Kelly Sildaru & Birk Ruud Win Freeski World Cup Corvatsch 2022 In Silvaplana

The Freeski Slopestyle final at the Freeski & Snowboard World Cup Corvatsch in Silvaplana was on the program on Saturday, and with fantastic weather conditions. Kelly Sildaru (EST) and Birk Ruud (NOR) are the 2022 Corvatsch Champions. In addition to event titles and CHF 50,000 in prize money, the final World Cup of the season at Corvatsch Park was also all about the FIS Crystal Globes.

In the women’s event, triumph belonged to 20-year-old Kelly Sildaru from Estonia who was delighted with her first Corvatsch title and third Slopestyle victory this season. She laid the foundation with her first run, for which she earned 88.25 points and cleared the decks of any competitors in the second run.

With the title firmly in her grasp, Sildaru then watched as each challenger failed to threaten her score, securing the title and ending the slopestyle season undefeated.

The win secured Kelly the small crystal globe: “The crystal globe was the only trophy I was missing. So I am happy to finally have it now. Super busy season. Pretty emotional. I am happy it’s finished, and I can finally go on a holiday!”

Having won the season-opener in Stubai and then triumphed at Mammoth Mountain, Sildaru knew that a podium finish in Switzerland would be enough to secure the crystal globe. The 20-year-old had easily qualified for the top-eight on Thursday thanks to a best score of 92.50, while her nearest title challenger Sarah Höfflin finished a disappointing ninth with an 81.25. Canada’s Megan Oldham also had an outside chance of taking the slopestyle title, but could only finish 10th.

Last year’s winner Tess Ledeux from France and Johanne Killi from Norway completed the podium in second and third place. Switzerland’s Olympic champion Mathilde Gremaud finished in 7th place.
In the gripping men’s final, Norway’s Birk Ruud was, as was apparent in the qualification, just that much better than everyone else and seemingly from another planet when he dropped into the course.

Like Sildaru, he secured the title with his first run (94.50 points) and thus took the big crystal globe for the Overall Park & Pipe World Cup: “This is amazing. It has been a long season, what with everything going on. Olympic Gold, a lot of competitions, and to finish off at the top. Three for three! I rode three Slopestyles this season and won every one of them. I worked hard. When you work hard and smart it pays off! Happy and stoked!”

Second place went to US rider Mac Forehand, who threw down the best run of his life. Local hero and 2016 and 2019 Corvatsch winner, Andri Raglettli came third. His season record is good: “For me, it’s been a great season: X-Games gold medal, two World Cups and the Slopestyle Overall World Cup. You would think I trained all summer, but I didn’t. Of course, it’s nice to celebrate a success at the end of the season. It makes up for the Olympics.”

Today marks the end of the Freeski World Cup season, riders met for the ninth time this week in Silvaplana. They will be back in 2023, and in three years’ time, they will be competing for World Championships medals at Corvatsch, as Engadine will be hosting the FIS Freestyle World Championships in 2025.

• Winning Run Birk: Switch Left 450 On, Right Cork 900 Blunt, Left Double Cork 900 Safety, Switch Right Double Cork 1440 Mute, Switch Left Double Cork 1620 Tail, Left Double Bio 1800 Mute, Left Slide to Frontside 810 Out.
• Winning Run Kelly: Switch Left 270 On, Right 540 Mute, Left 360 Tail, Right Cork 900 Tail, Switch Left 720 Mute, Switch Right 900 Tail, Right Slide Frontside 450 Out.