Kenworthy Wins Slopestyle Olympic Qualifier

Olympic silver medalist Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, Colo.) put down a massive second run through the Aspen-Snowmass slopestyle course to take first place the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Olympic selection event, putting himself in the driver's seat to qualify for the 2018 Olympic Team.

Olympic bronze medalist Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) finished in second. Maggie Voisin (Whitefish, Mont.) took second for the women.

Goepper dominated the first run with a 93.60 score and laid down another clutch run on his second go-around. But Kenworthy dropped in on his second run with a fire burning underneath him, and put down big, clean tricks to score a 95.60 and take his first 2018 Olympic qualifying podium in slopestyle.

“I feel great today,” said Kenworthy happily in the finish after hugging his mother and father. “This season has actually been kind of tough for me, so this just feels good and gives me a lot of confidence and hopefully momentum going into Mammoth.”

Goepper would have clinched a spot in the Olympics with a first-place finish, so will have to wait until next week’s Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain to confirm his Olympic team spot. But he was still excited about the second place and lauded his teammate.

“Gus skied really well—he inspires me with his skiing,” said Goepper. “I’m feeling great sitting in a really good position to qualify for the Olympics and it’s on to Mammoth.”

Young gun Quinn Wolferman (Missoula, Mont.) showed that he’ll remain on the radar for the remainder of the Olympic qualifying season, taking fourth place. Willie Borm (Chaska, Minn.) was eighth and McRae Williams (Park City, Utah) was ninth.

In the women’s competition, Voisin followed up her second place in Saturday’s slopestyle with another second. She had clinched her Olympic nomination after Saturday’s podium.

“Like yesterday, it’s still unexplainable,” said Voisin humbly, who is being touted as a major medal threat in Korea next month. “I just wanted to put down the run I did yesterday, but make small improvements—grab a little better, go a little bigger. The second run I put down felt like I did just that, so I am so happy, grateful and loving skiing more than ever.”

Julia Krass (Hanover, N.H.) was just off the podium in fourth. Darian Stevens (Missoula, Mont.) was seventh and Caroline Claire (Edina, Minn.)

The final Olympic qualifiers go off this week at Mammoth Mountain, with the U.S. Olympic Team in freeski slopestyle and halfpipe named at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix next weekend.