VALMALENCO, Italy (April 7, 2017) — The FIS Junior World Ski Championships culminated Friday with skicross, where Mazie Hayden (Pittsfield, VT) was the top finisher for the American women, finishing 11th and Erik Sparkowski (Simsbury, CT) was best for the men in 13th. American skiers also were awarded the Marc Hodler trophy, having earned the most overall freestyle skiing points.
Hayden, 16, is blazing a path to a successful skicross career. She earned her first USASA national championship title at just 11 years old, and has won every USASA national title since.
Sweden took the top two spots for the ladies with Sandra Naeslund in first and Lisa Andersson in second. Canadian Alexa Velcic rounded out the podium in third.
It was a good showing for Sparkowski, who has been racing skicross for three seasons, working his way up through the Nor-Am Cup series. He started as an alpine skier, but moved to freestyle in his early teenage years.
Florian Wilmsmann took the win for Germany, Zach Belczyk of Canada was second and Sweden’s Erik Mobaerg was third.
The skicross results cemented the United States’ grasp on the Freestyle Skiing Marc Holder trophy—the overall award for the FIS Junior World Ski Championships, including results from slopestyle, halfpipe, moguls, aerials and skicross. The U.S. dominated, winning the trophy by 42 points. Russia was second and Sweden third.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Mazie Hayden was the top finisher for the American women in 11th.
- Erik Sparkowski was the top finisher for the American men in 13th.
- The American skiers claimed the Freestyle Skiing Marc Holder trophy.
RESULTS
Men’s Skicross
Women’s Skicross
Marc Hodler Trophy
