Eileen Gu and Matej Svancer pulled off remarkable routines to claim Big Air World Cup golds

BySportsbeat

Published 05/12/2021 at 14:48 GMT

Stylish routines from the teenage duo thrill Colorado crowds. Eileen Gu, who scooped World Championship and X-Games bronze last year, was competing at her maiden World Cup event and wowed the Colorado crowd from the outset. The mens event saw 17-year-old Svancer reign supreme as he nailed a new routine in style.

Eileen Gu

Image credit: Getty Images

Eileen Gu and Matej Svancer pulled off remarkable routines to claim Big Air World Cup golds at the Steamboat Resort.

After a left double 1080 safety to Japan grab on her first run, the 18-year-old soared into the lead on her second run with a right double 1260 safety grab.

With none of the chasing pack able to overhaul her on the final run, Gu was left with essentially a victory lap and used it to break new ground.

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She put down a right double cork 1440, becoming the first woman ever to land the trick in any freestyle skiing competition in the process, and ended with a score of 184.25 out of a possible 200.

"I made that decision (to do the double cork 1440) probably after I landed my second run," she said.

"I had a super good early season camp out in Europe where I learned the 1440, did the worlds first, and I had landed it enough that I felt comfortable to do it today.

"The boys were so inspiring out here throwing absolutely insane tricks, so I really wanted to represent the women as well and kind of step it up to the next level."

France's Tess Ledeux, who won October's opening Big Air event of the season in Chur, was second with Norway's Johanna Killi completing the podium.

In his second run, Svancer succeeded with a left nosebutter triple cork 1980 safety - a move he had never attempted before - and a score of 188.50 was enough for his second consecutive Big Air World Cup win.

"I'm kinda having fun out there," the Austrian said.

"It was kind of sketchy to try it today because I didn't know if I was going to stick it or not, so I was nervous, but I had fun.

"I don't really think about winning too much. I'm mostly just thinking about the trick I want to stomp."

The USA's Alex Hall and France's Antoine Adelisse took silver and bronze respectively.

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