Breakpoints

No Retina
Retina
XS Screen (480px)
SM+ Screen
SM Screen (768px)
SM- Screen
MD+ Screen
MD Screen (992px)
MD- Screen
LG+ Screen
LG Screen (1200px)
LG- Screen
XL+ Screen (1600px)

Shiffrin’s Comeback Started With Workouts in Her Garage

By Megan Harrod
March, 23 2021
Mikaela Shiffrin Wall Street Journal
Getting creative with her workouts in her apartment at Are, Sweden prior to the World Cup weekend, Shiffrin balances in a Copenhagen plank while performing a row with a resistance band held by coach Jeff Lackie. (Ryan Mooney)

Two-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion Mikaela Shiffrin battled a lot in the last 14 months. From the tragic loss of her father to the global pandemic, and then a back injury that had her sidelined for the first FIS Ski World Cup race of the 2020-21 season, it seemed like nothing was in her control. Except for, maybe, her workouts, and her workout playlist (Taylor Swift, of course).

The Wall Street Journal's Jen Murphy took time ahead of the final races of the season to connect with Shiffrin and talk about everything from her garage workouts to her journey back to the top of the podium.

As Murphy wrote, 

The only thing skier Mikaela Shiffrin could control this past year was her workout soundtrack: Taylor Swift. Due to coronavirus, the two-time Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion found herself preparing for her comeback season in her home garage using equipment hacks and video coaching. She became one more avid exerciser trying to keep fit without a gym.

The 26-year-old took a mostly involuntary break of 10 months from racing last year. After a six-week hiatus following the February 2020 death of her father, Jeff Shiffrin, she tried to return last March, just as the pandemic shut the world down. An October back injury sidelined her further. After years of domination, she entered the 2020-21 season in unfamiliar territory: coming from behind.

“I’ve had to play catch-up all season,” she says. “For quite a while I was the one being chased. I felt like I was the one writing the playbook and everyone else was reading it. This year I have other skiers to watch. It’s been motivating to be the one chasing.”

While her European competitors trained on glaciers during the North American summer, Ms. Shiffrin barely touched skis. “My training program and schedule changed completely,” she says. Typical training trips to South America were off due to travel bans. And when the state-of-the-art gym where she trains in Avon, Colo., shut down, she scrambled to buy equipment online to create a home gym.

Read the full article at WSJ.com

Blunck First, Sigourney Third at U.S. Grand Prix Halfpipe

By Jamie Wanzek
March, 21 2021
Brita and Aaron
Brita Sigourney and Aaron Blunck on the podium at the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe finals in Aspen, Colo. (U.S. Freeski Team)

Aaron Blunck and Brita Sigourney led the U.S. Freeski team in first and third respectively in halfpipe on the final day of the 25th anniversary Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix World Cup at Buttermilk in Aspen, Colo. 

Sunday’s Grand Prix was the first Olympic tryout event for athletes vying for their chance to make the U.S. Team for the  2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games.

Adversity has been no stranger to Blunck this season, especially Sunday, battling varied spring conditions and taking a brutal slam on his first run. In true Blunck fashion, the two-time World Champion dominated the stage with his third run, floating five double cork hits to secure the top spot. Blunck was joined on the podium by Canada’s Brendan Mackay in second and New Zealand’s Nico Porteous in third.


“After my first run fall, I needed to completely regroup and remember that, honestly, I wasn’t supposed to be skiing until this month,” said Blunck, who is rebounding after a bone-crushing crash during training camp last October in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. “I reminded myself to be grateful. After that, I knew my second run wasn’t the best run. So third run, I knew what I had to do. I knew that I had to land. And I honestly couldn’t be more stoked that I landed my third and final run and came out on top.”

Teammate David Wise finished in fourth among a talented field of riders. The two-time Olympic gold medalist made his presence known on his first run landing a switch right 1080 and back-to-back double cork 1260’s to raise the energy level in what was a slow start to the competition.

Birk Irving, who earned World Championships bronze last week, also made a strong appearance finishing in fifth-place after styling a consistent switch 1080 on his first hit to a double flat spin. Aspen local Alex Ferreira took sixth, Lyman Currier seventh, Hunter Hess 10th, and Aspen local Tristan Feinberg took 11th competing in his first World Cup final.

