It was highly memorable year for U.S. Freeskiing. New tricks, podium-topping performances and moments of personal triumph combined to make 2015 a year for the record books. Check out the top moments of 2015.
Anderson Cooper, Gus Kenworthy and Andy Cohen attend Elton John AIDS Foundation's 14th Annual An Enduring Vision Benefit at Cipriani Wall Street on November 2, 2015 in New York City. (Getty/ WireImage-Dimitrios Kambouris)
Gus Kenworthy comes out
In a poignant cover story in ESPN The Magazine, 24-year-old Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, CO) announced to the world that he is gay. Kenworthy is at the top of the freeskiing rankings in both halfpipe and slopestyle and many felt it was a move full of bravery to become the first known action sports athlete of his caliber to come out.
Maddie Bowman after winning the Winter X Games Ski Superpipe on January 22, 2015 in Aspen, Colorado. (Getty/Agency Zoom-Nathan Bilow)
Maddie Bowman wins third consecutive X Games gold
Olympic champion Maddie Bowman (South Lake Tahoe, CA) became the first female skier since the late Sarah Burke to win three consecutive Superpipe titles at the X Games. Bowman’s winning run at Aspen in January included 900s spun in both directions.
Gold medalist Nick Goepper during the men's ski slopestyle final at the Winter X Games on Friday, January 24, 2015. (Getty/Denver Post-Aaron Ontiveroz)
Nick Goepper wins third X Games medal
Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, IN) made it three out of four when he won X Games Aspen Slopestyle in January. With the win he became the first male skier since Tanner Hall to win three X Games skisSlopestyle medals.
McRae Williams, Joss Christensen and Gus Kenworthy sweep the podium at the Park City stop of the U.S. Grand Prix/FIS World Cup. (USSA)
U.S. men sweep the U.S. Grand Prix/FIS World Cup slopestyle
It was a red, white and blue sweep at the Park City stop of the U.S. Grand Prix/FIS World Cup where Joss Christensen (Park City, UT) scored the top of the slopestyle podium, followed by McRae Williams (Park City, UT) and Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, CO) in second and third respectively.
Gus Kenworthy destroyed the competition at the Park City stop of the U.S. Grand Prix with a run that included four double corks. (USSA)
Kenworthy lands historic halfpipe run
It was arguably the best halfpipe run of all time. Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, CO) destroyed the competition at the Park City stop of the U.S. Grand Prix with a run that included four double corks—the first time in history the feat was accomplished. Kenworthy’s 95.6-point run: Left double cork 1260 safety, right 1080 tail, switch double 1080 Japan, alley-oop double flat 900 Japan, double cork 1080 safety.
Bowman named among ESPN's Unstoppable Women of Action Sports
ESPN included U.S. skier Maddie Bowman (South Lake Tahoe, CA) on their list of the 20 Unstoppable Women of Action Sports. Bowman earned the sixth spot on the list after scoring her third-consecutive X Games gold medal in January.
Kenworthy, Logan, Williams and Wise win AFP World Titles
The Americans showed their worldwide domination on the AFP (Association of Freeskiing Professionals) tour in 2015. Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, CO) and Devin Logan (West Dover, VT) won the overall World Championship titles, while McRae Williams (Park City, UT) won the slopestyle title and David Wise (Reno, NV) won the halfpipe title.
