For the ski freestylers, World Cup points will be at stake for the first time in Stubai, Austria, starting on Friday. From a German perspective, Muriel Mohr hopes to continue her steep rise in slopestyle.
Spectacular tricks, back flips and brilliant jumps – when the ski freestylers compete in their first World Cup of the new season on Friday (from 12 p.m. in the Sportschau live stream), the spectators will also get their money’s worth again.
In three final runs, the athletes try to impress the jury with the greatest possible range and variability on the rails and features along the course. The best run in the final will be counted. The German Ski Association (DSV) is sending three athletes to the start: Muriel Mohr, Vincent Veile and David Zehntner. Aliah Eichinger was originally supposed to be there, but the 22-year-old did not take part in the qualification on Thursday.
Moor comes as freshly baked Junior World Champion
From the DSV’s perspective, the women’s hopes rest on Mohr. The 17-year-old is considered an outstanding talent. At the Freestyle World Championships last winter she reached the final, which could be seen as a great success. There she achieved eleventh place, the best German result in eight years. For the high school student from Aschheim, the main thing last season was to gain competition experience and compete with the greats in her sport.
At 17, Mohr is the youngest in the ski freestyle circus. She has competed in four World Cups so far. She already proved in August that she has what it takes and the nerve for the really big hit: she won gold at the Junior World Championships in New Zealand. But that’s not the only reason why the anticipation for the start of the World Cup is great. “We’ve been training here over the last few weeks, which means I know the course, I know the kickers“, Mohr looked ahead.
Ledeux favorite – Killi is missing
In Stubai, however, the role of favorite belongs to others. Tess Ledeux in particular should do everything she can to be at the top of the podium again after 2020. After a disappointing 27th place in 2021, she didn’t even start last year. This time the chances are much better. Especially because Norwegian Johanna Killi, the dominant driver from last season, is not there.
Ledeux’s biggest competitor is likely to be the reigning slopestyle Olympic champion Mathilde Gremaud from Switzerland. In addition, last year’s Stubai third-place finisher Grace Henderson (USA), Pyeongchang Olympic champion Sarah Höfflin (Switzerland) and Great Britain’s Kirsty Muir are among the contenders for the podium.
Ragettli challenges Ruud
On the other hand, the field of favorites among men is significantly thinner. This season everything boils down to a duel between last winter’s overall World Cup winner, Birk Ruud from Norway, and the Swiss Andri Ragettli. In Stubai, too, there has been no getting past the two high-class technicians in the recent past. While Ruud won the last two years, Ragettli won in 2020.
The latter could also come with a surprise. In the summer, the 25-year-old added a new trick to his repertoire: four turns around his own axis with crossed skis. Competition for Ragettli and Ruud comes primarily from the USA with Beijing Olympic champion Alex Hall and Mac Forehand.
Sportschau winter sports podcast, January 21, 2023 11:56 a.m
Zehntner makes a comeback
For David Zehnthner (Bayrischzell), the World Cup in Stubai also means the end of a long period of suffering. He had to take a year off due to a torn cruciate ligament. “For David it’s about taking part in contests at the highest level again and making a proper comeback“, said team manager Korbinian Resenberger. For Zehntner, the result was more like “secondary. Getting into the top 30 would definitely be a success“, said the 20-year-old.
Veile also missed the competition in Stubai last year due to injury. “I’m in good spirits, feel very, very good on the snow and hope to be able to do my tricks in training and in competition. I’m just really happy to be there.”
Bad weather: qualification brought forward
For the seventh time, the Slopestyle World Cup is taking place in the middle of the largest glacier ski area in the Alpine republic. However, it is still uncertain whether the schedule can be adhered to. Since bad weather is forecast for Friday and Saturday at the Stubai Glacier, the organizers have already decided to postpone the qualifications from Friday to Thursday. The final is scheduled to take place on Friday. If conditions with too much snow, wind or fog do not allow a start, Saturday will be considered for the finals.