Mikaela Shiffrin showed that she can still rule speed events, capturing her first FIS World Cup speed podium in nearly two years in the super-G in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Breezy Johnson was 12th.

Lara Gut-Behrami of Switzerland, the reigning super-G World Champion, skied a hill she knew well to the win. Sofia Goggia of Italy, who had swept the speed events at the Lake Louise World Cups last week, took second.

The course was in excellent condition, but flat light and lightly falling snow made it difficult to see the tricky undulating terrain, which played into Shiffrin’s favor. “You see that this track has so much terrain—it’s a little like every turn has a roll or compression that really throws you around,” said Shiffrin. “I could see that from the start and I decided to try to ski a good solid run and not go too crazy trying to be too aerodynamic when most of the girls were struggling to make clean turns. I was just trying to make as clean turns as I could.”

While Shiffrin is known as a strong technical skier, she is no stranger to the podium in FIS World Cup speed events, but it had been a minute. She was last on the World Cup podium in Bankso, Bulgaria in January 2020, when she won the super-G, and also took third place in the 2021 FIS World Ski Championships super-G in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. But her lack of time with speed boards on her feet this season meant she came in a little wary of her chances.

“I would say this was my sixth run of super-G in six months,” added Shiffrin. “I didn’t really trust myself enough to be the most aggressive on this hill, like I could imagine Lara and Sofia would ski. I have the potential to be competitive, but today is just 100% more practice than what I had yesterday. It was a good run, actually. Quite good.”

Shiffrin’s third-place extends her lead in the FIS overall standings to 465 points above Goggia’s 395. The race was also her 111th podium in 200 World Cup starts—meaning Shiffrin has a 56% chance of finishing in the top three of every race she enters.

U.S. downhill queen Breezy Johnson also had a banner day, capturing 12th place—her third best super-G result in her career.

Rounding out the Americans, AJ Hurt was 34th, Tricia Mangan 36th, Jackie Wiles 37th and Nina O’Brien 43rd. Isabella Wright and Kelly Cashman did not finish.

Next up, the women race another super-G on Sunday while the men ski slalom in Val d'Isere, France. 

RESULTS
Women’s super-G

STANDINGS
Women's World Cup overall
Women’s World Cup super-G

HOW TO WATCH
*All times EST.

Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021
12:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women’s Super-G - same-day broadcast, St. Moritz, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN

Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021
3:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Val D'Isere, FRA, Ski and Snowboard Live
4:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women’s Super-G - LIVE, St. Moritz, SUI, Broadcast Olympic Channel, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Val D'Isere, FRA, Ski and Snowboard Live, Streaming Peacock

Current television broadcast and streaming schedules for all sports are available here. For more information on how to watch broadcasts and streaming, visit our full "how to watch" breakdown.

Please note: Streaming services and apps are third-party services and subject to such parties’ terms of use and data privacy. U.S. Ski & Snowboard disclaims any and all liability for use of third-party services and apps.

Follow the U.S. Alpine Ski Team:
Instagram: @usskiteam
Facebook: @usskiandsnowboard
TikTok: @usskiandsnowboard
Twitter: @usskiteam

2018 Olympic Silver Medalist Alex Ferreira claimed his first win of the season at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, the second of six U.S. Olympic ski halfpipe qualifying events Friday at Copper Mountain, Colorado.

U.S. Freeski Team athlete Birk Irving landed just off the podium in fourth place, with David Wise in seventh, Lyman Currier in eighth and Aaron Blunck 10th after a frustrating finals for the top qualifier.

“It was a little bit snowy and windy, so I backed off a bit,” says Ferreira, “but I just kept my head up and never gave up. I just did my best.”

Ferreira put down his top score on his first of three final runs, where the best run counted. He dropped in switch left 1080 tail grab, into a right double 1260 mute grab, left double 1440 safety grab, switch right 1080 tail grab, finishing with a left double 1260 safety.

