SNOWBOARD BIG AIR. Anna Gasser (AUT) and Chris Corning (USA) have prevailed in the 2017-18 FIS Big Air World Cup season's opener which took place in Milan, Italy tonight at the Big Air and the City fest which once again attracted a massive crowd to the EXPerience Park.

And with the spectators going crazy like last year when Milan finally returned the World Cup calendar after a break of ten years, the spectators went crazy while the riders opened up an huge bag of tricks to please the Milan fanbase.

Right next to the iconic Tree of Life, the symbol of the 2015 World Expo site, Gasser was once again the one female shredder to shine like last year.

While the 26-year-old had a slow start to the finals bailing on her signature trick, the reigning world champion was able to pull off her cab double under flip mute in her second run.

Adding another stylish and slightly inverted backside 720 mute in her final run, Gasser repeated her 2016 Milan triumph with a total score of 160.25.

“I am so happy of this success, especially as things didn’t go that well yesterday and even today in the morning. The atmosphere in Milan is amazing, I love competing here, and I can’t wait to return year after year", Gasser stated.

By bringing home her career's sixth World Cup win she edged off Katie Ormerod (GBR; 143.25), who landed a cab 900 mute and also a backside 720 mute, to the second rank.

Sina Candrian (SUI) who had earned a 130.25 for her frontside 720 melon and switch backside 540 rounded out the podium in third with top qualifier Silje Norendal (NOR; 125.50) forced to settle with fourth.

Over in the men's event, Corning dominated the flight show in Milan in style.

The 2016 Slopestyle World Cup title winner had it all wowing the judges and fans alike with his difficulty, execution, amplitude and landings skills, the four keys to success in this three run, best two different combined count final.

The 18-year-old threw down a massive frontside 1440 melon and a backside triple cork 1440 melon earning an impressive score of 182.75.

He therefore led an US podium sweep with Redmond Gerard in second (163.00) and best qualifier Kyle Mack in third (161.50).

“It was a lot of fun", said Corning. "To step on the podium with two teammates was an amazing feeling, it couldn’t get any better. It was quite a way to start the Olympic year.”

It was a strong showing of the US boys in the first of four Big Air World Cup stops before this event will celebrate its Olympic debut at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Gerard, only 17 years of age but already decorated with a Slopestyle World Cup win stomped a backside triple cork 1440 mute as well as frontside 1260 frontside grab while Mack compensated his lack of pop with some stylish grabs.

The two-time bronze medallist of the 2015 FIS Snowboard World Championships spiced up his backside triple cork 1440 with a japan grab and gave his frontside 1080 a special look by adding the bloody dracula grab.

The World Cup tour will continue in Beijing, China with the Air+Style making its debut on the World Cup calender on November 24 and 25, 2017.

FIS snowboard news
11 November 2017 22:09