Hess Third at Secret Garden
The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team halfpipe skiers kicked off their season in style with their first stop in Secret Garden, China. It was a great event for the American men, with six in the top 10, and nine in the top 15, led by Hunter Hess in third place.
It was a two-run, 14-man final on the men's side, with the two-run format making any mistake costly. Hess put down an epic second run to secure his podium result. Finishing with his signature misty 720 on his final hit, the judges rewarded him with an 86.25. He was joined on the podium by Kiwis Finley Melville-Ives and Luke Harrold in first and second, respectively.
Hess was thrilled with the result, saying,
“I’m so happy to have been able to put a run down. It was a nerve racking few days but we made the most of it. Beyond blessed with this result! Everyone crushed it.”
Just off the podium, Birk Irving finished fourth. Matt Labaugh finished fifth, Nick Geiser sixth, Aaron Blunck eighth, Dylan Ladd ninth, Hunter Maytin 11th, David Wise 12th and Tristan Feinberg 13th.
Kate Gray was the top American finisher on the women's side, finishing 12th. No American women progressed through to finals. China's Eileen Gu finished first, with Great Britain's Zoe Atkin in second and Australia's Indra Brown in third.