“It’s absolutely unbelievable, I’m still in shock,” said Ferreira as he stepped off the podium. “I’ve never done well at Copper, and to not only do well but to win is something in and of itself. I’m just so grateful.”

Ferreira most recently won gold at the 2020 Aspen X Games and finished in fourth at the Aspen 2021 FIS Freeski halfpipe World Championships.

The men’s podium was rounded out by New Zealand’s Nico Porteous in second and Canada’s Brendan McKay in third.

In the women’s field, 2018 Olympic Bronze Medalist Brita Sigourney was the top American finisher in fourth place, followed by Hanna Faulhaber in fifth.

“It’s been snowing and a windy—not exactly the conditions we want to compete in,” said Sigourney. “The pipe was still good and a lot of thanks to our wax techs for keeping our skis running fast because that was a major player today.”

This finish follows a third-place podium finish at the Aspen U.S. Grand Prix—the first Olympic qualifying event.

Sigourney said, “I’m happy with where I’m sitting right now going into the Olympics. We obviously have a lot more events coming up but I’m happy to start the season off like this.”

Eileen Gu, competing for Team China took first place today, followed by Canada’s Rachael Karker, and Estonia’s Kelly Sildaru in third.

RESULTS
Men’s halfpipe
Women’s halfpipe

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EDT
Friday, Dec. 10, 2021
9:30 p.m. FIS Freeski World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - same-day broadcast, Copper Mountain, CO, Broadcast NBCSN

Eric Loughran led the U.S. with a sixth place finish in Friday’s FIS Aerials World Cup in Ruka, Finland, his tenth career top-six World Cup result. 

"The day was sweet," reflected Loughran on his result. "I landed every single jump going into Supers, which is pretty hard to do in our sport. I was on a roll there. Going into Super Finals knowing who was competing what, Bergy (Coach Eric Bergoust) and I decided to go for a bigger trick, a Full Full Double-Full. Unfortunately I went a little too big and had a crash."

Loughran stomped his Full Double-Full Full in the first finals round for a score of 121.24, qualifying him fourth position heading into the super final round. He reported feeling good in the air of his Full Full Double-Full in the Super Final, but came in too far back and didn’t stick the landing, earning a score of 87.78 for sixth place. "I'm going to need [that big] trick this year with how our sport has been progressing. In the Full Full Double-Full you come into a blind landing. It's one of the hardest tricks to land in our sport. I went for it. I stuck it [last season] in Kazakhstan but this one I had a little too much speed and went a bit big."

Russia’s Maxim Burov continued to dominate with his third-straight Aerials World Cup win. China went 2-3 with Zongyang Kia placing second and Guangpu Qi placing third. 

It was a tough day for the Americans with only two athletes qualifying to finals. Justin Schoenefeld joined Loughran in the first finals round. He went for a Full Double-Full Full but slapped back, earning a score of 79.65, and finished the day in 11th. Chris Lillis finished 18th. 

On the women’s side, Ukraine’s Anastasiya Novosad earned her first Aerials World Cup win. China’s Mengtao Xu came in second and Ukraine’s Olga Polyuk came in third. 

Ashley Caldwell finished 20th, Dani Loeb 23rd, Karenna Elliot 26th, Winter Vinecki 30th, Megan Nick 32nd and Kaila Kuhn 34th. 

Aerials competition continues Saturday with a one-jump World Cup followed by a Team event. 

Results
Women’s Aerials
Men’s Aerials

HOW TO WATCH
*All times EST

Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021

3:40 a.m. FIS Freestyle World Cup Women’s Aerials - LIVE, Ruka, FIN, Streaming Peacock

3:15 a.m. FIS Freestyle World Cup Women's Aerials - LIVE, Ruka, FIN, Ski and Snowboard Live

6:15 a.m. FIS Freestyle World Cup Men's Aerials - LIVE, Ruka, FIN, Ski and Snowboard Live, Streaming Peacock

9:30 a.m. FIS Freestyle World Cup Mixed Team Aerials - LIVE, Ruka, FIN, Ski and Snowboard Live, Streaming Peacock

Streaming services and apps are third-party services and subject to such parties’ terms of use and data privacy. U.S. Ski & Snowboard disclaims any and all liability for use of third-party services and apps.