“I am super hyped to be in my first finals,” said Feinberg.” I am a little bummed that I couldn’t put down my run due to speed, but happy to be here. I’m looking forward to the next one and am hungry as ever. I am happy with my performance in qualifiers and super happy that I am here. It’s surreal.”

In the women’s finals, two-time Olympic medalist and halfpipe veteran Sigourney finessed all three runs which included her signature alley-oop mute grab and an off-axis 720. Teammate Devin Logan also completed three consistent runs to earn fifth. Sigourney shared the podium with Canada’s Rachael Karker in first place and Great Britain’s Zoe Atkin in second place. Karker’s win marks her first-ever World Cup victory.

“Obviously, there is a lot of pressure going into this event knowing it’s an Olympic qualifier,” said Sigourney. “I am just really happy to put down three runs to have improved each time. I am stoked to walk away with third place. I think we’re looking really solid (for the Beijing 2022 Olympics). There is a lot of progression happening right now, especially on that younger side.”

RESULTS
Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
Women’s Freeski Halfpipe
 

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST
 

Monday, March 22
3:30 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Freeski Slopestyle - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
5:00 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard Slopestyle - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN

Tuesday, March 23
3:00 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Freeski Halfpipe - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
4:30 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard Halfpipe - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN

 

FOLLOW
Instagram - @ussnowboardteam
Instagram - @usfreeskiteam
Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard
 

 Interested in organization, athlete, and event related news?
Sign up for our Daily or Weekly Update

Learn more about how to support the U.S. Freeski & Snowboard Teams.
 

Blunck 1st

Sigourney 3rd

Kim Completes Podium Perfect Season, White Fourth at USGP

By Jamie Wanzek
March, 21 2021
Chloe
Chloe Kim dropping in at the 2021 Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix in Aspen, Colo. (U.S. Snowboard Team - @markclavin)

Chloe Kim won again, taking her fourth consecutive victory at the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe finals Sunday at Buttermilk in Aspen, Colo in style.

With sunshine and spring conditions on full display in the halfpipe, athletes wrapped the 25th Annual Grand Prix with the Olympic tryout event for athletes vying for a shot at Team USA and the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.

Kim put down a clean first run, wasting no time to take the top seat. With no shortage of flair or smiles, Kim opened her run by floating a backside 360 with an indy grab. She then backed her first hit with a switch Method, clearing 15-feet out of the pipe, and finished with a stylish McTwist on her final hit. Kim’s first run would be all it took to dominate the women’s halfpipe field. Spain’s Queralt Castellet finished second and Japan’s Sena Tomita was third.

“I think that I was in a really bad mental place when I left (for Princeton University after the prior to the 2019-20 season), so I think giving myself the time off and letting myself take a step back and have fun again was really important for me,” said Kim. “I am honestly so happy that I took the year off. I am so grateful to be here right now. I am very surprised with how this season went. It went a lot better than I thought it would.”

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White made his return to the competition scene for the first time since the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics, finishing fourth as the top American. Vying for a chance at his fourth Olympic Games, White made it clear he hasn’t lost his touch despite a three-year break from competition. Showing the kids how it’s done, the halfpipe veteran put down three consistent runs, with a minor fluke in run two. White put down major tricks including a frontside double cork 1440, a cab double cork 1080, and a double mctwist 1260. 

But Japan’s Yuto Totsuka and Raibu Katayama are clearly at the top of the young class, finished first and second respectively.  Germany’s Andre Hoeflich finished in third.

U.S. Snowboard team member Chase Blackwell was fifth, making an appearance among a highly stacked men’s halfpipe final. While runs one and three resulted in falls, Blackwell managed to put down a strong second run including two double corks and a frontside 900.

“I was stoked to put something down,” said Blackwell. “This year my riding really progressed quite a bit. With my line and everything, I’ve been riding at a whole new level than I was before. I am really pumped with how everything turned out this year. Making the finals and putting down a run is all I could ask for. It was a really good day.”

Teammates Lucas Foster gave a respectable showing with two solid runs landing him sixth, while Taylor Gold was seventh. 



