VALMALENCO, Italy (April 4, 2017) – The best junior moguls athletes kicked off their first day of competition at the FIS Freestyle Junior World Championships on Tuesday, with U.S. athletes Trudy Mickel (Durango,CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) and Jack Kariotis (Tiburon, CA; Team Park City United) sweeping gold. U.S. Ski Team athlete Olivia Giaccio (Redding,CT) was also on the podium with bronze.
Men's podium: Thomas Gerken Schofield, Jack Kariotis, Loke Nilsson
It was Kariotis’ first career Junior Worlds medal and win. He finished just off the podium at last year’s events. Great Britain’s Thomas Gerken Schofield took home the silver and Sweden’s Loke Nilsson the bronze. U.S. skiers Jesse Andringa (Boulder, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) and Abe Studler (Brant Lake, NY) also made it to the final rounds, finishing fifth and ninth.
Mickel, who has posted multiple top-10 finishes on the NorAm circuit this season, claimed her win with a score of 69.01. Russia’s Anastasia Smirnova was second. Giaccio’s bronze medal comes after an impressive World Cup season where she earned her first podium and the 2017 FIS Rookie of the Year award.
Women's podium: Anastasia Smirnova, Trudy Mickel, Olivia Giaccio
Junior Worlds competition continues on Wednesday, April 5 with men’s and women’s moguls.