U.S. Snowboard Team riders Chase Josey, Taylor Gold, and three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White are advancing in the field of 10 men to Saturday’s Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Finals. This is the first Olympic halfpipe qualifying event of this season, and the first chance for these riders to unleash their new tricks after a long training season leading up to this event.

2018 Winter Olympian Chase Josey was the top U.S Snowboard Team qualifier, “I was feeling really ready for today,” said Josey. “We’ve been training for so long at this point though all summer and this fall, so it felt like this week has been in our sights for so long that it was a relief to finally get to Copper. I just felt really ready to go, honestly.”

Josey went frontside double cork 1080, to switch frontside 900, into a switch backside 900, to a Cab double cork 1080, finishing with a frontside double cork 1260 on the final hit.

“I've really been trying to piece together this run for many years at this point,” said Josey. “It all takes time. And it’s finally been the season that I feel like it’s all coming together.”

The men’s field is rounded out with Team Japan, led by two-time Olympic Silver Medalist Ayumu Hirano, who came out strong earning the top four qualifying spots, along with the Swiss team.

The women’s field of eight riders includes top qualifying finishers Spain’s Queralt Castellet and China’s Cai Xuetong.

U.S. Snowboard Team Halfpipe Coach JJ Thomas is looking forward to Saturday. “All three of our guys—Chase, Shaun, and Taylor—those were just their qualifying runs, they have a lot left in the tank,” said JJ, “If the weather cooperates and the snow stays fast, this final could be one of the heavier finals to date.”

One question is at the top of everyone’s mind—will we see the first triple cork in competition? Tune in to find out.

Finals Start List 

Men's Snowboard Finals 
Women's Snowboard Finals 

HOW TO WATCH SNOWBOARDING

All times EST

Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021
2:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - LIVE, Copper Mountain, CO, Broadcast NBCSN
2:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - LIVE, Copper Mountain, CO, Streaming Peacock

Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021
1:00 p.m. FIS Freeski World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - next-day broadcast, Copper Mountain, CO, Broadcast NBC

Streaming services and apps are third-party services and subject to such parties’ terms of use and data privacy. U.S. Ski & Snowboard disclaims any and all liability for use of third-party services and apps.

HOW TO WATCH SNOWBOARDING

All times EST

Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021
2:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - LIVE, Copper Mountain, CO, Broadcast NBCSN
2:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - LIVE, Copper Mountain, CO, Streaming Peacock

Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021
1:00 p.m. FIS Freeski World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - next-day broadcast, Copper Mountain, CO, Broadcast NBC

Streaming services and apps are third-party services and subject to such parties’ terms of use and data privacy. U.S. Ski & Snowboard disclaims any and all liability for use of third-party services and apps.

Media have access to results, photos, podium/leader interviews, news, broadcast/streaming schedules, and more in the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Virtual Media Center.

If you’re not paying attention to the depth of talent and skill on the U.S. Freeski halfpipe team, the time is now. Tuesday, Dec. 8, marked the beginning of the road to Beijing, with five U.S. men earning half of the coveted slots to advance to the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix finals. 2021 Halfpipe champion Aaron Blunck, Alex Ferreira, Lyman Currier, Birk Irving, and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist David Wise threw down in the 22-foot Woodward Copper Superpipe to punch their ticket onward.

The U.S. women also rose to the challenge, with Brita Sigourney and Hanna Faulhaber confidently landing in the top five among the field of eight, advancing into Friday’s final.

