Two Parkites — freeskiers Troy Podmilsak and Rell Harwood — opened up the 2024-25 World Cup season for Team USA Friday over in Chur, Switzerland. They were competing in the men’s and women’s big air Cups, the first of six this season.
Podmilsak landed a brand new trick — the flat 360, right pretzel 720 — in the competition. Podmilsak found himself in eighth despite the trick, having not landed another one, and Harwood finished with a DNS (did not start) and only completed her first run. Matej Svancer of Austria won on the men’s side and Mathilde Gremaud on the women’s.
Podmilsak learned the new trick from former Canadian freeskier Dean Bercovitch, the trick’s inventor. He and Harwood will try to make the most of all their runs when the Cup circuit picks back up in Beijing Nov. 29-Dec. 1. The circuit stops in Aspen, Colorado, Jan. 30-Feb. 6, 2025.
Podmilsak is the defending big air world champ, finishing last Cup season ranked 11th. Harwood finished her 2024 Cup season ranked ninth. Utah-native Alex Hall won the 2024 men’s year-end title and did not compete in Chur Friday.
“Super proud of Rell, Cody and Troy this event,” said U.S. freeski head coach Dave Euler. “Results aside, they all skied amazingly and are putting together new tricks. Excited to keep the momentum building as we head into Stubai Camp and the first World Cup slopestyle of the season next month.”
Both Podmilsak and Harwood will ski the slopestyle event Nov. 22-23 in Stubai, Austria. There are 13 Cups in freeski this season, with the season wrapping up in mid-March. In addition to the Aspen Cup, there is also a Copper Mountain Cup Dec. 19-21.
The alpine Cup season is set to begin this weekend in Soelden, Austria, and the freestyle season Nov. 30 in Ruka, Finland. Both teams, amongst others, have numerous Parkites, including Lauren Macuga, Nick Page and Chris Lillis. Macuga finished the 2024 season ranked 43rd in the world, Page 5th and Lillis third, in their respective overall categories.
For up-to-the-minute results on these Cups and more, see the FIS’ website: fis-ski.com.