Bobby Brown and Kaya Turski win World Skiing Invitational Slopestyle: 2011 AFP World Championships
The first event of the inaugural Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) World Championships, the World Skiing Invitational (WSI) Slopestyle, concluded with an exciting final on April 21 in Whistler, Blackcomb, Canada. In the men’s
field, America’s Bobby Brown secured the highest spot on the podium, while his compatriots, Tom Wallisch and Gus Kenworthy, finished in second and third place respectively.
On the other hand, Canada’s Kaya Turski prevailed in the women’s field. America’s Ashley Battersby finished in second place while the reigning International Ski Federation (FIS) World Champ from Australia, Anna Segal, finished third to round out the podium.
With their latest victory, Brown and Turski have secured the 2011 AFP Slopestyle trophies.
The WSI Slopestyle marked the last slopestyle of the season. The skiers were determined to cap the season with a victory to their name. However, the 19-year-old Brown entered the contest as the favourite. The competition line-up was good, but those who had
come across Brown’s recent Triple Cork 1440 video knew that Brown was currently on the top of his game.
Very early in the final, Brown unleashed a run that left everyone in awe. His run included a front swap on the flat-down rail, followed by a switch-double-rodeo 900 Japan on the first jump, a 270 on 450 on the gap box, misty 630 off the cannon box and ended
the run with his signature back-to-back double cork 1080s. The sensational run got him a score of 94.8 from the judges to seal the fate of the contest.
The 22-year-old Wallisch also managed to secure a podium place after an impressive first run. The run earned him his best score of 93. He was glad to get back on the podium for the first time since his shoulder injury in January. “The injury really broke
up my season,” Wallisch said. “I haven't been doing so well lately so to be near the top again and land a clean run feels really good.”
America’s 19-year-old, Kenworthy, continued his amazing season with yet another podium finish. He finished in third place with his best score of 90.2.
In the women’s field, Canada’s 22-year-old, four-time Winter X Slopestyle gold medallist, Turski, added yet another slopestyle victory to her name. The run that helped her to seal victory included a stylish rail section, followed by 540s, switch 540s and
switch 720s on jumps. She finished with a score of 88.8.
She said, “It was basically the same run I've been doing all year,” Turski said. “But next year, it's not going to hold up.”
The 23-year-old Battersby finished in second place with her best score of 88.4. The 24-year-old Segal finished secured the last spot on the podium with her best score of 86.
2011 AFP Slopestyle races have officially ended with the completion of the WSI Slopestyle. While Brown has finishing the season as World No.1, Russ Henshaw and Sammy Carlson finished in second and third place respectively. In the women’s field, Turski finished
on top spot while Keri Herman and Battersby rounded out the top three.
Even though the AFP Slopestyle is over, the AFP Championship will continue with the big air contest at Whistler Village.
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