Snowboarding

Marino Knocks it Out of the Park

by
USSA
2016-02-11 22:40
 

BOSTON, MA (Feb. 11, 2016) – U.S. Snowboarding rookie Julia Marino (Westport, CT) topped the women’s field at the Polartec Big Air at Fenway on Thursday night in front of a stellar Boston crowd in one of America’s most iconic sports venues. Marino, a New England native, wasn’t originally even scheduled to compete - she snuck in off the alternate list when her teammate Ty Walker (Stowe, VT) was forced to drop after being injured in practice.

It was a groundbreaking event for the U.S. Grand Prix and the FIS Snowboard World Cup – a 140-foot-tall scaffolding big air event situated in the center of Boston’s Fenway Park. Never before has the U.S. Grand Prix featured a big air-only event, and never before has snowboarding been presented in such a historic American venue.

Marino, who hadn’t competed on a scaffolding jump or in front of such an enormous crowd before, said that she was feeling the vibe of the Fenway spectators. “I’ve never snowboarded at a contest with a crowd this big – it’s amazing!” she said. “I thought it would make me more nervous but it actually made it way more fun. Every time I landed a trick it was so cool to hear the whole crowd going wild. There were so many people here - I didn’t think that this many people would show up for a snowboarding event; it’s amazing to see all these awesome fans out here supporting what we do.”

The Canadian women rounded out the podium with top qualifier Jenna Blasman in second and Brooke Voigt in third.

Chas Guldemond (Reno, NV) led the U.S. men with a third-place podium finish. He was also pumped on the energy of the crowd, hyping everyone up with his best imitation of Babe Ruth.

“Fenway totally went off like we expected it to,” Guldemond said. “The crowd was really behind me which made my experience amazing and to land three runs and call my shot on the last one and send it to the bottom, that topped off my night.”  

The men’s event was won by Max Parrot of Canada, who was the only athlete to throw a triple cork. Fellow Canadian Michael Ciccarelli was second.

Chas
Charles Guldemond celebrates after his final run during Thursday night’s Polartec Big Air Fenway in Boston. (Getty Images-Maddie Meyer)

Rounding up the American women, Jessika Jenson (Rigby ID) was fifth and Karly Shorr (Milford, MI) was sixth. For the men, Eric Beauchemin (Grand Blanc, MI) seventh. Lyon Farrell (Haiku, HI) eighth, Sage Kotsenburg (Park City) 10th (DNS due to a fall in practice).

Up next at Fenway, the freeskiers will compete on Friday night.

EVENT SCHEDULE (times EST)

Friday, Feb. 12
8:00 p.m. - Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix big air finals

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Julia Marino won. It was her first U.S. Grand Prix and World Cup win. Her first run scored an 87.25 (Cab underflip switch indy) and her third run scored an 82.00 (Wildcat).
  • Chas Guldemond was third. His first run scored an 84.50 (Cab double cork 1260) and his third run scored an 85.50 (backside doublecork 1080).
  • The Polartec Big Air at Fenway is the first big air-only event ever featured on the Grand Prix tour.
  • Fenway Park, constructed in 1912, is one of the most iconic sporting venues on American soil. Home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team, Fenway is the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball.

 

QUOTES

Julia Marino
It was amazing. I can’t believe I was able to pull out my tricks like that. I was actually very nervous at the start of this contest. With the wind and the steep, icy drop in I was feeling a lot of nerves but I was so stoked to pull out my runs and I’m so happy.

I’ve never snowboarded at a contest with a crowd this big - it’s amazing! I thought it would make me more nervous but it actually made it way more fun. Every time I landed a trick it was so cool to hear the whole crowd going wild. There were so many people here - I didn’t think that this many people would show up for a snowboarding event. It’s amazing to see all these awesome fans out here supporting what we do.

Chas Guldemond
Tonight was amazing. It was frigid cold but we were able to put down our tricks. The event was pulled off with flying colors. Fenway totally went off like we expected it to, the crowd was really behind me which made my experience amazing and to land three runs and call my shot on the last one and send it to the bottom, that topped off my night.

Broadcast (times EST)

Friday, Feb. 12
8:30 p.m. - Freeskiing Big Air, Boston - NBCSN
Saturday, Feb. 13
5:00 p.m. – Freeskiing and Snowboarding Big Air, Boston - NBC
Friday, Feb. 19
7:00 p.m. – Freeskiing and Snowboarding Big Air, Boston – NBCSN
Sunday, Feb. 21
1:30 a.m. – Freeskiing Big Air, Boston – NBCSN

RESULTS
Women’s Big Air Results
Men’s Big Air Results

 


 


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