RESULTS
Women's Snowboard Halfpipe
Men's Snowboard Halfpipe


HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST
 

Monday, March 22
3:30 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Freeski Slopestyle - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
5:00 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard Slopestyle - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN

Tuesday, March 23
3:00 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Freeski Halfpipe - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
4:30 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard Halfpipe - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN

 

FOLLOW
Instagram - @ussnowboardteam
Instagram - @usfreeskiteam
Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard
 

 Interested in organization, athlete, and event related news?
Sign up for our Daily or Weekly Update

Learn more about how to support the U.S. Freeski & Snowboard Teams.

 

Second for Shiffrin in World Cup Finals Giant Slalom

By Courtney Harkins
March, 21 2021
Mikaela Shiffrin Lenzerheide Giant Slalom
Mikaela Shiffrin takes second in the last World Cup of the 2020-21 season. (Agence Zoom/Getty Images - Christophe Pallot)

Mikaela Shiffrin finished out the season with yet another podium, snagging second in the 2021 FIS World Cup Finals giant slalom in Lenzerheide, Switzerland and securing second place in the giant slalom standings. Nina O’Brien was 12th.

19-year-old Alice Robinson of New Zealand—who burst onto the scene in 2019-20 after winning the opening World Cup in Soelden—had struggled to find the podium in 2020-21 until the Jasna World Cup two weeks ago. And she reminded fans that she has returned to form, throwing down a blazing second run to take the win by .28 seconds ahead of Shiffrin. Meta Hrovat of Slovenia was third.

Shiffrin was leading after first run by only .10 seconds, and with the bumpy conditions, she lost a little bit of time to falter to second. But she was still thrilled with another podium to finish off the season. “It was a fight,” said Shiffrin. “Some of it I was having a little bit of trouble, but for the most part, I enjoyed my skiing again. It wasn’t quite enough to win, but it was some really good turns in both runs today. I feel like I have a really good direction with my GS skiing and that’s a really good spot to end the season.”

Nina O’Brien took 12th place with a fast second run to conclude a banner season full of personal best results and seven top-20s for the athlete. She was 17th overall in the giant slalom standings and ended up top-15 on the World Cup Start List.

Surprising only Shiffrin, who wasn’t aware of the standings until a media member reminded her, Shiffrin finished second overall in the giant slalom standings. Marta Bassino of Italy won the giant slalom crystal globe and Tessa Worley of France was third.

Sunday was Shiffrin’s 10th podium in a row, including World Championships. She also scored 10 podiums out of the 16 World Cups she entered throughout the season and won three of the races. At World Champs, she captured four medals. And she was second in both the slalom and giant slalom standings. Her results were particularly impressive, having gone 300 days between races after her father’s death in early 2020, which was difficult emotionally, and battling a COVID-ridden season, which made finding adequate training hard. “It’s been quite wild—a little bit beyond my hopes or dreams even,” she said. “There were a lot of moments I didn’t think we would do the season at all with the pandemic. I was also uncertain about myself personally. It’s quite incredible to be here now and have a good amount of success. It’s also a really big step to get back to this place to be fighting for the podiums in almost every race.”

The overall title was handed to Petra Vlhova of Slovakia. Swiss teammates Lara Gut-Behrami and Michelle Gisin were second and third, respectively. Shiffrin, who had only raced in technical events on the World Cup throughout the season, was fourth.

The men raced slalom Sunday, with Manuel Feller of Austria taking the win with a fast second run. Clement Noel of France was second and his teammate Alexis Pinturault rounded out the podium in third. 2021 World Junior slalom champion Ben Ritchie was the only Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete to start and was skiing fast—ranked in 14th place at the last split—before going out and DNFing. But keep an eye on Ritchie next season; he has been getting faster and faster each race.  

Marco Schwarz of Austria won the slalom crystal globe with Noel in second and Ramon Zenhaeusern of Switzerland in third. Pinturault won the overall globe, having clinched it on Saturday.

The race day marked the end of a strange 2020-21 season. What’s next for Shiffrin? “I’m going to go for some training!” she laughed. “I need a little bit of time to fix some things, but I’m ready to go for next season. I’m a little bit tired, but mostly I feel quite a bit of motivation.”

