Ski Big Air: Monster Energy’s Troy Podmilsak Claims Men’s World Championship Title.
In the Men’s Ski Big Air discipline, 18-year-old Troy Podmilsak (TPOD) from Park City, Utah, claimed the victory. Currently riding for the Monster Army support program, the Team USA skier also landed a never-been-done trick in competition.
In the final session featuring ten qualified riders, Podmilsak stunned the competition despite qualifying into the final in last place. On his first attempt, he pulled out a technical switch right double bio 1980 safety to start off on a strong 91.25-point score.
Maintaining his strong momentum, Podmilsak went where no other went before: Landing the first-ever right triple cork 2160 mute in a ski competition earning 95.50 points as the highest score of the day. With a combined total score of 187.75 points, the American rookie claimed the Bakuriani 2023 Men’s Ski Big Air gold medal.
“I actually did not think I would be world champion here. I thought maybe a few years down the road. It feels good, and I’m really proud of myself and my team. I can’t even really believe it. It almost feels like a dream to me. We worked really hard for this,” said Podmilsak upon winning the Men’s Ski Big Air title in Georgia.
Speaking on the never-been-done 2160 aerial, Podmilsak said: “That was the first time I’ve ever done it! I did it on the airbag a few times and didn’t really land it. I just went for the win today. I didn’t” want to get second place. I just wanted to win. That’s the first time I’ve ever really landed it, ever.”
Podmilsak was joined on the podium by 22-year-old Birk Ruud from Oslo, Norway, in the bronze-medal position. Ruud has earned podium finishes in every FIS Freeski competition in the 2022/23 season, and kept the streak going on Saturday.
In his first run, Ruud put down a perfect switch left triple cork 1980 mute grab. On his second run, he followed up with a left double bio 1800 mute for a combined score of 183.50 points for the bronze medal, just one point behind Austria’s Lukas Muellauer in second place.
Earlier this week, Ruud ended a dominant FIS World Cup season by winning the Men’s Freeski Slopestyle World Championship title at Bakuriani. In 2022, Ruud won the gold medal in Men’s Ski Big Air at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Also claiming a podium spot, 21-year-old Megan Oldham from Canada claimed bronze in Women’s Ski Big Air. Oldham was coming in hot after landing the first-ever women’s triple cork aerial to win X Games Big Air gold at X Games Aspen 2023 in January.
On her first attempt, Oldham stomped a perfect left double cork 1080 mute. Keeping the tricks coming, she posted a switch left double cork 1080 Japan on run two, and Oldham took home bronze.
This third-place finish is the second medal of the Bakuriani 2023 World Championships for Oldham after her Slopestyle silver medal. It also marks the third World Championships medal of her career.
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