Following the postponement of yesterday’s (Monday) freeski slopestyle competition due to strong winds, the Cardrona Games got underway today at Cardrona Alpine Resort with freeski and snowboard slopestyle. The UK’s James Woods just edged out New Zealand athlete Finn Bilous for the win in men’s freeski while Estonian athlete Kelly Sildaru was the convincing winner in women’s freeski.
Snow Sport NZ
The competitions are jointly sanctioned as FIS (International Ski Federation) Continental Cups, AFP (Association of Freeskiing Professionals) Silver level and World Snowboard Tour National level events and have attracted strong international fields. With the 2018 Olympic Winter Games fast approaching the Cardrona Games are an opportunity for competitors to earn FIS qualifying points.
Today’s competition format saw male freeski competitors compete across two qualifying heats, with the best score from two runs counting and the top four from each heat plus the next top four progressing to a 12-man final held at the end of the day. Female skiers competed in a straight finals format with three runs to put down their top score.
Male snowboarders competed in one heat this morning with the top 12 progressing to finals, which will take place tomorrow (Wednesday). Female snowboarders will also compete in a straight finals competition tomorrow.
