2021/22 Freeski & Snowboard World Cup Season Wraps Up Successfully At World Cup Corvatsch In Silvaplana

The global freestyle community gathered from March 24 – 27, 2022 in Graubünden for the FIS Freeski & Snowboard World Cup Corvatsch in Silvaplana, the final event of this Olympic winter season. Once again, the Engadine was host of the World Cup finals for the best freestylers in the world. The action went down at Corvatsch Park, where 160 riders from 23 nations and all 5 continents dropped into the Slopestyle course. It was all about event titles, a total prizemoney of CHF 100.000, FIS crystal globes and a lot of good vibes all week long. The perfect end of an intense World Cup season.

The outstanding setup and event organization for freeskiers and snowboarders at Corvatsch Park in Silvaplana confirmed once more why Engadine is hosting the Freestyle Worldchampionships, this prestigious major event, in 2025. Before, freestylers will return in 2023 for the 10th anniversary edition of the World Cup.

CORVATSCH PARK – FOR MANY THE BEST SLOPESTYLE COURSE OF THE SEASON

Freeskiers are familiar with the quality the park crew around Kobi Würsch delivers year after year, as they came here for the 9th time. Snowboarders, back in Silvaplana for the second time, were likewise impressed with the course, which they nearly universally praised as one of the best courses of the season. It kicked off with a multifaceted top rail section leading to back-to-back quarterpipe features, followed by the kicker-line with 3 jumps and the final feature with another set of rails at the bottom. Indeed challenging, but fun to ride. Perfect conditions under bluebird skies all week long contributed to a great atmosphere at the event. This season was a long and tough one for the riders, to finish it like this in Silvaplana was good for everyone’s moods. US-snowboarder Dusty Henrickson summed up his time at Corvatsch like this: “Best ever!”

FREESKI FINAL – RUUD COMES FROM ANOTHER PLANET, KELLY SILDARU CLAIMS TITLE AND SMALL CRYSTAL GLOBE

20-years-old Kelly Sildaru from Estonia and the Norwegian Olympic Gold Medalist Birk Ruud (21 years) both celebrated their first wins at the Corvatsch World Cup in a captivating final with some of the best riding of this season. Kelly and Birk both came out on top after the qualification. As the last riders to drop in in the final they laid the foundation for the wins with their first runs, landing on top of the field again. As none of their competitors was able to top their scores in the second run, both could enjoy a well-deserved victory lap. Especially Ruud’s riding was in a class of his own. He made it look so easy and smooth, that in fact, he looked like coming from another planet when dropping into the course. Even Mac Forehands “best run of his life” wasn’t enough to pass him. For Andri Ragettli his home-event ended on a high note as he returned to the podium with a 3rd place. Besides, Italian Freeskier Silvia Bertagna dropped into her last World Cup in Silvaplana celebrating her emotional farewell from the World Cup circuit.

SNOWBOARD FINAL – KLEVELAND DEFENDS TITLE, ANNA GASSER WINS FIRST SLOPESTYLE SINCE A YEAR

The event wrapped up on Sunday with an action-packed Snowboard final. It was Austria’s double Olympic Champion Anna Gasser who clearly took her first Slopestyle win since a year. The park setup suited Anna well and allowed her to show her finest riding. Already in the lead after the first round, she managed to top her score in the 2nd one scoring 95.40 out of 100 possible points. The men’s final was incredibly nerve-racking right up until the very end, as the lead in the second run changed constantly.

In the end it was Norwegian Marcus Kleveland who claimed his 2nd Corvatsch title in a row. 16-year-old Valentino Guseli surprised on 3rd. Most would see him as a Halfpipe specialist, but with his second Slopestyle podium in the last weeks, he proved them all wrong. Remarkable was the 30-year-old Belgium veteran Seppe Smits with his first World Cup appearance after a two-season absence due to an injury. He straight made it into finals, where he was on fire and was able to put down – in his own words – “the best run of his life” including 3 of his most difficult tricks on the jumps. He ended up 8th and had the biggest smile on his face all day long. Swiss Nicolas Huber, former shaper at Corvatsch Park, had the best time and convinced with a strong 6th place in front of his fans.

The 2022 edition of the Freeski & Snowboard World Cup Corvatsch in Silvaplana was all about great freestyle action, lots of sunshine, perfect riding conditions, strong comradery, big smiles, a packed fan zone watching finest freestyle riding, and good spirits all around.

Freeski World Cup Corvatsch 2022 in Silvaplana

Freeski Women’s Finals Results:

1. Kelly Sildaru, EST, 88.25

2. Tess Ledeux, FRA, 80.50

3. Johanne Killi, NOR, 79.25

Freeski Men’s Finals Results:

1. Birk Ruud, NOR, 94.50

2. Mac Forehand, USA, 91.75

3. Andri Ragettli, SUI, 90.00

Snowboard World Cup Corvatsch 2022 in Silvaplana

Snowboard Women’s Finals Results:

1. Anna Gasser, AUT, 95.40