Alex Hall For The Men & Mathilde Gremaud For The Women -- Skiing Big Air World Cup Wins
Though the rain kept coming throughout the day, the evening led to clear skies over Modena, Italy and improved conditions under the feet of the athletes competing in the first Freeski Big Air competition of the 2019/2020 season at the Modena Skipass Big Air World Cup.
American Alex Hall Takes First In Men's Big Air
In the Men's competition, Alex Hall from the U.S.A. comes off a win at the X Games in Norway this past September only to grab another victory in Modena. Hall went big right off the get-go throwing an impressive left double cork 1620° seatbelt/cuban grab, which has become part of his signature style. For his second jump, he stomped a switch left double 1440°, again, with the seatbelt grab. That second run total score of 184.00 would seal a first-place finish for Hall, giving him his first career Big Air World Cup victory and fourth career podium.“It was a fun day today. Our qualies earlier was crazy rainy, which was a little tough, but then the weather got nice and the jump was good and everyone killed it. It’s always nice to make finals and ski in front of a big crowd with my friends, so it was an amazing evening.” - Alex Hall
Second place went to Birk Ruud, a Norwegian skier who took the top spot at this event last season. Two of his runs saw a double bio 1440° mute in either direction for a total score of 181.75.
The last spot of the podium went to the young Swiss freestyle skier Andri Ragettli. A big left triple cork 1620° indy truckdriver on his final jump was enough to bring his score to a 176.75 to take his 17th career World Cup podium.
Swiss Youngster Mathilde Gremaud Takes Second-Straight Win At Modena
Taking the opener for the Women was 19-year-old Swiss skier Mathilde Gremaud. Going big on her first run, Gremaud threw a left side double cork 1260° safety. Having to go to her third run, she came up with a right side rodeo 900° to take her combined score to 178.00. This marks her second straight victory at Modena and her ninth World Cup career podium.
“It feels so good. It’s sick. We wanted to be at least two (Swiss skiers) on the podium and we did it, so we’re stoked. I wasn’t really expecting to win today, because I kept coming up short on my dub 12 in training, but in finals I went full speed and managed to put it to my feet. I’m stoked on my skiing today and stoked to end up in first place.” - Mathilde Gremaud
Guilia Tanno, Swiss teammate of Gremaud, was able to take second place after returning from a broken ankle this past February. Almost as if the injury had never happened, Tanno was able to throw a switch left 900° safety and a huge left double cork 1080° on her final run. This allowed for her 10th career World Cup podium with a total score of 159.50.
After a 14 month recovery from a blown knee this past September at Cardona, Canada's Dara Howell was able to get back into form and take a third-place finish. Stomping a switch bio 1080° mute on her first and following that with a switch right 720° safety pulled her into third with a total score of 151.50. Howell has this to say about her first day back on the job.
“It’s a great start to the season for me. I’m 13 months after knee surgery and I’m just coming back with a new ACL and to start the season on the podium is beyond my wildest dreams. I was feeling confident, but not sure how my body would respond. Qualifying in first was great, but landing those two jumps in finals means so much to me. I’m so happy right now." - Dara Howell
Guilia Tanno, Swiss teammate of Gremaud, was able to take second place after returning from a broken ankle this past February. Almost as if the injury had never happened, Tanno was able to throw a switch left 900° safety and a huge left double cork 1080° on her final run. This allowed for her 10th career World Cup podium with a total score of 159.50.
After a 14 month recovery from a blown knee this past September at Cardona, Canada's Dara Howell was able to get back into form and take a third-place finish. Stomping a switch bio 1080° mute on her first and following that with a switch right 720° safety pulled her into third with a total score of 151.50. Howell has this to say about her first day back on the job.
“It’s a great start to the season for me. I’m 13 months after knee surgery and I’m just coming back with a new ACL and to start the season on the podium is beyond my wildest dreams. I was feeling confident, but not sure how my body would respond. Qualifying in first was great, but landing those two jumps in finals means so much to me. I’m so happy right now." - Dara Howell
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