By Krystal Hu
Beijing (Reuters) – Lots of 1800 spins and several crashes marked the qualifying event in the first Olympic men’s freeski Big Air on Monday, with Swiss Birk Ruud topping the standings followed by American Alex Hall.
Ruud, recently recovered from injuries, kicked off his Olympic journey with a stunning switch triple cork 1960 mute.
He failed at a double bio 1980 mute in his second run and decided to give it another try in the last, earning a 93.25 to lead with a total score of 187.75. Athletes are judged on the best two out of three runs in Big Air.
“I felt real pressure on my shoulders after that second jump. I knew I had to get into myself and find my inner focus,” Ruud said, adding that he is hoping to do a triple cork 2160 in the finals.
His main challenger for the first Olympic gold in freeski Big Air could be Hall, who launched the first 2160 in competition in the X Games last month. Hall qualified in second place with Oliwer Magnusson of Sweden third.
Austrian Matej Svancer, the 17-year-old rising star of freeski, failed to deliver his signature trick-left nosebutter triple cork 1980 safety – a move he successfully performed for the first time last month – and did not make the final.
Sweden’s Jesper Tjader recovered after crashing on his opening jump, delivering an impeccable switch 1800 in the second run to secure a place in Wednesday’s final.
China’s He Jinbo came 27th and failed to advance, but he will get another chance in slopestyle.
The spectator seats were filled with school students who are the “designated audience” selected by the Games organising committee. China’s Eileen Gu, who qualified for the women’s Big Air final earlier in the day, was also seen watching the men’s event.
(Reporting by Krystal Hu in Beijing, editing by Ed Osmond)
