Freestyle

Caldwell Takes Third at Deer Valley

by
USSA
2016-02-05 22:49
 

PARK CITY, UT (Feb. 5, 2016) – World Cup leader Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, VA) put down the only triple twisting triple flip in Friday night’s super final to land her ninth World Cup podium, finishing third at the Visa Freestyle International. Alex Bowen (Springville, NY) was the top U.S. men’s finisher in sixth.

China’s Xin Zhang took home top honors for the women with a score of 99.40. Australia’s Danielle Scott was second. On the men’s side, Petr Medulich put down a massive double full, full, full, scoring 128.05 to take the win. Oleksandr Abramenko of Ukraine was second and Naoya Tabara of Japan third.

With the majority of the women’s field competing doubles, Caldwell threw triples in both the qualification and final rounds. Her super final jump - a full, full, full - had the highest degree of difficulty of the night.

Ashley Caldwell competes her triple twisting triple flip at the Visa Freestyle International.

“I don’t like backing down and I like doing triple back flips,” stated Caldwell. “My last jump was sweet. I was flipping pretty fast and I had to stretch pretty hard in the second flip and just barely got my feet under me. I had a pretty deep landing which cost me the win.”

There is a level of strategy in aerials and while Caldwell may have posted a better score by going for a less difficult jump, she always hopes that the bigger risk will reap a bigger reward.

“[Competing triples] can be scary and challenging, but I love the reward and excitement,” said Caldwell. “I like challenging myself and the sport. I’m trying to increase my consistency with triples to decrease the risk and increase the reward. The more consistent I am the more likely I will be on the podium.”

Americans Kiley McKinnon (Madison, CT) and Jon Lillis (Rochester, NY) also made it to finals, but were unable to make it in to the top six for the super final. They finished eighth and 11th respectively.

The Visa Freestyle International concludes Saturday with men’s and women’s dual moguls under the lights on the infamous Champion mogul course.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Ashley Caldwell landed her ninth World Cup podium, finishing third at the Visa Freestyle International.
  • She was the only woman to perform a triple in the super final, laying down a full, full, full to earn the podium spot.
  • Alex Bowen competed a double full, full, full, landing the top U.S. men’s finish in sixth.
  • Kiley McKinnon was the next top U.S. women’s finisher in eighth. Avery Driscoll was 14th, Madison Olsen 17th, Elle Guadette 18th, Tyra Izor 19th and Morgan Northrop 21st.
  • Jon Lillis was the next top U.S. men’s finisher in 11th . Christopher Lillis was 13th, Harrison Smith 16th, Mac Bohonnon 19th, Nik Seeman 21st and Nicholas Novak 30th.

 

QUOTES

Ashley Caldwell
I don’t like backing down and I like doing triple back flips. My last jump was sweet. I was flipping pretty fast and I had to stretch pretty hard in the second flip and just barely got my feet under me. I had a pretty deep landing which cost me the win.

[Competing triples] can be scary and challenging, but I love the reward and excitement. I like challenging myself and the sport. I’m trying to increase my consistency with triples to decrease the risk and increase the reward. The more consistent I am the more likely I will be on the podium.

This weekend was very challenging. I was dealing with a shin injury the entire time. I crashed a lot. I hadn’t done triples since China. Mentally, physically, emotionally, it was all very challenging, but at the end of the day the adversity makes it fun. That’s why I do aerials.

Alex Bowen
I was a little forward on the double in and I finished a little later than I thought. I didn’t see the ground early enough and pulled in to the ground when I didn’t need to. But my qualification jump was really sweet, so I’m happy with that. The crowd was awesome tonight; my family was here, so it was a really fun week.

 

Alex Bowen stomps his final one jump to advance to the super final and a sixth place finish.

 

RESULTS
Women’s Results
Men’s Results

 

EVENT SCHEDULE (Times MST)

Saturday, Feb. 6
4:55 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Dual Moguls Qualifications
7:00 – Women’s and Men’s Dual Moguls Finals

 

LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE (Times EST)
Fans can watch the Visa Freestyle International in spectacular high definition via NBC Sports Live Extra online at NBCSports.com/LiveExtra, or through the Live Extra app on mobile, tablet and through the Apple TV or Roku connected TV devices.
Saturday, Feb. 6 – 8:50 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Dual Moguls Finals

 

TV SCHEDULE (Times EST)
Sunday, Feb. 7 – 4:00 p.m. – Moguls/Aerials – NBCSN
Sunday, Feb. 11 – 10:00 p.m. – Aerials – NBCSN
Sunday, Feb. 14 – 2:30 p.m. – Dual Moguls – NBC

 


 


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