Toby Miller (Mammoth, Calif.) opened his second run with back to back 1080s for a score of 95.60 and the top spot in the men’s snowboard halfpipe qualifier at the 2018 FIS Junior Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Halfpipe World Championships Saturday.

With heavy snow in the mountain weather forecast for the next few days, the qualifying competition was rescheduled from Sunday to Saturday and came down to a game of strategy for Miller, who nailed his second run to move atop the standings.

“Both my runs went great,” said Miller. “My first run I got a 90.80, the first run is the most nerve-wracking one, you want to put down a score and make finals on that first run. I was very fortunate to do that, I’m stoked. I ended up bumping up (on run two) doing a cab double 10 after the frontside 1080 and doing three 10s instead of two. I just wanted to up the score a little more and use it as practice and get ready for finals.”

Jake Canter (Evergreen, Colo.) finished 10th to advance to the finals scheduled for Tuesday at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

In the women's snowboard halfpipe qualifier, China’s Lulu Jia nailed down the top qualifying spot with an 85.6. Tessa Maud (Carlsbad, Calif.) finished third to move on to Tuesday's finals.

RESULTS
Men's halfpipe qualifier
Women's halfpipe qualifier

START LISTS
Men's halfpipe finals
Women's halfpipe finals

The U.S. Cross Country Team, currently training at the Snow Farm in New Zealand, started its first race of the season Saturday at the 24th edition of the Merino Muster, part of the Wolrdloppet Race Series. Jessie Diggins (Stratton, Vt.) and Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Colo.) took the wins in the 42K race, with Katharine Ogden (Landgrove, Vt.) winning the 21k version.


“I got to ski in a pack for most of the race and it was really fun to throw in a longer race than we ever get to do in the World Cup,” Diggins after the race. “Turns out I love the long-distance efforts. The snow was fast, the course was fun, and all the volunteers did a great job!”


“We pretty much raced in a pack, Kyle, Adam, myself, and two Japanese skiers, for about 97 percent of the race,” Hamilton said. “It was great to take turns pulling and drafting, and just moving fluidly as a train out there.  My skis were running really well the entire race, and I just focused on conserving energy where I could. I was really hoping that it would come down to a sprint finish in the last 0.5k, so I guess I was lucky that it did.”


U.S. Cross Country Team coach Jason Cork summed up the conditions as “super nice - sunny, around freezing, very little wind. Nice, fast grooming. In general, the pace was pretty relaxed for everyone until the end, when it ramped up."

D Team Member Katharine Ogden, racing the shorter distance said, “This was a super fun race! it was awesome to have an opportunity to put on a bib during the offseason. and, we were so lucky to have a perfect bluebird day for it!”

The Team camp continues at the Snow Farm through September 10 and includes the upcoming Winter Games NZ beginning Tuesday, Sept. 4.

RESULTS
Merino Muster

Eileen Gu (San Francisco) was the top-placed American in fifth in the freeski slopestyle finals at the 2018 FIS Junior Freeskiing & Snowboard World Championships Friday. On the men’s side, Ryan Stevenson (Washington, N.J.) led the way for the U.S. Team in sixth.

Estonia’s Kelly Sildaru won her second Junior World slopestyle title, as Russia’s Anastasia Tatalina took the silver, and Japan’s Kokone Kondo the bronze. Svea Irving (Winter Park, Colo.) was ninth, and Montana Osinski (Fairfield, Conn.) was 12th.

In the men’s final, Sweden’s Oliwer Magnusson won the gold, Norway’s Sebastian Schjerve took the silver and Kim Gubser of Switzerland the bronze. Cody LaPlante (Truckee, Calif.) was 10th.

Freeski competition continues Saturday at Cardrona Alpine resort with the men’s halfpipe qualifiers. The women’s halfpipe qualifier is scheduled for Sunday, with both the men and women’s halfpipe finals are scheduled for Tuesday.

RESULTS
Men’s slopestyle finals
Women’s slopestyle finals

START LISTS
Men’s halfpipe qualifier

Jade Thurgood (Salt Lake City) led the way for the U.S. Team, finishing fourth in the women’s snowboard slopestyle finals at the 2018 FIS Junior Freeskiing & Snowboard World Championships Friday.

Ty Schnorrbusch (Frisco, Colo.) was seventh, followed by Courtney Rummel (West Bend, Wisc.) in 10th; Isabella Gomez (Issaquah, Wash) 13th; and Makayla Kellog (Mammoth, Calif.) in 14th.  Japan’s Kokomo Murase took the gold, followed by Germany’s Annika Morgan with the silver, and Canada’s Sommor Gendron with the bronze.

In the men’s finals, Jake Canter (Evergreen, Colo.) was the top-placed American in fifth, followed by Will Healy (Riverside, Conn.) in sixth. Luke Winkelmann (Bowling Rock, N.C.) was 12th. Japan also took the gold in the men’s final with Takeru Otsuka posting the top score. The Netherland’s took silver and bronze with Niek Velden and Casper Wolf.

