FIS Freeski World Cup Stubai – Slopestyle double for Sildaru at Stubai Freeski World Cup as Ruud rules in the men‘s

Last updated on 20.11.2021

In excellent weather conditions and in the perfectly prepared Snowpark Stubai Zoo on the Stubai Glacier, 24 of the world’s best freeskiers dug deep into their bag of tricks in the battle for the first slopestyle points of the World Cup season, but also the last tickets for the Olympics. Although there was no podium for the Austrian team, the hosts can be happy about two absolute top placements with an eighth and a 14th place for Laura Wallner and Matej Svancer. In the women’s event, Estonian Kelly Sildaru finally got her Stubai double with gold, winning ahead of Sarah Hoefflin (SUI) and Johanne Killi (NOR). It was Birk Ruud (NOR) in a thrilling men’s showdown who took the win, flanked by Canadian Max Moffatt and his compatriot Ferdinand Dahl (NOR).

Exceptional Estonian talent wins double on the Stubai Glacier

Finally, it worked out with the double for the “wunderkind” from Estonia: In qualification only defeated by Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud, who got injured in the second final run, the 19-year-old Kelly Sildaru seemed unstoppable despite a broken thumb. After the Estonian hurt herself in last year’s warm up before the final, she once again affirmed how much the Stubai snow suits her after victory in 2018. With two near-perfect runs, she left the competition behind in a thrilling final – in addition to the best kicker performances, it was also the absolutely impressive rail lines that put her first spot with an eight-point advantage over the runner-up.

Kelly Sildaru from Estonia crowned herself best freeskier of Stubai three years after her first victory on the Stubai Glacier.

„I’m super stoked. The last two years haven’t been easy for me, I haven’t been competing too much. So I’m happy to be back here and even competing with a broken thumb or hand, so I’m more than just happy! Last year I got heart during the warm-up before the finals, so I was quite pissed because I always like the course here in Stubai. So I’m happy to be here today and I won it.“ (Kelly Sildaru, EST)

Norwegian Birk Ruud reins in gripping final

In a final that left everything open until the very end, it was the strong all-rounder Birk Ruud who triumphed in the end. With an almost flawless first run, the Norwegian deservedly took the title on the Stubai Glacier, despite a fall in the second attempt. The 21-year-old collected an important 87.6-point lead with a perfect kicker line in the first run. Hence, the 2-time Big Air X-Games and World Cup winner also proved his class in Slopestyle.

Birk Ruud from Norway could win his second slopestyle competition of his young career on the Stubai Glacier.

“It feels amazing. I am very happy with my skiing. Finally, my second win in the Slopestyle, it feels really good, and I’m stoked for all the boys, they killed it up there. The weather’s been perfect here in Stubai all days long. I might be on cloud nine with this second podium of the season, but I try to stay grounded; that’s very important and there’s always the next competition coming up. So now I’ll celebrate this one and then it’s over to the next one, but I’m super happy and want to thank my team. Much love!”  (Birk Ruud, NOR)

More information at www.stubaiworldcup.com

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