Anderson takes top honors in big air event

Jamie Anderson soars to the top of the podium on Dec. 17. Photo/U.S. Snowboarding

By USSA

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. – American snowboarders found more success at the final event of the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix weekend: the Team USA Winter Champions Series big air. Jamie Anderson (Meyers) landed the win for the women and Ryan Stassel (Anchorage) took third for the men.

It was the defending Olympic slopestyle champion’s trademark smooth style that earned Anderson the win on Saturday

With the best two of three jumps scored, Anderson started with a switch backside 540 and followed up with a Cab 720. Julia Marino (Westport, Conn.), who won the scaffolding big air event at Fenway Park in February, finished fourth with a double cork 900 and a backflip. Enni Rukajarvi of Finland was second and Klaudia Medlova of Slovakia, who landed the first double cork 1080 in competition, was third.

Stassel out did serious competition on the big air jump, putting down a frontside 1440 and a switch backside double 1260. Conditions deteriorated as the contest went on, with flat light making it very difficult for riders to spot their landings. Sitting in second place after his third run, Stassel had to watch multiple riders take their runs before he was assured a podium position.

“I put down two runs and the scores weren’t the highest,” Stassel said. “So when it came down to the third one, it was really a nail biter. I was just waiting it out and I was able to hold on.”

The dominant Canadian jumpers topped the podium—Max Parrot in first and Sebastien Toutant in second.    

The U.S. Grand Prix/World Cup big air event was part of the Team USA Winter Champions Series.  Big air will make its Olympic debut at PyeongChang, South Korea in 2018.