The ladies kicked off the qualification phase, the best one of two runs counting. Olympic bronze medalist Sigourney made it look easy, earning the top U.S women’s score of the day.

“The pipe is really good; Copper did an amazing job,” Sigourney said of the conditions. “I pretty much did a couple of every trick I did in finals in practice, so there weren’t any firsts, but,” she hints, “finals might be another story.”

Seventeen-year-old teammate Hanna Faulhaber blasted down the pipe, giving the crowd a look at the exciting skiing style that we’ve come to expect from her. Estonia’s Kelly Silardu qualified first, followed by Eileen Gu, competing for China.

The men’s field did not hold back. Blunck led the charge, coming into the Toyota Grand Prix off a big win last March at the Aspen Grand Prix. He dialed his first run top-to-bottom linking up left double cork 900 into a right double cork 1260 to finish.  

“This was definitely one of the heavier qualifiers, as it should be for the Olympic qualifiers.”, said Blunck. “My strategy was to just go put one down. I feel like I stress out so much during qualifiers. This morning I was like, just go have fun—it’s just another day of skiing, nothing is different. I thought that all day and I was like, perfect—let’s go. I did exactly what I set out to do, and I’m just super happy.”

Today’s results bode well for an incredible final. U.S. Freeski Halfpipe Coach Mike Riddle said, “Assuming we get good conditons, they can definitely step it up for finals. I’m just excited for Friday just to see where everyone is at in the first comp of the season, especially in an Olympic year. Every once in a while, you get a surprise.”

The Toyota Grand Prix Freeski Finals are set for Friday, Dec. 10. at Copper Mountain, Colorado. 

Start Lists:

Men's Freeski Finals 
Women's Freeski Finals

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EDT

Friday, Dec. 10, 2021

2:30 p.m. FIS Freeski World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - LIVE, Copper Mountain, CO, Streaming Peacock, Broadcast NBCSN

Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021

2:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - LIVE, Copper Mountain, CO, Broadcast NBCSN

2:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - LIVE, Copper Mountain, CO, Streaming Peacock

5:00 p.m. FIS Freeski World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - next-day broadcast, Copper Mountain, CO, Broadcast NBC

Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021

1:00 p.m. FIS Freeski World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - next-day broadcast, Copper Mountain, CO, Broadcast NBC

Streaming services and apps are third-party services and subject to such parties’ terms of use and data privacy. U.S. Ski & Snowboard disclaims any and all liability for use of third-party services and apps.

For a number of young athletes on the Davis U.S. Cross Country Ski Team, their first taste of FIS World Cup Cross Country racing has been an eye-opening experience, both in terms of the racing, and of course, the extensive travel required to reach the opening events in Scandinavia from all corners of the United States.

Zanden McMullen, Novie McCabe, and Sydney Palmer Leger kicked off their World Cup careers north of the Arctic Circle in Ruka, Finland, Thanksgiving weekend, then traveled to Lillehammer, Norway, for the second race weekend of the season. Now, six races into the season, all three have experienced the highs and lows of World Cup racing, but overall they have succeeded in bringing a youthful energy to the team while learning what it takes to be a professional athlete.

“Having retired three veterans last year, Sadie (Maubet Bjornsen), Simi (Hamilton) and Sophie (Caldwell Hamilton) all over (age) 30 and replaced them in some ways with one junior, Sydney Palmer-Leger, another one who was a junior last year, Zanden McMullen and...Novie McCabe, who is also a first-year senior, the average age on our team has dropped considerably,” said Davis U.S. Cross Country Team Head Coach Matt Whitcomb. “But the youthful energy is really amazing to have around.”

Full-time racing on the FIS Cross Country World Cup Tour is no easy task. Being away from home for an extended period of time, living out of a duffle bag, and sleeping in a different bed week after week can certainly take its toll on a young athlete. 

