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Posted on Monday August 23rd at 5:26 p.m.
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Bobby Brown led the day from the start, qualifying with a solid first run which featured a massive double cork 10 off the giant 70ft kicker. In the finals an almost flawless first run of a switch with 270 out into a cork 9 tail into a switch 900 mute grab, double cork 1080 finishing with a misty 450 out put him nine points in the lead. However, that lead was closed on the second run by Gus Kenworthy (USA) but he held onto the title with an impressive 45.1 score. Jonas Hunziker (16) of Switzerland skied up into third place, taking the final spot on the podium.
Men's Freestyle Junior World Champ Bobby Brown on the rail. Photo: Bel Jones
A Podium finish for Jonus Hunziker Photo: Bel Jones
Devin Logan Photo: Bel Jones
"It was a super fun day and it's awesome to be standing on the podium next to one of my best mates, Gus Kenworthy," said Brown. "The introduction of freeskiing into FIS is going to be interesting. It's great to have freeskiing at this event and it's a good way to excel our sport."
In the women's Jamie Crane-Mauzy qualified over 11 points ahead of her nearest rival, Blake Peterson (17), also of the States. In the finals a fall in her first run put her to the bottom of the table but her second run which featured a straight slide to back cross to 3 mute followed by a front flip truck finishing with a straight slide enabled her to just pip Keltie Hansen (18) to the post by 0.4 and take the world title. Fellow American, Devin Logan, rounded out the podium.
Jamie Crane Mauzy from the US takes out the Ski Slopestyle Junior World Championship Photo: Bel Jones
"My goal was to land my run - I knew if I could do that I would do OK," said Crane Mauzy. "It feels so good to be world champion!"
All three New Zealanders finished in the top 10 - Byron Wells (18) in fifth, Hamish McDougall (20) in seventh and Matt Johnson (19) in ninth.
Top Kiwi Byron Wells came in 5th. Photo: Bel Jones
Hamish McDougall second NZer in 7th place Photo: Bel Jones
A respectable 8th place for NZer Matt Johnson Photo: Bel Jones
Kiwi, Matt Johnson on the rail. Photo: Bel Jones
Dean Gosper of FIS said it was a great compliment to the event that there was such a high calibre of field and a broad cross section of athletes with the wider selection of events has attracted a very exciting field.
The Slopestyle Junior World Champ podium. L-R 2nd Keltie Hansen (CAN) & Gus Kenworthy (USA), 1st Place Jamie Crane-Mauzy (USA) & Bobby Brown (USA), 3rd place Jonas Hunziker (SUI) & Devin Logan (USA)
"NZ should feel complimented by the level of excitement within FIS about this event, he said. "FIS is very excited by New Zealand's initiative to not only to host the first world championships in the Southern Hemisphere but also the first combined discipline world championships. The integration of the two sports provides a wonderful opportunity in competitive snow sports. They can sit comfortably side by side with a high cultural overlap and there is also a good level of respect between the disciplines. We see the Junior World Championships as the beginning of a closer working relationship between the disciplines at all levels of FIS."
With regards to the possibility of snowboard and freeski slopestyle and freeski halfpipe entering the Olympics, Gosper commented, "There is a high level of interest from spectators and media so there's a strong pull from the outside for these events to come to the Olympics rather than an internal push from the sports. The fact that the terrain is complimentary to these disciplines is also a very attractive feature - they're exciting, contemporary and commercially attractive and can be delivered efficiently- these are very persuasive arguments to an organisation like the IOC."
The on-snow action continues with the snowboard halfpipe qualifiers at Cardrona Alpine Resort.
Click Here For Full Men's Results
Click Here for Full Women's Results
For More Information Visit the Junior World Championships