PARK CITY, UT (Jan. 18) – Angeli VanLaanen (Bellingham, WA) secured her spot on the first-ever Olympic team for halfpipe skiing Saturday with her win at the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix. Brita Sigourney (Carmel, CA) put down another impressive run finishing second with double-threat Devin Logan (West Dove, VT) in third. The rest of first-ever U.S. Olympic team for slopestyle and halfpipe skiing will be nominated during a ceremony Saturday night.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Angeli VanLaanen (Bellingham, WA) secured her spot on the first-ever Olympic team for halfpipe skiing Saturday with her win at the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix.
- Brita Sigourney (Carmel, CA) put down another impressive run finishing second with double-threat Devin Logan (West Dove, VT) in third.
- VanLaanen joined Sigourney and Maddie Bowman (S. Lake Tahoe, CA) as the third U.S. woman to clinch a spot on the Olympic team.
- In addition to Olympic qualification, athletes have been competing for a total of $500,000 in cash prizes throughout the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix tour, including a bonus $2,500 award for the overall tour winner in women’s halfpipe skiing.
- VanLaanen’s winning run: Big critical grab, leftside 540 mute, rightside 540 safety, leftside 720, switch 360, straight-air mute and alley-oop 360.
- Nominations for the first-ever U.S. Olympic team for slopestyle and halfpipe skiing will be announced Saturday night.
- Tune into NBC for special coverage of the final halfpipe skiing qualifier at 5:30 p.m. EST Sunday.
FINAL TOP-FIVE OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION STANDINGS
1. Maddie Bowman 200
2. Brita Sigourney 180
3. Angeli VanLaanen 180
4. Annalisa Drew 140*
5. Devin Logan 120*
*Did not achieve minimum criteria of two top-three finishes against the full field.
Official Standings Full List
QUOTES
Angeli VanLaanen
I’m on top of the world right now. I just went out and skied my best and it felt amazing to land my run and it’s a dream come true to be on the team on Sochi. It means the world to me to be a part of this inaugural team going to Sochi for the first Olympics that we’re included in. So many people have put so much into making this sport get to this level where we’re include. So, it’s an honor.
Brita Sigourney
There was definitely less pressure going into tonight. Last night was just such a relief, such a weight off my shoulders. It’s just so nice to have that 100-percent confirmation that I’m going to Russia. So I just came out tonight and wanted to land my run. That was really my only goal and I know I bobbled a little bit, but I’m definitely happy that I put down a cleaner run.
It was nice being in the start gate thinking, ‘Okay, in a few weeks I’m going to be here, but in Russia.’ So I definitely tried to put that in my head so that I’ll be a little more prepared when I get to Sochi.
Devin Logan
I’m feeling great. I messed up on my first run, so dropping into the second one I knew I had to really just go all out. I had nothing to lose. I was going to Sochi anyway. I really wanted to get on the podium in pipe because I haven’t yet this year and it really made a difference for me being third today.
I’ve been working all my life for halfpipe and slopestyle and getting two would be amazing. So, I’ll cross my fingers. This definitely helps, so we’ll see what the points come out to be.
RESULTS
Official Women’s Results
LINKS
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
USSA Network
