Voisin Gold, Hall Silver To Close Out X Games Norway
U.S. Freeski Team member Maggie Voisin won X Games Norway slopestyle gold at Hafjell Resort on Sunday to collect her third X Games medal of the season and her second slopestyle gold.
“I can’t even begin to express how grateful I am for this weekend here in Norway,” said Maggie brimming with pure joy. “Taking home a silver medal in big air, and especially the gold in slopestyle, was a dream come true. This season has been very special to me and I haven’t had this much fun with my skiing in a long time. I’m so excited to keep pushing my limits and to see where the future of women’s skiing goes!”
In Maggie’s podium interview, she was quick to point out that it was Women’s International Day and showed some love for the rest of the field.
“I want to shout out to all the lady freeskiers as well as the snowboarders who dropped earlier in the day and inspired us on the slope course,” she said. “I’m just so stoked to be one of the females in action sports.”
Swiss Freeski Teammates Mathilde Gremaud and Giulia Tanno finished second and third, respectively.
Maggie’s success to close out the 2019-20 season comes as no surprise to those who have watched her ACL rehabilitation process following last season. Her work ethic and drive to be back at the top of the sport have never faltered. Despite coming out victorious in Sunday’s slopestyle finals, she still was pinpointing areas of improvement, continuing to strive for her best level of skiing.
“I almost had the double cork 1260 today,” she said as she reflected on the day. “I’m a little bummed I didn’t get to put that down in slopestyle, but obviously I’m still super happy.”
Maggie landed a gorgeous double cork 1260 safety on her second run in Saturday’s big air finals, which significantly contributed to her silver medal performance. Although Maggie didn’t land her double in slopestyle, she showed incredible consistency putting down clean rails, a beautifully executed rodeo 900, switch 900, and multiple 720’s.
She has gradually improved in every X Games competition since her return from ACL surgery earning bronze in Aspen slopestyle, silver in Norway’s big air, and gold in Norway’s slopestyle. However, Maggie’s post-recovery success is not limited to X Games. She’s also collected podiums at the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix and Dew Tour.
The remainder of Maggie’s contest season consists of the Absolut Park Spring Battle (filming based contest), Audi Nines (jam-session), as well as the FIS Slopestyle World Cup finals in Silvaplana, Switzerland.
The freeski men took to the slopestyle course to wrap up the X Games Norway 2020 program and Alex Hall, like Maggie, took home his second medal of the weekend earning the silver and his fourth X Games medal of his career.
"I'm so hyped on how this weekend unfolded," said Alex. "Knuckle huck last night was an all-time blast and today was insane too. Despite the rain, the course was really nice and everyone was having fun. That's what it's all about."
Switzerland’s Andri Ragettli and Fabian Boesch took home the gold and bronze, respectively.
Alex, the 2020 Newschoolers Skier of the Year, has had a season for the record books. He’s found success in big air, slopestyle, rail-jams, film, and even the new X Games knuckle huck event. His ability to excel in every aspect of the sport is a quality that earns him incredible respect amongst his peers and sets him apart from the rest of the field. Not to mention, his unique style and creativity can not be replicated, such as the two consecutive Tokyo Drifts throughout the rail section on his last run to help secure his podium position (see video below).
Combined, Maggie, Alex, and the 2020 X Games double-gold medalist Colby Stevenson took home eight X Games medals this winter. In addition to an array of young U.S. Freeski Team athletes finding success across the FIS World Cup and NorAm circuit this season, the U.S. Freeski Team is on track to set the tone for big air and slopestyle moving into the 2022 Beijing Olympic season.
Alex Hall with his slopestyle silver medal at X Games Norway 2020. (X Games Norway)