“It has been really tough the past two weeks of racing,” Palmer-Leger said. “Learning to race qualifiers at the World Cup is a lot different than in the States. Coming from the States where we do well, to World Cups where you are fighting to not get last is mentally challenging. But, I’m excited to be over here, and get the shot to race with the best in the world at (age) 19.”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Sydney Palmer-Leger (@sydneypalmerleger)

Palmer-Leger, the 2021 NCAA Champion, is used to winning. Top results are always the goal for her. But, for new athletes to World Cup racing, Whitcomb says it’s more about learning and building for the future than posting immediate results.

“The result that I look for in Period 1 with new athletes, regardless of age but just people that are new to the World Cup, is trying to nail the process. There's a little bit of extra stress that they don't feel when they're back home. You're pretty exposed over here and you have to put together nearly perfect races to challenge this competition." 
– Davis U.S. Cross Country Team Head Coach Matt Whitcomb,

“What we are trying to do is make sure that we know the process and make sure that they're enjoying the daily life of a professional racer on the road,” Whitcomb continued. “So far, with three weeks behind us, it has been really fun. It's been a good balance, and these new rookies, this new youth, has been such a great addition to the team with regards to chemistry and just great energy.”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Novie McCabe (@novie.mccabe)

“One of the main things I’ve learned is that reflecting on each race is great, but it’s important to move on and treat every race as a new opportunity, especially when there are so many race days,” McCabe said. “My body is feeling a bit tired for sure, but it’s been so much fun to be here and it’s made me super stoked to just keep trying to improve a bit each weekend.”

With six race starts so far this season, McCabe has made steady progress. Toss in a team relay in Lillehammer as a member of USA 2 with Palmer-Leger, and two athletes who have a bit more World Cup experience in Sophia Laukli and Katharine Ogden, and the fun factor was certainly alive.

“I am almost unconcerned with results, except for the fact that a good ski result can make them happy and it adds to the fun,” Whitcomb said. “We will start to be a bit more predictable with our results starting this coming weekend (in Davos) and moving forward now that we're settled in, we're not jet-lagged, people have had quite a bit of on-snow time, and so I think even as recently as this last week and you some more people racing well in Lillehammer than in Ruka.”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Zanden McMullen (@zanden_m)

For McMullen, his intro to World Cup racing has not only been a huge eye-opening experience but rewarding as well when he posted the 29th-fastest time of the day in the 15k freestyle pursuit in Ruka.

“I’ve actually learned a lot more than I thought I would,” McMullen said. “A lot about what it takes for high-level racing at such an early point in the season; venue familiarity; course strategy; everyday life at hotels the team always stay; race tactics; and a lot more confidence throwing down with the best in the world.”

Both McCabe and Palmer-Leger traveled with the team to Davos, Switzerland for this weekend’s World Cup sprint and distance races, while McMullen traveled back to the United States for finals week at the University of Montana, and to prepare for the upcoming SuperTour and L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championships next month at Soldier Hollow. 

“My body feels great, and I feel like I will soon sharpen up my body for the important races of the season,” McMullen said, adding that he looks forward to being “so much more mentally prepared for the next stage of my ski career.”

And will that career include a shot at making Team USA for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games?

“There's always a chance that an 18 or 19 or 20-year-old could make the Olympics for us, and if they do, that’s great,” Whitcomb said. “But that is something that is certainly not high on my priority list. What I would rather see happen is that we establish an environment on the World Cup where they really love this profession and they're still around in 2026 (Olympics in Val di Fiemme, Italy) and in 2030 for, who knows where that Olympics will take place. That is the real focus for these young athletes. It is very long-term.”

The U.S. Snowboardcross Team just completed their first World Cup races this season at the Secret Garden testing center in China— the home course for the 2022 Olympics Games. The SBX team enjoyed a short reprieve in Reiteralm, Austria where they had a chance to recoup and train for the upcoming FIS Weltcup race in Montafon, Austria. 

