Four Americans top Ski Slopestyle podium at Junior Worlds

LAKE WANAKA, New Zealand (August 23, 2010) – The USA dominated today as Bobby Brown (19) and Jamie Crane-Mauzy (17) made history as the first freeski slopestyle world champions at the 2010 Junior Snowboard&Freestyle World Championships.

Brown, a two-time X Games gold medalist, led the day from the start, qualifying with a solid first run which featured a massive double cork 10 off a 70-foot 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 put him nine points ahead of the competition. However, that lead was closed on the second run by Gus Kenworthy (USA) but Brown 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.

“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.”

American Nicholas Keefer just missed the podium in fourth place followed by New Zealand’s Bryon Wells in fifth place.

On the women’s side, Crane-Mauzy qualified over 11 points ahead of her nearest rival, Blake Peterson (17), also of the U.S. In the finals. A fall in Crane-Mauzy’s 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 edge Canadian Keltie Hansen (18) by 0.4 and take the world title. Fellow American Devin Logan rounded out the podium with the bronze medal.

“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!”

Canadian Megan Gunning finished just off the podium in fourth place followed by Peterson in fifth.

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.

“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.”

Competition at the Freestyle Junior World Championships continues Wednesday with snowboard halfpipe finals.

For complete results and more information click here.

Image: Jamie Crane-Mauzy flies to a junior world championship in New Zealand. (Bel Jones)