[OLYMPICS] Men's Snowboard Slopestyle Qualifiers See 3 Team USA Riders Advance to Finals - SnowBrains

"Team USA riders had a solid day overall, with three of the four American riders moving on to the final. 17-year-old Oliver Martin, who finished fourth overall in big air earlier in the games, finished his qualifying round in sixth place to secure his spot in the final. 2018 Olympic gold medalist Red Gerard also put down an incredible run, getting himself into the final."

"Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris also qualified for the final just days after a scary crash that left him unable to compete in big air. Despite being cleared to compete just two days before the competition, McMorris came out swinging, landing his first run and finding himself high on the leaderboard. He would go on to finish the round in third. McMorris is hoping to win his first Olympic gold after having won bronze in slopestyle in 2014, 2018, and 2022."

"The top rider of the day was New Zealander Dane Menzies, who earned a score of 86.02 on his very first run of the day. He started his run with a backside boardslide same-way 270 and capped it off with an impressive backside 1620 (four and a half rotations). This is the 20-year-old's first Olympic appearance, and he will be fighting for a spot on the podium in the final."

Men's snowboard slopestyle qualification took place in Livigno, Italy, on Sunday, February 15 after being moved up ahead of incoming weather. Twenty-nine riders contested the course with the top twelve advancing to the Olympic final. Team USA advanced three of four riders: Oliver Martin qualified sixth, Red Gerard advanced, and Jake Canter placed tenth; Sean Fitzsimons did not reach the final. Mark McMorris returned from a recent crash, landed his first run, and finished third. Dane Menzies posted the day’s top score of 86.02 with a backside boardslide same-way 270 and a backside 1620.

Read at SnowBrains