RESULTS
Women’s World Cup Finals giant slalom
Men’s World Cup Finals slalom

GIANT SLALOM STANDINGS
Women

SLALOM STANDINGS
Men

OVERALL STANDINGS
Women
Men

HOW TO WATCH
*All times EDT.

Sunday, March 21
1:30 p.m. FIS World Cup Finals Women’s Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBC

Monday, March 22
12:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Giant Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN
1:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN

 

Shiffrin Second in Lenzerheide GS

Shiffrin: A Few Good Turns

Gerard, Langland Second at Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Slopestyle

By Andrew Gauthier
March, 20 2021
Hailey and Red
U.S. Snowboard Teammates Red Gerard and Hailey Langland following their second-place performance at the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix slopestyle finals in Aspen, Colo. (U.S. Snowboard Team)

Red Gerard and Hailey Langland led the U.S. Snowboard team with a pair of second-place finishes in snowboard slopestyle at the 25th Anniversary Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix World Cup at Buttermilk in Aspen, Colo. 

It was all style and smiles for three-time X Games medalist Langland during the Grand Prix as she battled spring conditions, including a downward wind and slushy landings, in the first Beijing 2022 U.S. Olympic tryout event. 

While she is currently working through an elbow injury, Langland claimed center stage through three stylish and consistent runs. Langland increased her amplitude and technicality throughout the day by first styling a backside 540 then to a cab 720 by her final run. Austria’s Anna Gasser won, with Finland’s Enni Rukajarvi in third. U.S. Snowboard teammate Jamie Anderson ended the day in sixth and Julia Marino in eighth. 

“I had a rocky start out here in Aspen last week (at the World Championships),” said Langland. “But this is such a refresher because I came into this week with no expectations. It’s a huge surprise for me. All the girls are riding so well. I am so in love with snowboarding, and I want to keep learning new tricks.”

Olympic gold medalist Gerard came out on top for the U.S. men, securing an early podium towards Olympic team nomination heading into next season. Gerard shared the podium with Norway’s Marcus Kleveland in first and Canada’s Mark McMorris in third. Among the U.S. Snowboard Team athletes, Dusty Henricksen took fifth, and Judd Henkes landed in ninth.  

“To be honest, it was crazy going through qualifications, which is easily the most stressful process. You have 60 riders cut down to six in each heat. Once you make finals, it’s a bit of stress relief,” said Gerard. “It was really fun. And to get a podium and get an early start going into next season is really cool. I am really happy about it, just to get back into the contest rhythm after this crazy year.” 

Gerard came out firing the first run, landing his first switchback 1620 Weddle in competition. His first run proved to be to stand the test of time as Gerard battled springtime slush on the course throughout his remaining runs.

Henricksen, putting up a fight as well, gave an incredible showing against a stacked field with a consistent front 180 to switch back 360 in the rail section along with a cab double 1260 nose grab in his final run. Most notably during his third run, Henkes held on where he stomped a clean rail section and a final switchback 1440 Stalefish, although catching heelside resulting in a crash at the end of his last run. 

Tomorrow concludes competition at the 25th Anniversary of the Land Rover Grand Prix with freeski and snowboard halfpipe finals.

 

WATCH REPLAY ON PEACOCK

 

RESULTS
Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle
Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle
 

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST
 

Sunday, March 21
11:30 a.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Freeski Halfpipe - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock
3:00 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard Halfpipe - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Olympic Channel, Streaming Peacock

Monday, March 22
3:30 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Freeski Slopestyle - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
5:00 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard Slopestyle - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN

Tuesday, March 23
3:00 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Freeski Halfpipe - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
4:30 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard Halfpipe - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN

 

FOLLOW
Instagram - @ussnowboardteam
Instagram - @usfreeskiteam
Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard
 

 Interested in organization, athlete, and event related news?
Sign up for our Daily or Weekly Update

Learn more about how to support the U.S. Freeski & Snowboard Teams.
 

