VALMALENCO, Italy (April 2, 2015) – On the ninth and final day of 2015 FIS Junior World Ski Championships competition, Tyler Wallasch (Acton, CA) stole the show earning his first Junior World’s skicross title in a heated race.
Gold medal favorite, Canadian Kristof Mahler, was leading the pack on the final heat with Wallasch looking to pass. In the final seconds of the race, Mahler made a major mistake, which allowing Wallasch and the rest of the field to get by him. Wallasch skied to the biggest victory of his career, followed by Tim Hronek of Germany in second and Russian skier Artem Kostenko in third.
Behind Wallasch, Michael Hayes (Beverly, MA) finished 28th and Russell Malm (Mammoth Mountain, CA) was 48th. On the women’s side, Canadian India Sherret took the win, while Daniela Maier of Germany was second and Alexandra Edebo of Sweden was third. Whitney Gardner (Stateline, NV) was the top American female finisher in 11th with Michael Gardner (Stateline, NV) in 19th and Abigail Zagnoli (Kingfield, ME) 23rd.
Wallasch’s win brings the tally of U.S. medals at the Junior World Championships to five, with the others earned by Birk Irving (Winter Park, CO), Caroline Claire (Wilmington, VT), Jake Mageau (Bend, OR) and Anna Gorham (Bend, OR) in slopestyle and halfpipe. The five medals won the Americans the 2015 Marc Hodler trophy for the standout nation of Junior Worlds.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Tyler Wallasch won the gold in the Junior World Championships skicross.
- Wallasch’s medal meant the U.S. skiers brought home five Junior World Championships medal.
- The American skiers also won the 2015 Marc Hodler trophy for the standout nation at the event.
RESULTS
Men’s Results
Women’s Results
