After an onslaught of competitions throughout the winter, the 2024-25 ski and snowboard competition season is coming to a close at the Engadin World Championships in Switzerland. 

Last week, Silverthorne’s Red Gerard notched the highest finish among Summit County locals, taking fifth place in the men’s snowboard slopestyle finals. A few days later, local athletes were back in the spotlight, competing in both snowboard big air and halfpipe events as well as freeski halfpipe.

On Wednesday, March 26, Frisco’s Lily Dhawornvej competed in the women’s snowboard big air qualifiers. Coming off a 15th-place finish in the women’s snowboard slopestyle competition last week, Dhawornvej looked to cap off her first World Championship with a finals appearance. 

On her first of three runs, Dhawornvej completed a backside 720 with a stalefish grab. The run earned the 15-year-old rider a score of 60.25, which put her in 14th overall among the 31 athletes in the qualifier. 

Needing to improve upon her run if she wanted to finish within the top eight and advance to finals, Dhawornvej  landed a cab 900 with a stalefish grab on her second run. The extra rotation boosted Dhawornvej’s score to a 72 in order to combine for a total of 132.25. 

Still not safely into the final, Dhawornvej attempted to go bigger on her third and final run, but landed another backside 720 with a stalefish grab. The trick was scored at a 57.25 and acted as Dhawornvej ‘s throwaway score. 

Dhawornvej combined for a score of 132.25 to take 13th overall in qualifiers. Truckee, California’s Hahna Norman was the top American in qualifiers, taking 10th with a score of 135.25. New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott occupied the top overall spot in qualifiers with a score of 168.50. 

Sadowski-Synnott did not compete in the final due for an undisclosed reason. The absence of Sadowski-Synnott made the path easier for Japan’s Kokomo Murase to secure gold in the final. Murase combined for a score of 162.50 while fellow Team Japan athletes Reira Iwabuchi and Mari Fukada took second and third, respectively.

Men’s snowboard halfpipe 

Two local riders were featured in the men’s snowboard halfpipe qualifiers on Thursday, March 27, in Summit County-based rider Lucas Foster and Leadville’s Jason Wolle.

The pair of athletes competed among the 31-athlete field to secure one of the 16 final-qualifying spots.

In his World Championship debut, Wolle tried to put together a strong first run, but ended up falling towards the top of the pipe. The run earned Wolle a score of 9.50, putting pressure on him to put a clean run together on his final trip through the pipe.

On Foster’s first run, the Telluride product wowed the judges. Foster scored a 75.25 which comfortably put him within the top 16 of the field.

With his back against the wall, Wolle went for it and unloaded his bag of tricks. This time, Wolle stomped every trick he tried, leading to his score being improved to a 70.50. The score was enough for Wolle to place 11th overall in qualifiers and advance to his first World Championship final.

Foster did not improve upon his first run score and finished ninth overall. Hailey, Idaho’s Chase Josey was the top American qualifier, taking fourth with a score of 90. Portland, Oregon’s Alessandro Barbieri preceded Foster and Wolle in qualifiers in sixth (82.50).

The men’s and women’s snowboard halfpipe final is set to take place on Saturday, March 29. The event will begin at 3 a.m. Mountain Time and will be livestreamed on SkiAndSnowboard.live.

Torrance, California’s Chloe Kim and Wrightwood, California’s Maddie Mastro will spearhead the women’s competition after taking first and fourth in qualifiers, respectively. Steamboat Springs’ Maddy Shaffrick also qualified for the final in the ninth overall spot.

Men’s and women’s freeski halfpipe 

Qualifiers in the men’s and women’s freeski halfpipe took place in Switzerland on Friday, March 28.

Winter Park’s Svea Irving successfully advanced to the women’s freeski halfpipe final. Irving earned a score of 79.5 on her final run to take eighth overall. Irving was the top American in qualifiers and will compete in the 12-woman final on Sunday, March 30, at 3 a.m. Mountain Time.

In the men’s freeski halfpipe qualifiers, Aspen’s Alex Ferreira was the top American skier. Ferreira took third overall in qualifiers (88) and was preceded by New Zealand’s Finley Melville Ives (97) and Luke Harrold (90).

Three more Americans made the 16-man final. Reno, Nevada’s David Wise took fifth (85), Lawrenceburg, Indiana’s Nick Goepper finished in sixth (82.50) and Bend, Oregon’s Hunter Hess took seventh (81.75).

The men’s final will take place on Sunday at 5 a.m Mountain Time.