Stevenson First, Forehand Second at Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Slopestyle

By Jamie Wanzek
March, 20 2021
COlby mac
(left to right) Henrik Harlaut, Colby Stevenson, and Mac Forehand on the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix slopestyle podium in Aspen, Colo. (U.S. Freeski Team)

The U.S. Freeski Team dominated in the slopestyle finals on Saturday with Colby Stevenson taking the victory and Mac Forehand claiming second at the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix World Cup at Buttermilk in Aspen, Colo.

The Grand Prix 25th Anniversary served as the first Olympic tryout event for Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. With sunshine and spring conditions on full display, U.S. athletes battled it out to get one step closer to the U.S. Snowboard Olympic Team.

Two-time X Games Gold Medalist Colby Stevenson led the men throughout the day putting down his first and third runs. On his first run, Stevenson ran with a solid rail section including a right 270 to right 630 and back-to-back double corks into the finish. Stevenson improved on his third run with an aggressive rails section and massive third air. “To get the win and get one step closer to the Olympics, which obviously is one of my goals, is amazing,” said Stevenson. “So I am stoked.”

U.S. Freeski Team member Mac Forehand showed his perseverance while competing at the Grand Prix, continuing his momentum from a fourth-place finish at the Aspen 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships last week.  Forehand landed his first run complete with a strong rail section and a double cork 1440 Tail to Japan grab to close it out. His score held throughout the entire event to secure a spot on the podium.

“I am super happy. I had a pretty bad practice because I couldn’t put my run down,” said Forehand. “Just to be able to get up there, focus, and put my first run down took a lot of weight off my shoulders. Colby is just the king. He’s on top killing it every single year, so huge congrats to him.”

Sweden’s Henrik Harlaut found redemption following a difficult week at the World Championships, earning third place to round out the podium. 

Alex Hall, who claimed bronze at World Championships last week, also fought to the finish among a steep field of talent, ending the day in fifth place. Hall showcased consistent skiing throughout his three runs, including a stylish nose-butter in the rails and a double cork 1620 double seatbelt grab on the final air. Teammate Cody LaPlante finished the day in seventh.

Two-time Olympian and U.S. Freeski Team member Maggie Voisin, who just returned to competition after her second ACL surgery in two years, put on an impressive performance, finishing in a respectable fifth place. She put down runs full of effortless style including her signature rodeo on the final air. 

“More than anything, I am grateful to be back skiing,” said Voisin. “Having knee surgery in August and back-to-back knee surgeries the past few years has mentally been really tough. So I’ve worked really hard! All these girls out here are inspiring me to push myself. This is what I love to do and I couldn’t ask for anything better.” 

France’s Tess Ledeux took first, Great Britain's Kristy Muir second, and Russia’s Anastasia Tatalina earned third. U.S. Freeski Rookie Team members Marin Hamil and Rell Harwood finished in sixth and seventh respectively.

Tomorrow concludes the competition at the 25th Anniversary of the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix with freeski and snowboard halfpipe finals.

WATCH REPLAY ON PEACOCK

RESULTS
Men’s Freeski Slopestyle
Women’s Freeski Slopestyle 

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

Sunday, March 21
11:30 a.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Freeski Halfpipe - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock
3:00 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard Halfpipe - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Olympic Channel, Streaming Peacock

Monday, March 22
3:30 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Freeski Slopestyle - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
5:00 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard Slopestyle - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN

Tuesday, March 23
3:00 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Freeski Halfpipe - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
4:30 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard Halfpipe - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN

 

FOLLOW
Instagram - @ussnowboardteam
Instagram - @usfreeskiteam
Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard
 

 Interested in organization, athlete, and event-related news?
Sign up for our Daily or Weekly Update

Learn more about how to support the U.S. Freeski & Snowboard Teams.

 

Kearney Second in World Cup Finals; USA Wins Nations Cup

By Courtney Harkins
March, 20 2021
Hagen Kearney World Cup Finals
Hagen Kearney rode to second place in the FIS Snowboardcross World Cup Finals. (Photo from World Championships in Idre, Sweden - Getty Images/AFP/TT News Agency - Anders Wiklund)

On a gorgeous sunny day in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, Hagen Kearney finished in second place in the 2021 FIS Snowboardcross World Cup Finals to secure the Nation’s Cup for the U.S. Snowboard Team. Lindsey Jacobellis had her 100th World Cup start in her storied career, finishing in fifth.

