This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)
After the first stop in New Zealand the FIS World Cup landed in the northern hemisphere for a spectacular show which impressed a big crowd of enthusiasts who came to Skipass, Modena, to celebrate the winter sports. This year the leading tourism and winter sports fair in Italy hosted one of the most prestigious international events and best snowboarders of the world.
Riders, freeskiers and supporters were welcomed by a massive jump, the biggest ever built in Italy, 46 meters high and 130 meters length. After the training on Thursday, the finals on Saturday and Sunday attracted thousand of enthusiasts from all over the world, who came to ModenaFiereto see the best freestyle athletes.
” The 25th edition ends with a positive outcome. With the Big Air World Cup, Skipass confirms his leading role in Italy in the winter sports sector”, states the ModenaFiere director, Paolo Fantuzzi, “Skipass 2018 hosted 90 thousand visitors, 140 international athletes, 2 live broadcasts on Rai Sport and disseminated the images of the event in 24 countries. The amazing competitions and the big crowd were the result of the commitment of ModenaFiere, of the International Ski Federation and the Italian Winter Sports Federation”.
Skipass Big Air – FIS World Cup – Snowboard
Directly from the Land of the Rising Sun, the two Japanese riders conquered the snowboard podium leaving the public astonished. The final format consisted in 3 jumps, best 2 different jumps counted. In the female category Reira Iwabuchi, only 16 years old, landed a Frontside 720 mute and Backside Double 1080 mute winning the highest spot of the podium. At the second place the Japanese Miyabi Onitsuka, who landed a Cab 900 stalefish e Backside 720 mute, and at the third place the Olympic medallist Anna Gasser with a Cab Underflip 900 mute and a Backside 720 tailgrab.
In the male category, the great battle was between the Japanese Takeru Otsuka, World Rookie Champion and the winner of the prestigious X Games Norway, and the American Chris Corning, FIS Overall World Champion. The two athletes left the big crowed amazed with spectacular tricks and their incredible riding level. However, it was Takeru Otsuka with a Cab Triple 1440 mute and a Frontside Triple 1440 mute who arrived first. Chris Corning concluded the competition with a Frontside Triple 1440 melon, a Backside Triple 1440 melon and a second place. At the third place the Finnish Kalle Jarviletho with a Backside Triple Cork 1440 melon and a Switch Back Triple 1440 mute.
Skipass Big Air – FIS World Cup – Freeski
The Freeski World Cup competition began with an entusiast crowd ready to be impressed by a unique show and see the high level of the athletes. Starting with the female category, the highest spot of the podium was won by the Swiss freeskier Mathilde Gremaud thanks to a performances with two perfect runs: Right Rodeo 9 safety and Switch Left 7 mute. Second place the SwissSarah Hoefflin, (Switch Left 7 safety e Switch Right 7 mute), third place the Austrian Lara Wolf (Left Cork 7 tail e Right Rodeo 7 safety).
In the male category, the Norwegian freeskier Birk Ruud earned the best score, 178.25, with a Left Double 14 tail to tail and a Switch Left Double 16 tail. Follow Alexander Hall with 177.50 (Switch Left Double 14 seatbelt/Cuban e Left Double 16 Cuban) and Andri Ragettli with 175.55 points (Left Triple 14 Indy Truck e Switch Left Double bio 16 safety). The best Italian athlete, the World Champion Silvia Bertagna, was not able to conquer a spot in the finals and came eighth in the ranking.
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