Montafon race is a great venue with a steep long course that is bound to deliver a great show for the fans at home and a fun, challenging course for all the athletes. This year the SBX team will have one day for testing and inspecting the course, followed by a training day.

In overall rankings, the U.S. SBX team stands in third place, only ten points behind Italy, with Austria currently holding the lead. For the U.S. men’s team, Nick Baumgartner is in third place after a great showing in China. A difficult semifinal run put Mick Dierdorff in sixth place with room to make a big comeback here at Montafon. Hagen Kearney and Alex Deibold are both sitting in the top 25 spots for the men’s SBX. 

The women’s team is showing up this year with five women in the top 25 overall rankings. Stacy Gaskill is in eighth place, with Faye Gulini sitting in tenth, with Livia Molodyh and Anna Miller closing in the gap and sitting in the top 25. 

The team is well-rested and ready to show the competition what they’ve got. The fun begins on Thursday, Dec. 9th with qualifications, then into finals Dec.10-11.

U.S. Snowboardcross Men's Starts
Mick Dierdorff
Nick Baumgartner
Hagen Kearney
Jake Vedder 
Alex Deibold
Senna Leith
Mike LaCroix
Tyler Hamel

U.S. Snowboardcross Women's Starts
Faye Gulini
Stacy Gaskill
Anna Miller
Livia Molodyh

Men's Start List
Women's Start List

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EDT
Friday, Dec. 10, 2021
7:00 a.m. FIS Snowboarding World Cup Snowboardcross - LIVE, Montafon, AUT, Streaming Peacock

Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021
7:00 a.m. FIS Snowboarding World Cup Mixed Team Snowboardcross - LIVE, Montafon, AUT, Streaming Peacock

Streaming services and apps are third-party services and subject to such parties’ terms of use and data privacy. U.S. Ski & Snowboard disclaims any and all liability for use of third-party services and apps.

The U.S. Snowboard and U.S. Freeski teams are ready to throw down this week in the 22-foot Superpipe at Woodward Copper Mountain, Colorado. The team already has a day of training in the bag, and the reviews are in—this pipe is absolutely chiseled and ready to go. Take that as a sign that we should be prepared to see another heavy progression session as this international field of competitors drops in ready to unleash their newest tricks. The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper is one of four U.S. Olympic halfpipe snowboard qualifying events and one of six U.S. Olympic freeski qualifying events. This competition will serve as the first 2021-22 halfpipe qualifying event, bringing the best athletes in the world to debut their latest tricks ahead of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

Snowboard Halfpipe

The field is stacked in men’s and women’s snowboard halfpipe. While the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix is the first Olympic halfpipe qualifying event of this season, the U.S. snowboard team has been training hard leading up to it. The team is heading into this competition fresh from a month in Saas Fee, Switzerland, followed by a ten-day training camp in Kitzsteinhorn, Austria.

U.S. Snowboard Team Halfpipe Coach JJ Thomas had this to say after the first day of training, “We’re pretty tuned up right now. The pipe here at Copper opened just in time for training, but not any earlier. That works for our team because they’re all polished up. They’re feeling pretty confident today and it shows in their snowboarding. They look great. The whole team is ripping so hard.”

“I’m feeling good,” says 2018 Olympian Taylor Gold. “We’ve had some really good training, so I feel strong and comfortable and ready to go.”

Keep an eye on the U.S. Team vets including three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White looking to compete in his fifth Olympics, X Games medalist’s Toby Miller and Taylor Gold who can lean into years of experience and skill, as well as young guns like Joey Okesson, Lucas Foster, Zoe Kalapos, Sonora Alba and Tessa Maud.

The international field includes top ranked riders including Japanese team riders Yuto Totsuka, Ruka Hirano and Raibu Katayama, Switzerland’s Jan Sherrer in the men’s field; with China’s Xuetong Cai and Jiayu Liu, Spain’s Queralt Castellet and Japan’s Mitsuki Ono to keep an eye on.

