Park City, UT (February 5, 2016) – The U.S. swept both men’s and women’s halfpipe titles at the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix at Park City on Friday, with Maddie Bowman (South Lake Tahoe, CA) leading the way for the women and Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, CO) earning the top spot for the men. The victories also earned them each U.S. National Championship titles.
Maddie Bowman grabbed the victory in the FIS Freestyle Ski Halfpipe World Cup at the 2016 Visa U.S. Freeskiing Park City Grand Prix Friday in Park City, Utah. (Getty Images-Doug Pensinger)
Bowman won gold at X Games Aspen last week on the strength of a trick never that had never been landed by a woman in competition: the switch 900. She used that trick again in Park City on Friday, along with a bit of mental fortitude. As the top qualifier from Wednesday, Bowman had the final run of the competition to have her say, and she was in second when she dropped in for her third and final run.
“Going into that third run I was just thinking ‘I needed to go out there and do the best that I could do,’” Bowman said after the competition. “Me and my coach, Ben, mixed things up my last run and put in the rightside 540 and it seemed to help.”
U.S. Pro Halfpipe Team members Annalisa Drew (Andover, MA) and Devin Logan (West Dover, VT) finished fourth and sixth respectively.
Aaron Blunck skis to first place in the FIS Freestyle Ski Halfpipe World Cup at the 2016 Visa U.S. Freeskiing Park City Grand Prix Friday in Park City, Utah. (Getty Images-Doug Pensinger)
Blunck, who finished on the podium in third at the first stop of the U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain, said he went into Friday’s final with a lighthearted attitude.
“Coming into today I was thinking, ‘I’m not going to stress about this. I’m going to have some fun, just ski and just not stress about it,’” Blunck said. “All through practice I was really focusing on that and sure enough…”
Marie Martinod, (left) of France in third place, Maddie Bowman (center) in first place and Ayana Onozuka of Japan in second place take the podium at the FIS Freestyle Ski Halfpipe World Cup at the 2016 Visa U.S. Freeskiing Park City Grand Prix Friday. (Getty Images-Doug Pensinger)
Alex Ferreira (Aspen, CO) finished fifth, Taylor Seaton (Avon, CO) was sixth and Lyman Currier (Boulder, CO) was ninth.
Kevin Rolland (left) of France in third place, Aaron Blunck (center) in first place and Benoit Valentin of France in second place take the podium at the FIS Freestyle Ski Halfpipe World Cup at the 2016 Visa U.S. Freeskiing Park City Grand Prix Friday in Park City, Utah. (Getty Images-Doug Pensinger)
EVENT SCHEDULE (times MST)
Feb. 6, 12:00-1:30 p.m. – U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix halfpipe finals
Live Streaming Schedule (times EST)
Feb. 6, 2:00-3:30 p.m. – U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix halfpipe finals, Park City – LIVE – NBC Sports
Live Extra TV Schedule (times EST)
Feb. 13, 4:00 p.m. – Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix halfpipe, Park City – NBC
Feb. 14, 1:30 p.m. – U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix halfpipe, Park City – NBC
Feb. 17, 12:30 a.m. – Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix halfpipe, Park City – NBCSN
Feb. 17, 1:30 a.m. – U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix halfpipe, Park City – NBCSN
HIGHLIGHTS
- U.S. team member Maddie Bowman won for the ladies. Her third run scored an 89.80: Right 900, left 900, right 540 high safety, left 540 tail, right 720, switch 900.
- U.S. team member Aaron Blunck won for the men. His first run scored a 94.20: Right 720 stalefish, switch left double 900 Japan, switch right double 1080 Japan, left 900 tail, right double 1260 mute
QUOTES
Maddie Bowman
Going into that third run I was just thinking ‘I needed to go out there and do the best that I could do.’ Me and my coach, Ben, mixed things up my last run and put in the rightside 540 and it seemed to help.
I just came out here and tried to do the best I could. Doing the switch 900, I just learned it last week and it’s been super fun; it’s been a fun trick to learn that’s for sure. I went out there and skied for me, that’s what Ben told me to do right before my last run.
Aaron Blunck
I put it down first run and then I had to watch everybody go two more times and Kevin three times. Kevin is one guy who can for sure do that last run under pressure every time so I was just happy this wasn’t the day.
Coming into today I was thinking, ‘I’m not going to stress about this. I’m going to have some fun, just ski and just not stress about it. All through practice I was really focusing on that and sure enough…
RESULTS
Women’s Freeski Halfpipe Final
Men’s Freeski Halfpipe Final