Kearney rode cleanly throughout the day, but after taking second in the semis to push into the big finals, it was an all-out wild ride. There was action the whole way down with two crashes, and Kearney barely came out unscathed to take second. “I worked super hard and started off the season super strong and was able to finish it off in a great way—it can’t feel any better,” he said after the race. “I’ve had some deaths of some people pretty close to me—my sister passed away from a brain tumor in September and I felt her energy all season. And a friend in Telluride took her own life a few days ago and my community is hurting. I’d like to dedicate this podium to my sister and Hannah Smith from Telluride.”

Alessandro Haemmerle of Austria took the win to secure the overall title with Merlin Surget of France in third place.  

U.S. Snowboard Team athletes Alex Deibold and Jake Vedder qualified to the small final, where they finished sixth and seventh overall. Mick Dierdorff was ninth, Nick Baumgartner 13th and Senna Leith 17th.

Jacobellis and Stacy Gaskill led the U.S. women into the semifinals, but Jacobellis fell and Stacy finished third to land them both into the small final. While Jacobellis was disappointed to not be in a big final on her landmark day, the winningest snowboardcross rider of all time didn’t let that bother her and dominated the small final to take fifth place overall. Gaskill was seventh.

Jacobellis started racing as a teenager and the now 35-year-old snowboarder is the most decorated snowboardcross racer in the sport's history—boasting an Olympic silver medal, 10 X Games gold medals, five World Championship golds and 32 World Cup wins. She’s been dominating the World Cup circuit for more than 15 years, and making her 100th World Cup start is just another feat for her to add to her impressive trophy case.

“It’s pretty rad to see,” said Kearney of Jacobellis. “100 World Cups later and she’s still destroying people. I’m super proud of her and it really shows her passion for the sport. She’s a crusader and it’s cool to see her still at it. She would have liked to have been in the big final today, but she’s such a strong snowboarder and for this to be her triple-digit World Cup is an affirmation of that.”

Eva Samkova of the Czech Republic took the win on the women’s side to lock down the crystal globe, with Michela Moioli of Italy and Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain rounding out the podium in second and third. Americans Meghan Tierney and Faye Gulini made it to the quarterfinals, but did not qualify out of them and finished 13th. Gulini, having had her best season in her career with three podiums, finished third in the overall standings.

The results from the World Cup Finals also secured the U.S. Snowboard Team the Nation’s Cup—making USA the best snowboardcross team of the 2020-21 season. “Everybody is really excited about it,” said Head Coach Peter Foley. “It was a tough year, but I’m really glad we were able to win it. The athletes were super stoked about it. And I was stoked too, of course!”

Kearney echoed his coach’s sentiments. “We totally deserved it. Our team was insane this season,” he said. “A ton of our teammates getting podiums—it was awesome. Everybody is coming into their own. That was really cool. As long as I’ve been on the team, it’s the strongest we’ve looked going into any Olympic season. This is the new generation of boardercross.”

RESULTS
Women’s World Cup Finals snowboardcross
Men’s World Cup Finals snowboardcross

CUP STANDINGS
Men's snowboardcross
Women's snowboardcross

 

Shiffrin Second in World Cup Finals Slalom and Slalom Standings

By Courtney Harkins
March, 20 2021
Mikaela Shiffrin Lenzerheide Slalom
Mikaela Shiffrin finished second in Saturday's World Cup Finals slalom in Switzerland—her 105th career World Cup victory. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Alain Grosclaude)

At the 2021 FIS World Cup Finals slalom in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, Mikaela Shiffrin finished second—her 105th FIS World Cup podium—to secure second place in the overall slalom standings. Paula Moltzan also had an excellent day, skiing into seventh place in the race to take 11th overall in the standings.

The conditions were sloppy, with the heavy snow that canceled the speed events earlier in the week making the Swiss track difficult. With two nearly perfect runs, 2021 Slalom World Champion Katharina Liensberger of Austria took the win by more than a second over Shiffrin with Michelle Gisin of Switzerland in third.

