyda Westvold Hansen claiming gold and Mari Leinan Lund taking silver in dramatic fashion after her sister Marte Leinan Lund had crashed in the last downhill into the stadium. Marte Leinan Lund proceeded to win the bronze medal.

crOSS-cOunTry

The chase for the titles of World Champion in Cross-Country started off with a spectacular finish in the Sprint C. Jonna Sundling (SWE) won gold, beating Maiken Caspersen Falla (NOR) and Anamarija Lampic (SLO). The gap for the silver and bronze medal was decided by a photo finish, with a tiny 0.03 seconds separating the athletes. A few days later, paired with Maja Dahlqvist, Sundling helped give Sweden the title in the Team Sprint, ahead of Switzerland and Slovenia.

Up front in the distance competitions, Frida Karlsson (SWE) and Ebba Andersson (SWE) challenged pacemaker Therese Johaug (NOR). In the Skiathlon, the Swedish duo paired up to make the most out of their chasing positions and completed the podium. However, in the individual 10 km Freestyle, Johaug took victory with an incredible margin of 54 seconds to underscore her dominance.

In the men’s Sprint competitions, Erik Valnes (NOR) and Haavard Solaas Taugboel (NOR) rose to challenge Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (NOR). Oberstdorf’s iconic “Egli” uphill became one of the most decisive points of attacks before the athletes headed to the finish. Both Valnes and Taugboel managed in impressive manner to keep up with Klæbos’ climbing skills and were rewarded with the silver and bronze medal in the Sprint C.

Also in Team Sprint, the Norwegian duo of Klæbo/Valnes took the title but had to defend their position strongly against Finnish pair Ristomatti Hakola/Joni Mäki and Russians Alexander Bolshunov/Gleb Retivykh (RSF).

Bolshunov focused on the distance competitions, where he had Simen Hegstad Krüger (NOR) and Hans Christer Holund (NOR) on his heels. Making good use of the “Egli” uphill, Bolshunov ensured his title in Skiathlon in front of the Norwegian duo.

In the individual 15 km Freestyle, however, Harald Oestberg Amundsen (NOR) stepped forward and raced to his first medal (a bronze) in his first ever World Championships appearance. Holund claimed the title, with Krüger taking the silver medal.

Despite strong efforts from a tough field in the prestigious 50 km C, the decisive moment occurred as the leading trio of Bolshunov, Klæbo and Emil Iversen (NOR) turned into the final straight. Due to contact between Klæbo and Bolshunov, the pole of Bolshunov broke and Klæbo crossed the finish line before Iversen and Bolshunov. While the jury reviewed the situation the Russian Ski Federation protested the result, which

Cross-Country teamsprint Women

Cross-Country relay men

led to the disqualification of Klæbo. The title went to Iversen while Krüger jumped to the podium in third place.

It was a bittersweet end to an otherwise spectacular World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf.

MilESTOnES

FIS Nordic athletes are certainly setting the bar high. In Nordic Combined, Gyda Westvold Hansen and Johannes Lamparter both won titles at the junior and senior World Ski Championships in the same season, a feat accomplished only once before, by Trond Einar Elden (NOR) in 1989.

With his Team Event and Team Sprint medals from Oberstdorf, Nordic Combined legend Eric Frenzel (GER) equalled Norwegian Bjørn Dæhlie’s all-time record of 17 medals at FIS World Ski Championships.

In Cross-Country, today’s athletes continue to set new marks. With his victory in Sprint C, Klæbo became the first sprinter to win back-to-back gold medals in sprint competitions.

A historic milestone was set by the Swiss Team, with Nadine Fähndrich and Laurien van der Graaff racing to their silver medal in the Team Sprint. It was the first medal at a FIS World Ski Championships for Swiss women since 1987.

The biggest history-maker, however, was Johaug. With her 10th individual gold medal in distance competitions, she joined Elena Välbe for the all-time record at Nordic World Championships.

FiS Ski Flying wOrlD chaMPiOnShiPS 2020

by horst nilgen

gEigEr claiMS gOlD in Thrilling FiniSh

The 2020 FIS Ski Flying World Championships was one of the most exciting in history. Initially scheduled to be held in March, the event was postponed because of the Covid-19 global pandemic and later rescheduled for December 2020, at the start of the 2020/21 season of competition.

Nobody knew exactly how the conditions at the massive Letalnica Hill at the Planica Nordic Centre (SLO) would hold up in December, even more so during the evening hours, as there was no previous event to allow a comparison. But organisers and athletes were thrilled with the excellent conditions on all days and the athletes delivered great performances.

Karl Geiger (GER) had an unbelievably slender 0.5 point (or 40 cm) lead over HalvorEgner Granerud (NOR) after four rounds and a total flight distance of 936 metres to win the gold medal. Third place went to Markus Eisenbichler (GER) in what was a highclass competition.

In the team competition, the Norwegian men prevailed over Germany and Poland.

Although spectators were not allowed because of Covid-19 health protocols, the atmosphere in the Slovenian ski jumping mecca was exceptionally good.

karl Geiger (Ger)

FiS SnOwbOarD, FrEESTylE anD FrEESki wOrlD chaMPiOnShiPS 2021

by Mateusz kielpinski, chad buchholz und Julia ziemska

EXciTEMEnT aPlEnTy in SalvagED SEaSOn

When the 2021 FIS Freestyle Ski, Snowboard and Freeski World

Championships, originally planned for Zhangjiakou (CHI) were cancelled due to Covid-19 measures enacted by the Chinese Government, it seemed con-ceivable the season’s biggest events would be wiped off the calendar.