Snowboard competition continues Saturday at Cardrona Alpine resort with the men and women’s halfpipe qualifiers. The halfpipe finals are scheduled for Tuesday.

RESULTS
Men’s slopestyle finals
Women’s slopestyle finals

START LISTS
Men’s halfpipe qualifier
Women’s halfpipe qualifier

PARK CITY, Utah – U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced that Bryan Fish has been promoted to the position of Cross Country Sport Development Manager. This is a new position and includes many of Bryan’s current duties at U.S. Ski & Snowboard, in addition to the key domestic and development responsibilities held by former Nordic Domestic Program Director Robert Lazzaroni. U.S. Ski and Snowboard will not fill that role but will hire a coordinator to assist Fish as he takes on his new role.

“This is an exciting time for the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team, and promoting Bryan Fish to fill this new role could not come at a better time,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport Luke Bodensteiner. “Bryan has done great work as the development coach and the team is now seeing the positive outcomes of his well-orchestrated strategy. He has been a large contributor to the strong results we are seeing at Junior Worlds and most recently at the International Junior Camp in Norway. With these added responsibilities, Bryan will continue to be the driving force with the development pipeline and become a larger player in the national cross country scene.”

Bryan’s new role as Sport Development Manager is unique in that it will allow Fish to continue to coach in camps and lead trips including Junior World Ski Championships and OPA Cup.  Sustainability has been built in these programs and it is important that this consistency for the athletes continues.

“Thanks to U.S. Ski & Snowboard for offering me the opportunity to expand my support to the Cross Country community,” Fish said. “As the Cross Country Development Coach, I have focused on collaborating with our ski community to build out the development system. We have worked together with coaches, clubs, divisions, and regions to fill in structural gaps with needed programming. We have also made significant strides in building a stronger national development system. The preparation and performance of our athletes at every level is proof we are moving in the right direction. I am excited to place a greater focus on establishing a clear pathway as we move ahead.”

Based in Park City, Utah, Fish assumes his new role effective immediately and will be actively seeking an additional hire to assist in this new role.

Luke Winkelmann (Bowling Rock, N.C.) led the way for the U.S. Team in snowboard slopestyle qualifiers Thursday at the 2018 FIS Junior Freeskiing & Snowboard World Championships.

In the first men’s qualifying heat, Winkelmann took the top spot with a score of 89.66. Jake Canter (Evergreen, Colo.) finished sixth with a score of 80.66 to advance to the finals. Japan’s Takeru Otsuka won the second heat with a score of 90.00. Will Healy (Riverside, Conn.) was fourth with a score of 84.00.

On the women’s side, Jade Thurgood (Salt Lake City) was fifth with a score of 71.20.  Ty Schnorrbusch (Frisco, Colo.) was eighth with 58.20.

The men and women’s slopestyle finals take place Friday at the Big Bucks Park at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

RESULTS
Men’s slopestyle qualifier heat 1
Men’s slopestyle qualifier heat 2
Women’s slopestyle qualifier

START LISTS
Men’s slopestyle finals
Women’s slopestyle qualifier

Ryan Stevenson (Washington, N.J.) put down the top score of the men's freeski slopestyle qualifiers Thursday at the 2018 FIS Junior Freeskiing & Snowboard World Championships.  Cody LaPlante (Truckee, Calif.) was also among the 12 competitors to qualify for Friday’s slopestyle finals.

In the first qualifying heat, Japan’s Taisei Yamamoto nailed the most technical rail line of the day, putting him top of the leaderboard with a score of 86.00, while Stevenson and Norway’s Birk Ruud had a close battle for the top spot in heat two.

Stevenson just pulled ahead with a more technical combination of tricks, including a backswap on wallride, left 270 in, right 270 in, backslide 270 safety out, left double 1260 safety, switch right double 1080 Japan, switch left double 1260 safety to score 90.33. LaPlante finished fifth in heat two with a score of 63.66.

The women’s slopestyle qualifications are scheduled to take place on Friday morning, followed by both men and women’s finals at 1:30 p.m. local time at the Big Bucks Park at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

RESULTS
Men’s slopestyle qualifier heat 1
Men’s slopestyle qualifier heat 2

START LIST
Men’s slopestyle finals
Women’s slopestyle qualifier

Jade Thurgood (Salt Lake City) finished fourth in snowboard big air competition at the 2018 FIS Junior Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships at Cardrona Alpine Resort in New Zealand Wednesday. Ty Schnorrbusch (Frisco, Colo.) was fifth.

Japan’s Kokomo Murase took the gold medal, followed by Canada’s Sommer Gendron with the silver and China’s Ziyan Ren with the bronze. Wednesday’s competition was originally scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 25, however, weather conditions delayed the finals to Wednesday.

