Big air show

Matej Svancer flies to the podium in Klagenfurt

Matej Svancer(Bild: GEPA pictures)

20-year-old Matej Svancer from Salzburg took third place in the big air freestyle skiing event in Klagenfurt on Saturday. It is the Czech-born racer's fourth World Cup podium finish and second overall this season after his victory in Chur on October 18. 

He also won in Chur and Steamboat Springs in the 2021/22 season, so this was the first time he was not the winner in a winner's photo. The winners were Luca Harrington from New Zealand and Liu Mengting from China.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Svancer was in second place after the first of three final runs. In the second heat, he dropped back to third place, where he remained, as he landed his final "Switch Left Tail Butter 1800 Safety" incorrectly. However, he had never done this trick on snow before, which is why the man from Salzburg did not regret a better placing. "I'm very happy, the result is perfect for me." Svancer described the event as a "legendary event." The fatigue after qualifying was gone when he "dropped in" for the first time in the final.

Svancer had won the qualification in the morning, the other Austrians were eliminated. However, Hannes Rudigier finished 15th, his best World Cup result since fifth place at the Big Air World Cup in Chur in October 2022. Lukas Müllauer in 18th and Julius Forrer in 29th also scored World Cup points. Harrington won with 182.60 points ahead of Frenchman Timothe Sivignon (180.40), while Svancer scored 175.40 points. The ÖSV women did not compete. Liu (170.60) took her first World Cup victory ahead of Flora Tabanelli (ITA/170.20) and Muriel Mohr (GER/166.20).

Gasser show on Sunday
On Sunday, the snowboard finals in the Big Air are on the program in the Wörthersee Stadium from 18:00 (live ORF 1). Carinthian double Olympic champion Anna Gasser came fourth in the qualification on Friday. Her friend Clemens Millauer and compatriot Eric Dovjak will be competing in their qualification from 10.00 am.