The Freeski and Freestyle Snowboard World Cup season kicks off in Chur at the now traditional Big Air festival this weekend
What is it?
Part Big Air World Cup contest, part music festival, all high-octane, the Chur Big Air World Cup opens the Freeski and Freestyle World Cup calendar for a third year in 2023.
When’s the action?
Held as night events, the Freeski competition gets everything started on Friday night (October 20), with the Freestyle Snowboarders in action on Saturday (October 21).
Who’s representing Britain?
Mia Brookes and Charlie Lane.
In Mia, Britain boasts a Slopestyle World Champion with serious claim to be the nation’s most exciting young athlete. The Chur World Cup sees Mia return to the site of her World Cup debut a year ago, during which time she has become one of the sport’s biggest names.
For Charlie (like Mia, a 16-year-old), Chur will mark a second ever World Cup appearance and a first in Big Air, the discipline in which he took a super European Youth Olympic Festival podium in January.
What’s our track record?
In 2021, Billy Cockrell, James Woods, Chris McCormick, and Katie Summerhayes lined up in GB Snowsport colours, with Summerhayes the pick of the performers taking 18th place in the Women’s Freeski.
Last season, Kirsty Muir scored Britain’s highest finish with seventh place in Freeski, with Chris McCormick finishing 28th in the Men’s competition. In the Freestyle Snowboard, Mia Brookes finished ninth on her World Cup debut with Maisie Hill just behind her in tenth spot. Billy Cockrell finished 38th in the Men’s Freestyle Snowboard.
What else is there to know?
Chur itself is the capital of the canton of Grisons, and by some accounts is Switzerland’s oldest town.
The Big Air ramp is the largest Freestyle ramp in Switzerland, and Tess Ledeux is its near-undisputed queen having taken victory in both the 2021 and 2022 Women’s Freeski competitions.
With two 16-year-olds in the field, Chur marks one of Britain’s youngest ever World Cup starting line-ups.
In four career appearances to date, Mia Brookes is yet to finish outside the top 10 in a World Cup competition.
Everyone at GB Snowsport was saddened to hear of the passing of Susie Berry OBE this week.
1 min
23 Oct 2024
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