MAMMOTH LAKE, Calif. — The 2016 U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain was hit by poor weather conditions, but that didn’t stop Canadian slopestyle skier Yuki Tsubota from winning her first World Cup.
The 21-year-old Tsubota reached the top of the podium on Sunday with a score of 84.40. Giulia Tanno of Switzerland was next at 77.40 while Sweden’s Emma Dahlstrom came third with 76.20.
"It was a very long day but I couldn’t have hoped for a better ending," said the Whistler, B.C., native. "There were wind issues out here today so I went for a run that I knew I could nail.
"I have been working on new tricks on the rails for some time to increase my level of difficulty. In the end, that paid off."
Nikki Blackall, from Barrie, Ont., came sixth with a score of 67.40 while Kim Lamarre of Lac-Beauport, Que., placed seventh at 67.20.
On the men’s side, the Canadian slopestyle team was represented by Evan McEachran.
Although he finished ninth in the overall rankings, the skier from Oakville, Ont., landed his first ever triple jump in competition.
"Overall, I am happy with my run and landing this triple in the last jump was huge for me. I went for a run with a high degree of difficulty, unfortunately I made a small mistake at the top and that cost me," said McEachran.
A total of 14 Canadian freestyle ski team members competed in the four-day event. Due to the weather conditions, the men’s halfpipe finals were cancelled and only qualifications counted. Calgary’s Noah Bowman finished 9th.