The level is through the roof right now in halfpipe snowboarding, it’s going to be an absolute battle to make it into finals. Expect to see riders attempting to one-up the field with a whole new level of tricks. Will we see the triple cork variations unleashed in this competition?

Snowboard qualifiers kick off on Thursday, Dec. 9th with finals on Saturday, Dec. 11th here at Copper Mountain, Colorado.

U.S Snowboard Men’s Starts
Taylor Gold
Chase Josey
Chase Blackwell
Shaun White
Lucas Foster
Ryan Wachendorfer  
Toby Miller
Joey Okesson
Joshua Bowman
Jason Wolle
Levko Fedorowycz

U.S Snowboard Women’s Starts
Zoe Kalapos
Sonora Alba
Tessa Maud
Alexandria Simsovits
Summer Fenton
Kaili Shafer
Natalie Partridge
Lola Cowan
Kelly Berger

Complete Qualifiers Starts List:
Men's Snowboard Qualifiers 
Women's Snowboard Qualifiers 

Freeski Halfpipe

The U.S. Freeski Team is stacked with 30 athletes slated to compete in the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix. The team has been putting in the work heading into this event. They completed three-weeks of training at Saas Fee, followed by a ten-day camp in Kaprun, Austria.

Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist David Wise is definitely one to watch as he looks ahead to his qualifying for his third Olympic Games. And Olympic Bronze Medalist Brita Sigourney is in a great position going into this event following her third-place podium finish at the 2021 U.S. Grand Prix at Aspen.

Halfpipe Champion Aaron Blunck comes into the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix following a first-place finish at the 2021 U.S. Grand Prix at Aspen, Colorado, also looking to qualify for his third Olympic Games. “Training was great,” says Blunck, who we caught up with after the first day of training. “Copper put some serious work in—they showed up, they put on, big shout out to all of them. It’s going to be a great week. The pipe is in great shape and I’m feeling really good, I’m just excited to be on snow and am thankful for every day I get to ski.”

The international field includes some heavy hitters to watch out for including Eileen Gu, competing for China, England’s Zoe Atkin, Canada’s Noah Bowman, New Zealand’s Nico Porteous and many more.

The freeski competition kicks off with qualifiers on Wednesday, Dec. 8th, followed by finals on Friday, Dec. 10th.

Complete Qualifiers Starts List:
Men's Freeski Qualifiers 
Women's Freeski Qualifiers 

U.S. Freeski Men’s Starts
Aaron Blunck
Birk Irving
David Wise
Alex Ferreira
Jaxin Hoerter
Cassidy Jarrell
Dylan Ladd
Samson Schuiling
Tristan Feinberg
Cameron Brodrick
Connor Ladd
Aaron Durlester
Mathew Labaugh
Chace Maytham
Eugene Morris
Nathaniel Bourgoin
Jack Ganley

U.S. Freeski Women’s Starts
Brita Sigourney
Devin Logan
Hanna Faulhaber
Carly Margulies
Abigale Hansen
Svea Irving
Annalisa Drew
Jeanee Crane-Mauzy
Riley Jacobs
Jenna “Jay” Riccomini
Lauren Bendixen
Kathryn Gray
Nikita Rubocki

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EDT

Friday, Dec. 10, 2021

2:30 p.m. FIS Freeski World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - LIVE, Copper Mountain, CO, Streaming Peacock, Broadcast NBCSN

Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021

2:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - LIVE, Copper Mountain, CO, Broadcast NBCSN

2:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - LIVE, Copper Mountain, CO, Streaming Peacock

5:00 p.m. FIS Freeski World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - next-day broadcast, Copper Mountain, CO, Broadcast NBC

Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021

1:00 p.m. FIS Freeski World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe - next-day broadcast, Copper Mountain, CO, Broadcast NBC

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Editor's note: Team Toyota Athlete and U.S. Snowboard Team Pro Halfpipe Team member Toby Miller attended the 2018 Olympic Winter Games as a spectator. Now he is gearing up to represent Team USA at the 2022 Games in Beijing. 

