Edmonton saw the world’s best snowboarders this past weekend at Canada’s first-ever Snowboard FIS World Cup Big Air Event. The event featured a 15-story high drop-in, the largest indoor scaffolding jump in the world.
The Style Experience was the first stop of seven on the North American 2022/2023 FIS world cup season and the only in-stadium event in Canada. Over 14 thousand Edmontonians attended the event.
“This is the first time this event has been done in a stadium anywhere in the world. We really had no idea what to expect, but it looks like Edmontonians are turning out in spades for this,” said Brenden Matthews, director of business operations for Canada Snowboard.
Over 90 snowboarders competed in hopes of making it to the semifinals, where 12 women and 18 men remained. The athletes each took three runs down the massive ramp to be scored by a panel of international judges. The winners receive ranking points for the Big Air World Cup Tour, along with a trophy and cash prizes.
“In the future, it will become a qualifying event for the Olympics,” said Matthews.
Canada snowboarder Jasmine Baird won gold in her first World Cup, making it her sixth time on the World Cup Podium. She landed her first jump of the night with an underflip 900. On her second run, she hit a large backside 720 weddle, which secured her a score of 158.50, with only a two-jump run.
Baird went into the final run of the evening with final-drop honours after none of her competitors could reach her score. She did another backside 720, doing the first victory lap of her career. She secured the gold with a final score of 159.50.
FIS World Cup Women’s Medals by Lenna Stevens“This honestly means so much to me. First World Cup win, and to do it in Canada, with my dad here watching…this is the first time he’s ever seen me ride in person at a World Cup and I’m just so hyped that he was here for this one. To be here, with this crowd, in Canada, I’m so hyped. This is such a sick night,” said Jasmine Baird after her win.
The men’s event saw Canadian Nicolas Laframboise earn his first World Cup medal of the season. On his first run, he landed a frontside triple cork 1440 weddle. While his second saw a backside triple cork 1620 weddle. His two-jump combined score of 168.00 won the bronze medal for the final.
FIS World Cup Men’s Medals by Lenna StevensThe FIS Big Air Snowboard World Cup will make continue its season at its next stop next week in Copper Mountain, USA.