Snowboard competition at the Junior World Championships, part of the Winter Games NZ, continues Thursday with the slopestyle qualification, and Friday with the slopestyle finals. Both Thurgood and Schnorrbusch are scheduled to compete.

RESULTS
Women’s big air

START LISTS
Men’s slopestyle qualification heat 1
Men's slopestyle qualification heat 2
Women’s slopestyle qualification

The FIS Ski World Cup returns to Vermont’s Killington Resort Thanksgiving weekend, and tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 5 at 9 a.m. EDT.

The World Cup will once again bring women’s giant slalom and slalom races to Vermont and is expected to attract the best athletes in the world, including 2018 Olympic gold medalists Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.), Italy’s Sofia Goggia and Sweden’s Frida Hansdotter.

New this year and, in addition to an already action-packed, fun-filled weekend, Killington Resort will host free concerts Friday through Sunday featuring Barenaked Ladies, Michael Franti, KT Tunstall and Paul Oakenfold. Additional entertainment includes the World Cup Festival Village, fireworks, parades and a Friday night bib draw featuring top athletes.

“It’s an honor and a pleasure to welcome the best women ski racers in the world back to Killington for the third year,” says Herwig Demschar, chair of Killington’s World Cup Local Organizing Committee.  “Spectators will be treated to a weekend of exciting racing, as well as a top music line-up, ensuring it will be a party not to be missed. This year, we are hoping to make history by breaking attendance records, showing the world how New England fans support their favorite ski racing stars!”

Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday events are sold separately. Ticket offerings for 2018 Killington Cup include:

General Admission - Free

In addition to the ticket offers, there will be plenty of free access viewing space for all fans to enjoy. The free area provides standing room access near the base of the Superstar trail and along the run with two jumbo screens for viewing the full race course.

New for 2018 - 4241’ Finish Pavilion - $150

The new 4241’ Pavilion located on skier’s left of Superstar (below the KMS bag jump) includes a semi-heated tent and premium viewing area featuring a continental breakfast and an all-you-can-eat BBQ with soft drinks and hot beverages catered by the Peak Lodge. A beer and wine cash bar with specially priced drinks will be available.

SuperFan – $125

The SuperFan ticket includes standard Grandstand tickets, along with a World Cup commemorative item and a Killington adult lift ticket voucher for the 2018-19 winter season that can be redeemed without restriction.

Premier Grandstand – $100

The Premier Grandstand offers guaranteed access to the highest five rows of the grandstands at the base of Superstar trail, providing one of the best vantage points of the course. This ticket includes a mid-week, non-holiday lift ticket voucher valid for the 2018-19 winter season. Premier Grandstand tickets are extremely limited in quantity and 100% of the proceeds benefit the Killington World Cup Committee.

Grandstand – $40

Ticketed Grandstands are located at the base of the Superstar trail, adjacent to the race course, and are general admission for all rows except the top five. The grandstand provides an elevated view of the race course, along with two jumbo screens broadcasting top-to-bottom race coverage. Limited accessible seating access is available in the front row of the grandstand.

Free parking and shuttles will be available around Killington Resort, however, attendees can purchase a preferred parking pass for guaranteed parking in the K-1 parking bays for $50 or in the Vale parking lots for $20. Preferred parking passes can be purchased when tickets go on sale at killington.com.

VIP ticket packages are available at kwccgivesback.org in partnership with the Killington World Cup Committee, which supports athlete hospitality and provides grants to support winter sports infrastructure and access to winter sports throughout the region.

For additional information about Killington Resort and the 2018 Audi FIS World Cup, please visit killington.com/worldcup.

Fresh off a World Cup downhill mountain bike podium at Mont Saint Anne, Canada, Mazie Hayden (North Clarendon, Vt.) switched gears, continents, and many time zones to win the silver medal in skicross at the 2018 FIS Junior Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships at Cardrona Alpine Resort Monday.

"I’m super excited to have a podium finish at junior worlds, especially after having bad luck at them last year," Hayden said. "Podiuming at worlds was one of my most important goals, and I’m happy to show that the U.S. can hold its own in ski cross."

Hayden qualified second Sunday behind Canada’s Mikayla Martin, who went on to win the gold medal Monday. Elliane Hall of Great Britain won the bronze.

"I had a rough start in finals but managed to hold second and had a clean run the rest of the way down," Hayden said. "The course was very rutted so I was happy to stay on my feet."

In the men’s skicross final, Great Britain’s Oliver Davies won the gold ahead of Austria’s Sandro Siebenhofer, who took the silver, and Russia’s Maxim Vikhrov with the bronze. Stuart Whittier (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) led the way for Team USA in 10th; Justin Wallasch (Acton, Calif.) was 14th and Leo Brougher (Los Altos Hills, Calif.) was 15th.

Freeski competition continues with slopestyle qualifiers Wednesday, with the finals set for Friday.

RESULTS
Men’s ski cross
Women’s ski cross