Shiffrin’s result pushed her from third to second in the slalom standings, but Liensberger’s win secured her the women’s slalom title, vaulting her over Slovakian Petra Vlhova who won the title in the 2019-20 season. But Vlhova didn’t go home empty-handed, as her sixth-place finish in the race clinched her the overall crystal globe for the season, making her the first Slovakian to ever win the overall title.

Shiffrin was content with the race and season outcome, given the conditions and a difficult last year for her personally. “I think being able to get to this point and have any races at World Cup Finals, especially with really difficult weather this week is really lucky,” she said. “There’s a lot of things that went totally different this season and I had a lot of uncertainty personally. It’s been quite successful, even if it’s comparatively not as successful as other seasons. It’s a really good stepping stone for me. I’m trying to just take just the moments that are positive and move forward with that.”

Shiffrin was also quick to commend the 23-year-old Liensberger, who had an extraordinary season to land the designation of the world’s best slalom skier. “Her skiing is not only strong but also fearless,” said Shiffrin. “It’s quite impressive to see that. I knew it would have to be a really really perfect race for me to have a chance to overtake her in the globe fight, so it was just trying to find a good rhythm for myself today and there were definitely some good turns in there. She absolutely has just been consistent this season and building higher and higher and putting really impressive skiing out there.”

Moltzan completed her breakout year with yet another strong performance, finishing in seventh. It was the former NCAA champion’s second-best individual World Cup result, and also proved that she is one of the top skiers on the World Cup circuit—landing in 11th in the slalom standings.

"I'm extremely excited about how my season had ended," said Moltzan. "I had four really solid slalom results in a row, which is something I've been striving towards my whole career. To see it finally come to fruition is really awesome and exciting and really motivating. I can't wait for the next year already!"  

Alexis Pintaurant of France won the men's giant slalom, earning him the giant slalom globe and clinching the overall title on his 30th birthday. Croatian Filip Zubcic was second and Frenchman Matthieu Faivre third. Tommy Ford, who suffered from an injury after a horrific crash in Adelboden, Switzerland, qualified for World Cup Finals, ranked 10th in the world in giant slalom. River Radamus, who ended up ranked 28th in the world, just missed qualification for World Cup Finals (top 25 athletes in each discipline). 

There’s just one last race day in the World Cup season: a giant slalom on Sunday for the women and a slalom for the men. Shiffrin and Nina O’Brien will represent the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team.

RESULTS
Women’s World Cup Finals slalom

SLALOM STANDINGS
Women

GS STANDINGS
Men

OVERALL STANDINGS
Women
Men

HOW TO WATCH
*All times EDT.

Sunday, March 21
1:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Slalom - next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Giant Slalom, Run 1 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Streaming Peacock
5:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Slalom, Run 1 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Giant Slalom, Run 2 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast Olympic Channel & Streaming Peacock
8:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Slalom, Run 2 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast Olympic Channel & Streaming Peacock
1:30 p.m. FIS World Cup Finals Women’s Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBC

Monday, March 22
12:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Giant Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN
1:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN

 

Shiffrin 105th Podium in Lenzerheide

Americans Edged Out by Eventual Winner Norway in Team Event

By Megan Harrod
March, 19 2021
Team Event World Cup Finals
Finally, the sun came out at Lenzerheide, Switzerland, and FIS Ski World Cup Finals action kicked off with Friday's team event. Paula Moltzan (pictured), Nina O'Brien, River Radamus, and Ben Ritchie represented the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team. (Agence Zoom/Getty Images - Alain Grosclaude)

Finally, the sun came out at Lenzerheide, Switzerland, and FIS Ski World Cup Finals action kicked off with Friday's team event. Paula Moltzan, Nina O'Brien, River Radamus, and Ben Ritchie represented the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team. 

For a moment, it felt like Groundhog Day, as the U.S. was up against powerhouse Norway in the first heat—the same scenario the Americans faced at World Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Norway won by a small margin and eventually went on to win gold in Cortina. On Friday at Finals, the Americans took on Norway in the first heat, losing by a small margin yet again. Norway would move on not only to the 1/2 Final but eventually went on to win it all and snag yet another team event victory. Germany was second, while the Austrians rounded out the podium in third. The Americans ended up in seventh. 

Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team Alpine Director Jesse Hunt is optimistic about the future for the Americans in this event. ".05 away from knocking out the first-place team," he said. "We are closing in on a breakthrough in the team event."

Up next is the women's slalom and men's giant slalom on Saturday. Two-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion Mikaela Shiffrin and Paula Moltzan will be starting for the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team. Heading into Saturday's slalom, Shiffrin (575 points) is ranked third behind Slovakian rival Petra Vlhova (612) and Austrian Katharina Liensberger (590). 2017 NCAA slalom champion Moltzan is ranked 11th in the world coming into World Cup Finals on Saturday. 

Tommy Ford, who suffered from an injury after a horrific crash in Adelboden, Switzerland, qualified for World Cup Finals, ranked 10th in the world in giant slalom. Radamus, who ended up ranked 28th in the world, just missed qualification for World Cup Finals, which is the top 25 athletes in each discipline. 

It'll be a fight literally to the finish line for the small globes on Saturday, so make sure to tune in! 

RESULTS
Mixed team parallel

SLALOM STANDINGS
Women

GS STANDINGS
Men

OVERALL STANDINGS
Women
Men

HOW TO WATCH
*All times EDT.

Friday, March 19
9:00p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Team Event - same-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN

Saturday, March 20
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Giant Slalom, Run 1 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Streaming Peacock
5:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Slalom, Run 1 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Giant Slalom, Run 2 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast Olympic Channel & Streaming Peacock
8:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Slalom, Run 2 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast Olympic Channel & Streaming Peacock

Sunday, March 21
1:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Slalom - next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Giant Slalom, Run 1 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Streaming Peacock
5:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Slalom, Run 1 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Giant Slalom, Run 2 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast Olympic Channel & Streaming Peacock
8:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Slalom, Run 2 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast Olympic Channel & Streaming Peacock
1:30 p.m. FIS World Cup Finals Women’s Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBC

Monday, March 22
12:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Giant Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN
1:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN

Mother Nature Wreaks Havoc on World Cup Finals in Lenzerheide

By Megan Harrod
March, 18 2021
Travis Ganong
Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Travis Ganong was slated to be the sole American to compete in Thursday's cancelled super-G. (Getty Images - Alexander Hassenstein)

For the third-straight day, FIS Ski World Cup Finals action has been canceled due to weather at Lenzerheide, Switzerland. A day after the men's and women's downhill events were canceled, Thursday's men's and women's super-G was canceled due to heavy snowfall, wind, and fog. 

Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Travis Ganong was slated to be the lone competitor for the Americans. He ended up ranked 16th in the world in super-G for the 2020-21 season. Despite being sidelined since his crash in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Ryan Cochran-Siegle was the best-ranked American, in 10th. 

Austria's Vincent Kriechmayr locked up the super-G globe for the men, while Switzerland's Lara Gut earned the super-G globe for the women. Up next is the team event Friday. Paula Moltzan, Nina O'Brien, River Radamus, and Ben Ritchie will be competing for the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team.

OVERALL STANDINGS
Women
Men

SUPER-G STANDINGS
Women's super-G
Men's super-G

HOW TO WATCH
*All times EDT.

Friday, March 19
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Team Event - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast Olympic Channel & Streaming Peacock
9:00p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Team Event - same-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN

Saturday, March 20
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Giant Slalom, Run 1 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Streaming Peacock
5:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Slalom, Run 1 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Giant Slalom, Run 2 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast Olympic Channel & Streaming Peacock
8:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Slalom, Run 2 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast Olympic Channel & Streaming Peacock

Sunday, March 21
1:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Slalom, Run 1 -next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Giant Slalom, Run 1 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Streaming Peacock
5:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Slalom, Run 1 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Giant Slalom, Run 2 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast Olympic Channel & Streaming Peacock
8:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Slalom, Run 2 - LIVE, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast Olympic Channel & Streaming Peacock
1:30 p.m. FIS World Cup Finals Women’s Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBC

Monday, March 22
12:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Giant Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN
1:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN