Ledeux and Stevenson claim Aspen World Cup slopestyle wins
Mar 21, 2021·Freeski Park & Pipe
The penultimate day of what has been an incredible two-week run of competitions in Aspen (USA) went down on the slopestyle course on Saturday, where blue skies, warm temperatures, and some incredible skiing brought the good vibes to the first day of spring at Buttermilk Mountain, with France’s Tess Ledeux and Colby Stevenson of the host USA squad bringing home the victories.
Ledeux makes it two-for-two in 2020/21 slopestyle World Cup compeition
Already the winner at the slopestyle season-opener in Stubai way back in November, Ledeux proved once again that she is one of the most talented athletes in all of freeskiing, picking herself back up after a hard slam in run one to put down both a second and a third run that were better than the offerings from any other skier on course.
Of her two stomped runs, the last one was the standout, beginning with a front swap to switch out on the first rail, then a switch right 270 on to forward, and then a left slide to left backside 450 out on the cannon rail to close out the jib sections.
Through the jumps Ledeux then put down a switch left 1080 Japan, followed by a switch right bio 900 safety, and finally a massive double cork 1260 mute for a score of 83.90, the win in Aspen, and a commanding lead atop the slopestyle rankings as we head into the third and final event of the season in Silvaplana (SUI) next week.
“This a bit of revenge for me,” said Ledeux, alluding to her fourth-place finish at the Aspen 2021 World Championships slopestyle competition a week prior, “We have a very nice day today, the slope is super good, and I’m just super happy for this win.”
Second place, and the first of two first-time World Cup podium winners on the day, was Great Britain’s Kirsty Muir, who scored 81.00 points for a stellar second run that included a a left double cork 1260 mute on her final hit - the first time she had landed the trick in competition.
“I’m so happy, it’s been such a great day,” 16 year-old Muir smiled from the finish area, “I was able to put my first double cork down today in competition. Both Tess and Anastasia inspire me so much and it’s so cool to be up on the podium with them.
The “Anastasia” Muir spoke of was none other than Anastasia Tatalina (RUS), the winner of Aspen 2021 big air gold at the start of the week who went on to earn her first career World Cup podium as well on Saturday, also stomping a left double cork 1260 on her final hit and walking away with a score of 78.55 and third place.
“I’m so happy again,” said Tatalina, “My first World Cup podium, in slopestyle. I’m happy to land my run. I fell on my first two runs and I needed to land my third one and I did that. It wasn’t so clean, I need to work on some things, but I’m still happy.”
Stevenson goes large in final run for first World Cup win in four years
Over on the men’s side of things it was the host US team who had a standout day in Aspen World Cup slopestyle competition, with Colby Stevenson leading the way.
Stevenson’s last World Cup win came just over four years ago in Seiser Alm (ITA), in an emotional and triumphant return to competition after a serious car accident that very nearly ended his skiing career.
On Saturday he made his return to the top off the World Cup podium with aplomb, matching Ledeux by putting down two runs that were both good enough to win the contest, with his third and final run the best of the bunch - even though it very nearly ended in disaster.
Stevenson came out swinging with an incredible sequence on the rail sections, kicking things off with a left nose butter 450 on to pretzel 270 out on the first rail that was one of the highest scoring jib tricks of the day, then into switch left 270 front slide with a safety grab to a continuing 270 out, and then a right 270 on to continuing 630 out on the cannon rail.
Through the jumps Stevenson then stomped a switch left double cork 1440 stalefish, a switch right double 1260 safety, and finally an unbelievable large left double 1620 cuban that he very nearly sent to the flat bottom, but which he somehow stomped without even so much as a hand drag for a score of 91.40 and the victory.
Also the silver medallist in Aspen 2021 slopestyle World Championships action a week ago, as well as the 2020 X Games slopestyle winner at Buttermilk, Stevenson has proven his mettle time and time again on the Aspen course.
“It’s my third competition here this year and we finally got some good weather,” he said following his win, “Been dealing with a lot of snow and a lot of wind in other events but today couldn’t be better. I landed a run, that’s the biggest thing, and I took the win.”
Second place for the men went to Stevenson’s teammate Mac Forehand, as the 2018/19 slopestyle crystal globe winner finally climbed back on the podium after dealing with a serious of injuries and setback. Forehand’s 86.60 scoring first run boasted big amplitude and smooth style throughout, and the left double 1440 opposite tail to Japan he stomped on his final hit was one of the day’s standout tricks.
Rounding out the men’s podium in third place was the man, the myth, the legend Henrik Harlaut (SWE), who was right there with both Stevenson and Forehand on in the unofficial ‘best trick’ battle of the day with his final hit. There he stomped the left double bio 1620 safety that he only put down for the first time here in Aspen in big air competition but has now incorporated into his slopestyle game. Scoring 84.46, Harlaut earned his first World Cup podium in over two years.
From Aspen, the men and women of slopestyle will hope across the pond to Switzerland, where the World Cup finals are going down in Silvaplana. Both Ledeux and Stevenson currently lead the slopestyle and Freeski overall World Cup standings - in fact, Ledeux has already cemented the overall title - but there’s still a few things to be decided at the season-ender in Silvaplana.
Meanwhile, action in Aspen continues on Sunday with halfpipe finals.
TRICK LIST
WOMEN
Tess Ledeux (FRA): front slide swap to switch, switch right 270 on to forward, left slide back 450 out, switch left 1080 Japan, switch right bio 900 safety, left double 1260 mute
Kristy Muir (GBR): left 270 on to forward, slide backside 450 out, switch on slide to front 270 out, switch left bio 900 tail, right cork 720 mute, left double 1260 safety
Anastasia Tatalina (RUS): left 270 on to forward, slide to back 270 out, slide to frontside 450 out, right 900 tail, switch left 540 Japan, left double 1260 mute
MEN
Colby Stevenson (USA): left nose butter 450 on to pretzel 270 out, switch left 270 on front slide w/safety continuing 270 out, right 270 on to continuing 630 out, switch left double 1440 stalefish, switch right double 1260 safety, left double 1620 cuban
Mac Forehand (USA): right 270 on to pretzel 270 out, front slide swap to pretzel 270 out, switch left 270 on backswap to pretzel 270 out, right double 1260 double Japan, switch left double 1260 mute, left double 1440 opposite tail to Japan
Henrik Harlaut: nollie left 450 on to continuing 270 out, right 270 on to continuing 270 out, switch left 270 pretzel on K-fed, right double 1260 mute, switch left double 1260 safety, left double bio 1620 safety
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