However, a fresh slate of organisers from around the northern hemisphere stepped up to hold portions of World Championship competition, with ski and snowboard cross landing in Idre Fjäll (SWE), snowboard alpine in Rogla (SLO), moguls and aerials in Almat (KAZ), and slopestyle, halfpipe and big air in Aspen (USA).

Despite the incredibly short timeframe to plan such major events and the huge pressures of hosting the season’s highest-profile competitions in the face of a global pandemic, all four of the 2021 FIS World Championships’ venues would end up serving as the sites for some thrilling, inspiring, and history-making performances. Following is a summary of the very best of those moments.

What a thrilling finish

Charlotte Bankes (GBr) and lucas equibar (eSP) made history for their nations

SnOwbOarD crOSS

iDrE FJäll, 9th-12th FEbruary

Charlotte Bankes (GBR) and Lucas Equibar (ESP) made history for their na-tions, with Bankes the first-ever British snowboard World Champion and Eguibar matching that by becoming the first Spaniard to win snowboard gold. Michaela Moioli (ITA) earned her fourth-straight FIS World Championships medal with women’s silver. Three-time crystal globe winner Alessandro Haemmerle (AUT) claimed his first career FIS World Championships medal with men’s silver. Belle Brockhoff (AUS) and Jaryd Hughes (AUS) honoured their late, great teammate Alex “Chumpy” Pullin with the team snowboard cross win.

Alex Fiva becoming the oldest ever ski-cross FIS World Championships gold winner in the process

Sandra naeslund (SWe) claiming World Championships gold on home soil

Ski crOSS

iDrE FJäll, 10th-13th FEbruary

After missing the first half of the season due to injury, Sandra Naeslund (SWE) made a triumphant return to competition by claiming World Championships gold on home soil, the second title of her career. For the men, 13-year World Cup veteran Alex Fiva (SUI) earned his first FIS World Championships gold, becoming the oldest-ever ski cross winner in the process.

alPinE SnOwbOarD

rOgla, 1st-2nd March

Selina Jörg (GER) defended her Utah 2019 parallel giant slalom title with a win in her final World Championships before retirement. Sofia Nadyrshina (RUS) became the youngest-ever alpine snowboard World Champion, at 17, in the parallel slalom competition. Benjamin Karl (AUT) set a record with his fifth career gold medal in the men’s parallel slalom race, while Dmitry Loginov (RUS) earned his third career gold at just 21 with the men’s parallel giant slalom win.

nadyrshina (rUS) became the youngest-ever alpine snowboard World Champion, at 17

MOgulS anD aErialS

alMaTy, 8th-11th March

Benjamin karl (AUt) set a record with his fifth career gold medal

Mikael Kingsbury (CAN) became the first men’s moguls skier to successfully defend both moguls and dual moguls gold medals, along the way establishing a new freestyle record with six career FIS World Championship victories. Perrine Laffont (FRA) earned individual moguls gold to complete the grand slam of major titles for her career. Anastasiia Smirnova (RUS) powered through for an unexpected women’s dual moguls gold. Meanwhile, the host Kazakh team won three moguls medals, including dual moguls bronze for 15-year-old Anastassiya Gorodko.

Laura Peel (AUS) became the first southern hemisphere freestyle skier to win two FIS World Championships golds. Maxim Burov (RUS) became the first skier from his nation to win three FIS World Championships gold medals, defending his Utah 2019 individual title and winning gold in the team competition. Team USA walked away with both silver medals, with runner-up performances from both Ashley Caldwell and Christopher Lillis.

Mikael kingsbury (CAn) sets a new freestyle record with six career FIS World Championship victories

FrEESki

aSPEn, 10th-16th March

Eileen Gu (CHN) became the first skier in the 35-year history of the FIS Free-style World Championships to win three medals at one event – gold in slope-style and halfpipe, and bronze in big air. Andri Ragettli (SUI) finally grabbed his long sought-after gold with victory in the slopestyle. Nico

Porteous’s halfpipe win gave New Zealand its first ever freestyle/freeski World Championships gold. Anastasia Tatalina (RUS) became the first woman to land a double cork 1260s both ways in competition on her way to the gold in the big air. Oliwer Magnusson (SWE) earned the men’s big air gold with a pair of 1800s.

eileen Gu (CHn) became the first skier in the 35-year history of the FIS Freestyle World Championships to win three medals and Andri ragettli (SUI) finally grabbed his victory in the slopestyle

SnOwbOarD Park & PiPE

aSPEn 10th-16th March

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (NZL) became the first rider to successfully defend a slopestyle FIS World Championships title for her second career gold medal. After taking a break from competition in 2019/20, Chloe Kim (USA) was also able to defend her title for her second career FIS World Championships gold. Yuto Totsuka (JPN) won the men’s halfpipe gold, stop-ping Scotty James’ (AUS) quest for four-straight titles. James’ silver was his fourth FIS World Championships medal, the most for any halfpipe rider. Mark McMorris (CAN) added another accolade to his incredible career with his first World Championships gold in big air, while his teammate Laurie Bouin won her second FIS World Championships title in the women’s big air to sweep the golds for Canada. And, finally, Marcus Kleveland (NOR) walked away the big winner with two Aspen 2021 Medals – slopestyle gold and big air bronze.

A huge thank you goes out to all World Championships organisers for their incredible cooperation, flexibility, and hard work in helping turn what could have been a huge loss for the sport into a series of massive wins.

And of course, congratulations and thank you to all the incredible athletes for bringing the passion and performances to this season’s events to make them all so special.

Marcus kleveland (nor) the big winner - slopestyle gold and big air bronze

Chloe kim (USA) celebrates her second career FIS World Championships gold

SEaSOn rEviEw