Freestyle skiing FIS World Cup 2024/25: Luca Harrington and Liu Mengting land maiden Big Air victories
New Zealand's Harrington led from start to finish in the men's competition with Liu being rewarded for her consistency in Klagenfurt, Austria on Saturday (4 January).
Freestyle Skiing
New Zealand’s Luca Harrington produced two sensational runs to claim his first World Cup freestyle skiing victory in the big air in Klagenfurt, Austria on Saturday (4 January).
The 20-year-old Harrington threw down the gauntlet on his first run with a switch right triple 1620 which earned him a score of 94.80.
Harrington was one of only three men to land scores above 90 on the first run, with Timothe Sivignon of France and Slovenia’s Matej Svancer breathing down his neck.
The Kiwi freeskier cemented his position at the top of the standings with a second-run score of 87.80.
“I don’t have words right now. I’ve been working really hard over the past few years,” Harrington told the FIS.
“To put down these two tricks and walk away with the win is just the most insane thing. It is the biggest dream come true and I am grateful.”
Sivignon edged closer to Harrington with the best score of 88.60 on the second run but he could not improve his score on the third. The Frenchmen had to be content with second place with a combined score of 180.40. Austria’s Matej Svancer rounded out the podium with a score of 175.40.
In the women’s competition, Liu Mengting of the People’s Republic of China claimed the first World Cup victory of her career in only five big air starts.
Liu was rewarded for her consistency with two 85-point scores for a combined winning total of 170.60.
Italian prodigy Flora Tabanelli took an early lead with a stunning score of 91 points after landing a left double cork 1260. But Tabanelli could not match her first run score and had to be content with second place (170.20 points). Germany’s Muriel Mohr rounded out the podium with a score of 166.20.
Klagenfurt, FIS Freeski Big Air World Cup 2024/25 results:
Men's
- Luca Harrington (NZL) 182.60
- Timothe Sivignon (FRA) 180.40
- Matej Svancer (AUT) 175.40
- Andri Ragettli (SUI) 171.20
- Fabian Boesch (SUI) 168.80
- Kuura Koivisto (FIN) 166.60
- Axel Burmansson (SWE) 162.60
- Ulrik Samnoey (NOR) 140.80
- Antoine Adelisse (FRA) 51.80
- Cody Laplante (USA) 45.00
Women's
- Liu Mengting (CHN) 170.60
- Flora Tabanelli (ITA) 170.20
- Muriel Mohr (GER) 166.20
- Anouk Andraska (SUI) 163.20
- Yang Ruyi (CHN) 162.20
- Xiong Wenhui (CHN) 152.80
- Sarah Hoefflin (SUI) 127.60
- Mathilde Gremaud (SUI) 106.60