VALMALENCO, Italy (April 6, 2017) — U.S. junior freeskiers earned bronze medals in both the men’s and women’s FIS Freestyle Ski Junior World Championships slopestyle on Thursday, with Caroline Claire (Wilmington, VT) on the podium for the women and Ryan Stevenson (Washington, NJ) getting it done for the men.
It was an excellent finish to the 2017 season for Stevenson, who had great results on the Toyota U.S. Revolution Tour. The 17-year-old New Jersey skier took a first and a second-place finish at the dual-comp stop at Waterville Valley in January.
Claire, also 17 and a member of U.S. Freeskiing's The North Face Rookie Team slopestyle team, has been on fire in 2017. With her first World Cup podium—she was third at Seiser Alm—and four Toyota U.S. Revolution Tour podium appearances, including three wins, Claire will be a force to be reckoned with as she climbs the competitive ranks in the years to come.
Marin Hamill (Park City, UT) finished just off the podium in fourth for the women; Kiernan Fagan (Brownfield, ME) was eighth for the men; Nikita Rubocki (Boise, ID) was 11th for women; Rell Harwood (Park City, UT) was 13th for women; Cody LaPlante (Truckee, CA) was 33rd for men; Hunter Henderson (Madbury, NH) was 39th for men.
Thursday’s results put the United States firmly in the lead for the Freestyle Skiing Marc Holder trophy—the overall award for the FIS Junior World Ski Championships. The trophy will be awarded to the top country following Friday’s skicross competition.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Ryan Stevenson earned bronze for the men. His second run scored 87.66.
- Caroline Claire earned bronze for the women. Her first run scored 89.33.
- USA leads the Freestyle Skiing Marc Hodler trophy by 59 points. The trophy will be awarded following Friday’s skicross competition.
RESULTS
Men’s Slopestyle
Women’s Slopestyle
Marc Hodler Trophy Standings
