Freeskiing

Kenworthy Wins Inaugural Air+Style

by
USSA
2015-02-23 11:20
 

Pasadena, CA (Feb. 22, 2015) – On a rainy, windy day outside the Rose Bowl Stadium, Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, CO) made freeskiing history, taking the win in the inaugural Air+Style stop in Los Angeles, CA. Historically only a snowboarding event, the LA stop of Air+Style was the first time skiers were invited to participate in the big air competition. It was also the first time the event has been held in North America.

Kenworthy landed a double cork 1080 and a double cork 1440 in the first qualification round but persistent rain showers deteriorated the jump rendering it unsafe for finals. An official decision was made to cancel the finals competition and to take the results from round one. Kenworthy bested Canadians Alex Bellemare and Vincent Gagnier. X Games bronze medalist Bobby Brown (Denver, CO) and Olympic gold medalist Joss Christensen (Park City, UT) earned sixth and seventh.


Canadians Alex Bellamare and Vincent Gagnier joined Kenworthy on the podium at the inaugural skiing Air+Style competition. (Shay Williams)

“I just tried to lay my first jump down, something kind of mellow, a dub 10, and just go a little bit big,” said Kenworthy. “Then I did a dub 14 on my second jump that I was really stoked on and got a big score for that. That’s kind of what sealed the top qualifying spot for me. I would have loved to do the final, but I’m stoked to take the win anyway.”

The big air set up at Air+Style includes a 70-foot big air jump and a 16-story tall ramp. It took three days to prepare and cover the jump with snow. In addition to the massive jump and impressive roster of international skiers, Air+Style features a variety of musical acts. The LA stop hosted 18 bands over two days.

“Air + Style is, without a doubt, one of the coolest events I’ve ever been to,” raved Kenworthy. “It has been an event that I’ve looked at and watched for a lot of years and it’s been a really good event for snowboarding, so it’s just an honor to be included in that. I hope that we gave them a good enough show to be invited to other spots and be a part of the whole tour.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Gus Kenworthy took home the win at the inaugural Air+Style big air skiing competition at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, CA.
  • This was Kenworthy’s third podium of the 2015 season.
  • X Games bronze medalist Bobby Brown and Olympic gold medalist Joss Christensen earned sixth and seventh.
  • This is the first time Air+Style hosted an event in North American. It was also the first time skiers were invited to compete.
  • Over 30,000 people attended the 2015 Air+Style Los Angeles.

 

Results
Snowboard Big Air Results
Ski Big Air Results

 

QUOTES

Gus Kenworthy, First Place, Air+Style Los Angeles
I would have loved to do the final. I had a couple of tricks I was excited to do in the final that I wasn’t really able to do in the qualifying. So it’s a bit of a bummer. But it worked out great for me. I obviously don’t want to compete if it’s dangerous for us. They said the landing might slide, so I guess it all worked out. I think we all knew going into it that this was a possibility. They told us that it would be, so we tried to treat the qualifiers as a final. It would have been great to put on a show for the crowd, but I’m stoked to take the win anyway.

I just tried to lay my first jump down, something kind of mellow, a dub 10, and just go a little bit big. Then I did a dub 14 on my second jump that I was really stoked on and got a big score for that. That’s kind of what sealed the top qualifying spot for me.

Air + Style is, without a doubt, one of the coolest events I’ve ever been to. The athlete hospitality has been incredible. The music has been insane. The snowboarding event was sick for us to watch. It’s been the coolest thing ever just to hang out here and get to ski. Air + Style has been an event that I’ve looked at and watched for a lot of years and it’s been a really good event for snowboarding, so it’s just an honor to be included in that. I hope that we gave them a good enough show to be invited to other spots and be a part of the whole tour.

 


 


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