Like many young athletes, snowboard champion Toby Miller spent his childhood cheering on many great competitors in his sport. Now, the 21-year-old snowboarder is training for what he hopes will be his first Olympic Games — and getting ready to compete against some of those same icons he grew up watching.

“I mean, it’s pretty surreal to put myself back in my seven-year-old snowboard boots, to think that I am competing against the idols that I looked up to so much,” Miller says. “I don’t think I would have believed it. They’re my childhood superheroes and mentors and they’ve become great friends of mine.”

The snowboarding community is tight-knit, and some of the people Miller says he met during his early competitions have become lifelong friends. While Beijing 2022 could very well be Miller’s first Games where he competes, the Team Toyota athlete has attended the Winter Olympics in the past. In 2018, Miller accompanied his good friend Shaun White to watch him compete in PyeongChang.

“PyeongChang with Shaun was an incredible experience,” he says. “It’s the most amazing event as an athlete, and it made me more excited and more motivated than ever to make the 2022 Olympic team. It fueled the fire inside of me leading into this next run.” ...Read to Full Story at Toyota.com

Hailey Langland earned the top finish of the day for the U.S. Snowboard Team, landing in fourth place at the VISA Big Air presented by Toyota at Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She earned her combined top score with a Cab frontside 900 indy, followed by a frontside 900 Weddle—both first-time tricks for Langland.

The snowboarders were the first to drop in during a full day of big air competition, “It was pretty firm at the start,” said Langland referring to the early morning conditions, “ but as soon as the last couple laps of practice rolled around, the sun started to peak out over the jump, and there’s something about seeing the girls send in conditions like this that makes you want to do the same thing. I’m just really hyped on today – I couldn’t imagine it going better.” 

Langland, a three-time X Games medalist, most-recently led the U.S. Snowboard team with a second-place finish in snowboard slopestyle at the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix World Cup.  

“This was really exciting for us,” said U.S. Slopestyle Coach Dave Reynolds, “Hailey worked on these tricks at our most recent camp in Austria and this is the first time she’s landed them in competition.”

Japan’s Reira Iwabuchi took the win for the women landing a backside 1260, which  also earned her the women’s VISA Best Trick honors. Big Air champion Anna Gasser of Austria followed in second, and Germany’s Annika Morgan finished off the podium in third—marking her first World Cup podium.

On the men’s side, 17-year-old Chinese rider Yiming Su earned his first podium and the first Big Air podium for China, especially notable ahead of Beijing 2022. Su put down a backside triple cork 1800 indy and a frontside 1800 tailgrab for the best combined score of the day. 

“It feels incredible,” said Su. “I still cannot believe this just happened. I just kept training and finally I had the chance to join World Cups and do my best in the competition. I put two tricks down. I couldn’t be happier.”

Second place behind Su went to Austria’s Clemens Millauer, who fired up the crowd with a backside double cork 1620 tail grab and a switch backside 1620 nose grab. Rounding out the men’s podium in third place was Norway’s Mons Roisland, whose frontside triple cork 1800 tail grab also earned him the men’s VISA Best Trick award.

The U.S. National Champions in Big Air were announced at the end of the event—congratulations to Red Gerard and Hailey Langland. Gerard just missed the finals, earning an eleventh place finish at Steamboat.

The World Cup season continues at Copper Mountain, Colorado with the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, featuring the best halfpipe snowboarders throwing down in Copper’s legendary 22-foot Superpipe Dec. 10-11, 2021.

RESULTS

Men’s Snowboard Big Air

Women’s Snowboard Big Air

HOW TO WATCH 

All times EST

Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021

4:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard World Cup Visa Big Air Presented by Toyota Men and Women's Finals, Steamboat, CO, Broadcast NBC