The 21-year-old Frenchwoman took advantage of an excellent third and last run on Saturday to win the big air final. His second title on the discipline.
At 21, Tess Ledeux holds her third world title. On the big air, a large springboard on which freestyle skiers soar twirling in the air, the Frenchwoman flew over the competition to win the title of world champion, Saturday March 4, at the World Freeski Championships in Bakuriani (Georgia) . Already crowned in 2019 in the discipline, and in 2017 in slopestyle, the French skier, also Olympic vice-champion in the specialty, continues to expand her record.
A victory with a very special flavor for the skier, who is coming back from a concussion contracted almost six months ago, and who had fallen heavily on Tuesday, on the slopestyle event. As one of the favorites, she only took 12th and last place in the event. “Winning the big air is a dream come true. I had that bad fall in slopestyle, now I’m so happy, I can’t believe it”explained the Frenchwoman to AFP, very moved after this new planetary title.
The French skier collected the total score of 186.75 points despite a second run below her expectations. She finished ahead of Norway’s Sandra Eie (175.00 points) and Canada’s Megan Oldham (174.00 points), who had dominated her at the X-Games in Aspen (USA) earlier this season. reigning Olympic champion, Eileen Gu, with a knee injury, was absent from the Worlds.
“Double switch”
Despite a remarkable first run, scored at more than 94 points (the highest-rated jump in this final), Tess Ledeux found herself back against the wall on the last run. After missing the landing of his second jump, who demoted her to more than 20 points behind the Briton Muir Kirsty, the Frenchwoman had to draw on her reserves to hope to endorse the world crown, in difficult weather conditions.
The big air event takes place in three rounds, graded according to the difficulty and performance of the jump. Only the skiers’ two best runs are then counted. The Habs made the bold choice to offer a “double switch”, the same figure that had made it fall heavily on the head, in slopestyle, four days ago. This time, the figure passed. “The pressure was so strong. I’m so happy to land this figure, it’s the first time for me in competition. It’s just incredible”appreciated the skier from La Plagne after her final, joined by her cousin Kevin Rolland who, at 33, was competing his last halfpipe ski run. A whole family story.