Slopestyle finals

Saturday afternoon brought lightning blue skies, a 360° white mountain panorama, thousands of fans and winter sports enthusiasts, and a perfectly groomed slopestyle course is the impressive backdrop at Crap Sogn Gion above Laax, just right for the performances of the snowboard pros.

The twenty finalists show progressive runs at this first FIS Snowboard World Cup of the season. Tricks such as cab double 9 on the shark fins, back to back 1620s on kickers, backside 5 in the quarter – breathtaking, skywards, simply stylish.

US rider Julia Marino, who also won the LAAX OPEN in 2020, mastered the seven features best in the women's category. Annika Morgan from Germany came in second place, achieving her best World Cup result: “I just can't believe it! It was totally crazy for me today, as I was so nervous. It's unbelievable that it ended up being my best slopestyle result.” Anna Gasser, the two-time Olympic champion in Big Air, came third. None of the three are newcomers on the LAAX OPEN podium.

Yet the men’s podium did herald new arrivals: Canadian Liam Brearley receives the highest score of the day, 89.93 points, thus taking his first LAAX OPEN title and following in the big footsteps of his compatriots Mark McMorris, Seb Toutant and Max Parrot. Ryoma Kimata from Japan and Cameron Spalding (CAN) follow in second and third place. Highly-rated teenagers Kokomo Murase (JPN) and Mia Brookes (GBR) finish the LAAX OPEN 2024 in fifth and eighth place respectively.

Halfpipe finals

Over 15,000 spectators make their way to Crap Sogn Gion for the legendary halfpipe night final and celebrate the twenty finalists of the LAAX OPEN 2024 with roaring ovation. The 200-metre-long superpipe presents itself like royalty under floodlights, lined from top to bottom with enthusiastic fans. Who will be crowned the 2024 champion?

The Asian riders unleash a feast of rotations: 10er, 12er and 14er combos without end. The hero of the evening, once again following 2019 and 2020, Scotty James. With one of the most stylish halfpipe runs of all time, the Australian wowed the crowds and scored 94 points: “I am so stoked and really proud. Competition is tough; everyone is riding incredibly well and the margin for error is pretty much zero. Execution was really important tonight.

The young guys were ripping, keeping me on my toes and I’m excited to still be pushing.” Valentino Guseli (AUS), the next generation, landed in second place, making a world premiere with a frontside 1620 on the last hit. The LAAX crows celebrates him like a local.

Japan’s Ruka Hirano completes the podium in third place. In the women’s event, last year’s winner Mitsuki Ono from Japan won with 81.75 points, ahead of the young American Bea Kim and Ruki Tomita (JPN). Two-time Olympic champion Chloe Kim failed both runs and finished the LAAX OPEN 2024 in fourth place.

For more information visit https://open.laax.com/