Americans Sweep Snowboard Podium at Freeride Junior World Champs
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Kappl's Quellspitze venue was not for the faint of heart. FWT photo.
The best young freeride skiers and snowboarders were crowned this weekend in Kappl, Austria at the Freeride Junior World Championships. As part of the Freeride World Tour, the Junior World Championships give 60 young riders a chance to show what they are made of in some of the biggest competition faces in the world, like Kappl’s Quellspitze venue.
Three young American snowboarders, Jesse Aves, Holden Samuels and Andrew Kraatz swept the men’s podium with textbook runs that belied their age. Stoked after his winning run, Jesse Aves told the crowd, “I’m so excited to win, it was such a good feeling coming down and landing my entire run!”
The kids put on quite the show, impressive even to seasoned FWT judges. FWT photo.
Italy’s Jazmine Erta took the win in women’s snowboard, even after a last-minute line change. The women’s ski title was nabbed by Switzerland’s Marie Bovard, with a huge and highly consequential air near the top of the venue. Finally, fellow Swiss Dylan Lavenex won men’s ski with loads of creative transfer airs and a massive 360 mid-line.
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FWT athlete and event commentator Connor Pelton called Lavenex’s run “line of the day.”
Watch here for the full replay:
