Izzy Atkin has written another line in the GB Snowsport history books following a medal-winning performance today in Utah.
After claiming slopestyle medals at the 2017 World Championships and 2018 Olympic Winter Games, Atkin today finished third in the inaugural Ski Big Air World Championship. It is GB’s second medal of the Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard World Championships following Charlotte Bankes’ snowboard cross silver on Friday.
A tough qualifying session saw just one of last week’s X-Games medallists through to the final eight, but Atkin safely moved on with the fifth-highest score.
In the final, 17-year-old Tess Ledaux (FRA, 184.75) sent down three of the four-highest scoring runs to clearly claim gold ahead of Park City local Julia Krass (USA, 173.75), while Atkin (168.75) edged out 2018 Olympic slopestyle gold medallist Sarah Hoefflin (SUI) for bronze by just one point.
Having not competed in a major big air competition for almost two years, today’s result will give Atkin plenty of confidence for her preferred slopestyle event later in the week, while also serving notice ahead of ski big air’s first appearance at the Olympic Winter Games in 2022.
“I’m really happy with the way I skied,” said Atkin. “I wasn’t expecting to be on the podium so this feels amazing. Thank you so much to everyone for all the support.”
Earlier in the day, James Woods was unable to reproduce the form which took him to the X-Games big air podium last week, missing out on qualifying for the big air final alongside fellow Brit Chris McCormick.
Ollie Davies, Emma Peters and Emily Sarsfield were also in action on day three of the World Championships in the knockout stages of ski cross but failed to win past the round of 32.