Norwegians stand tall at Beijing Air + Style big air World Cup
Dec 14, 2019·Freeski Park & Pipe
Competition at the Air + Style Beijing FIS Freeski Big Air World Cup went down in thrilling fashion on Saturday evening, with the top six ladies and top 10 men from qualifications stepping up their game for performances befitting of the incredible new, permanent big air venue located in West Beijing’s Shougang Park. At the end of the day it would be the Norwegian freeski team standing tall, with Johanne Killi taking the win in the ladies’ competition and Birk Ruud using his final run of the day to stomp a never-been-done trick to vault into top spot on the men’s side of things.
Set to be the host venue for Olympic competition in just over two years time at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, the Shougang Park jump is without parallel in the world, and the riders on hand responded with some heavy performances on what is now arguably the best big air jump in the world.
Killi starts off Norwegian party
After qualifying in fourth place, Killi came out of the gate hot with her first jump, stomping a left 900 proper tail with her first hit to jump into an early lead. She kept things going with her second jump, a switch double cork 1080 Japan, keeping the lead with a two-jump score of 179.00 and giving herself the honours of the final jump of the day with the reshuffled order for run three.
With the pressure on, the rest of the ladies’ field struggled a little bit through their final runs. Dropping second to last, Giulia Tanno had the best shot at bettering Killi, but dragged a hand on her landing and was forced to settle for second. With no one taking away her lead, Killi was allowed a victory lap, riding away with the women’s win at the first Air + Style freeski big air World Cup competition.
“It feels unbelievable,” a smiling Killi said from the finish area, “I feel like I haven’t been on the podium in so long, always having a tough time in finals, but I’m just really happy to be here and land my tricks. It’s really cool to try out the new Olympic venue. It’s one of the best jumps I’ve ever hit and for sure the best city big air.”
Tanno stomped a left double 1080 safety and a switch left 900 tail to earn a two-jump score of 155.25 and her second-straight runner-up result of the season, after also taking second at the first World Cup competition of 2019/20 in Modena (ITA). Tanno now sits on top of the women’s big air World Cup standings.
Third place went to Silvia Bertagna of Italy, who kept things safe on her final hit with a switch left 540 mute after dropping a massive left corked 720 with a ripped mute grab on her second hit of the evening. A score of 150.75 would give her her first big air podium since the 2017/18 season.
Ruud and Harle go toe-to-toe in men’s final battle
Over on the men’s side of things it was bedlam from the get go, with the riders sending heavy trick after heavy trick off the perfect Beijing kicker.
Canada’s Teal Harle set the tone in a big way with his first-hit switch left double 1800 mute that was as close to perfect as you’re ever likely to see, earning him a score of 96.00 in process.
After following that one up with a left double 1620 Japan for a two-jump score of 189.25 (out of a possible 200) Harle was very much in the driver’s heading into the final round.
That was, however, until top-qualifier Birk Ruud dropped in for his final jump of the evening.
Ruud had fallen on his first hit, but landed a right-side double misty 1440 mute on his second jump to put himself back in the mix. He then proceeded to land a never-been-done double bio 1800, deservedly earning himself the highest score of the day which, when added to the right double misty 1440 mute from his second hit, bumped him into the lead with a score of 190.25.
Harle would up his score with his final hit to 190.00, but would leave him just the barest margin short Ruud, giving the 19-year-old Norwegian his second podium of the season 2019/20 season and the third big air World Cup win of his career.
“My first jump I wasn’t really in the right headspace,” Ruud said, going through his performance, “And as you could see, I failed. You need to be in the right mindset and in the moment and I wasn’t there. So, I had a little fall, a little refreshment, and then went back up and did the same trick again for my second jump. I got a good feeling from that and a good score. After that I knew I could either be safe and make it onto the podium or go all in, and I went all in with the 1800. I’m stoked it worked out.”
Third-place went to Jesper Tjader (SWE), as the 25-year old earned what was, somewhat surprisingly, the first big air podium of his career with a two-jump score of 183.00.
From here the FIS Freeski Big Air World Cup moves back across the pond to Atlanta (USA), for the second-straight marquee competition in a row, where we’ll close the decade at Sun Trust Park stadium, home of MLB’s Atlanta Braves.
Women’s trick list:
Killi - left 900 tail proper, switch double 1080 Japan
Tanno - left double 1080 safety, switch left 900 tail
Bertagna - switch left 540 mute, left corked 720 ripped mute
Men’s trick list:
Ruud - right double misty 1440 ripped mute, forward left double 1800 mute proper
Harle - switch left double 1800 ripped mute, left double cork 16 Japan
Tjader - right double 16 opp tail, switch double 1440 mute blender
QUICK LINKS
[Photos](http://Full results Big air World Cup standings Photos Women’s highlight videos Killi / Tanno / Bertagna Men’s highlight videos Ruud / Harle / Tjader)
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