Joss Christensen put on a display Friday as he defended his “playground,” taking the top podium spot in men’s ski slopestyle at the 2015 U.S. Park City Grand Prix for the second year in a row.
In a best of three run format, Christensen was the top qualifier, allowing him to run last. After falling on his first two runs, Christensen put down the biggest score of the day, leading the way to a USA podium sweep with Park City All Stars teammate McRae Williams placing second and Gus Kenworthy third.
“Coming into my final run, all I could think about was landing a run,” said Christensen. “I usually don’t fall two out of my three runs in a format like this competition. I have a safety run that I use, but I couldn’t even get that run down so I went for it all. I was last to go and I figured I had nothing to lose.”
Mother Nature added an extra layer of difficulty to an already technical course. The conditions changed from heavy snow to blue bird skies over the duration of the competition, forcing riders to constantly change their approach to the course.
“As the sun started to come out I felt that I needed to go ski some quick laps to get refocused,” Christensen said. “I try to not to watch the competition, I just want to stay in my zone and I wanted to go see how the snow had changed with the sun, so I went and skied some personal laps until it was my time in the lineup.
With the back-to-back win by Christensen, a Park City Mountain Resort athlete has won the Park City Grand Prix three times in a row. (Christensen 2015, Christensen 2014 event No. 2, Alex Schlopy 2014 event No. 1.)
“This is our home resort, I’ve been riding with McRae (Williams) since we were 12 years old,” said Christensen. “This is the exact run that we learned our tricks on, plus having the hometown advantage always helps. Being on the podium with my childhood friend and teammate, plus to lead the way to a USA sweep is unbelievable. What a day, what a very fun day.”
The second-place finish by Williams is his first career podium finish in a Grand Prix. Williams, who is in his second season with the Park City All Stars, has the resume to be a podium threat, winning a gold at the 2013 Winter X Games, but he had struggled getting to the podium at the Grand Prix until Friday.
“I wanted to go out and set the momentum for the event,” said Williams. “We all had a tough first run with the conditions constantly changing on us, and I just wanted to get the ball rolling. It means the world to me to be on this podium and to share it with Joss. He has been riding so well, and it’s an honor to share the podium with him.”
Emma Dahlstrom (SWE) continued her reign at the top of the podium, winning the 2015 U.S Park City Grand Prix Women’s Ski Slopestyle. After taking the gold at the 2015 Winter X Games in Aspen, and winning the Grand Prix, Dahlstrom secured the top FIS (International Ski Federation) ranking for 2015 as well as the overall Grand Prix champion.
“It feels so amazing to win, and to be the top female skier in the FIS ranking is just a wonderful feeling,” said Dahlstrom. “There was some great riding from the ladies today, so to be able to come away with the win means a lot to me.”
Park City transplant Devin Logan (USA) came in second, and with her second-place finish was named the overall U.S. female champion of the year.
“It means so much to me to be the U.S. female champion of the year,” said Logan. “Coming off of last year after winning the silver in Sochi, I wanted to come back this year and keep the fun and momentum going. So to take second today I am stoked. I moved to Park City four years ago, and it is so great to come home and ski well.”
Tiril Sjaastad Christiansen finished out the podium in third.
In men’s snowboard slopestyle, Eric Willett led for the other USA podium sweep of the day. Joining Willett on the podium in second place was Charles Guldemond, with Eric Beauchemin in third.
“Being able to lead the sweep is insane,” said Willett. “The quality of the international riding is so strong, so to have a USA sweep and to do it with my friends here in the USA, here in Park City, makes this so special. It came down to my last run, and Chas (Guldemond) was riding so well, I was feeling the pressure, so I just went for it, and it worked out well for me.”
With the third-place finish, Beauchemin was named overall Grand Prix champion as well as the male U.S. snowboarding champion of the year.
“I was just out there having fun, that’s when you ride your best,” said Beauchemin. “I have been working really hard this year, and its finally paying off.”
In the women’s snowboard slopestyle competition, Cheryl Maas (NED) placed first with Karly Shorr (USA) in second, with Elena Koenz (SUI) in third.