Podmilsak, Ralph Go 1-2 at the Visa Big Air Presented by Toyota
The Visa Big Air presented by Toyota returned to Steamboat for the first time since 2021, and Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Troy Podmilsak brought home the win, with teammate Konnor Ralph in second place.
Steamboat showed off for finals, sunny and 40 degrees for some prime spring skiing conditions. Podmilsak did not come to play today, lacing his first two runs to score a 182.50 and using his third as a victory lap. On run one, Podmilsak put down the highest scoring jump of the day: a switch right triple 1980 with a safety grab that was given a 92.00. For run two, Podmilsak laced a right triple 1800 with a mute grab.
This win secured Podmilsak's spot on the slopestyle and big air team for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games. For more information on how freeski athletes qualify, please read the criteria here.
Reflecting on his win today and on securing his 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games spot, Troy said,
"It hasn't hit me yet, honestly, that I'm going to the Games. I'm really proud of my skiing and I'm just happy that my parents got to watch me today. To win in front of them was a dream come true."
Ralph also had an outstanding day, finishing in second with a 179.50. The judges loved Ralph's style, rewarding him with a 90.00 for his switch left triple 1800 with a Japan grab and a 89.50 for his left triple 1800 with a mute grab. Ralph skied in a Raiders sweatshirt all week, sending good vibes to his favorite team. This was Ralph's best World Cup result and he was stoked with how the day went, saying,
"The skiing was sick, the jump was nice. It was so sick to have such a big crew out here supporting."
Keagan Supple finished the day in fifth, also his career best result. Supple wowed the crowd and judges with his switch left double 1800 stale and his left nose butter double 1260 safety. This was Supple's first big air finals.
Joining Podmilsak and Ralph on the podium was New Zealand's Luca Harrington in third.
On the women's side, Avery Krumme was the top American, finishing just off the podium in fourth with a score of 142.00. The judges loved her switch left bio 900 with a mute grab. This was Krumme's best World Cup result and first big air World Cup, proving her as someone to watch.
Krumme was pleased with the day, saying,
"I'm really stoked! This is my first big air World Cup, my first finals and coming out fourth was so great. I'm so happy to be here and so happy with my result."
Rell Harwood finished eighth. She put down an epic run one, but fell on her second run and did not start run three. Harwood received the Visa Best Trick Award for her left double 1260 with a safety on run one.
The women's podium was made up of Canada's Naomi Uress in first, Ukraine's Kateryna Kotsar in second and China's Ruyi Yang in third.
The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team continues their action-packed December with halfpipe back on home snow at Copper Mountain for the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, December 18-20. The slopestyle and big air team will have some well-earned time off for the holidays, and will be back in action at Aspen, January 8-10, 2026.
