Ruby Star Andrews (Queenstown, 18) and Ben Barclay (Auckland, 21) have both achieved career best World Championships results in Freeski Slopestyle at the 2023 FIS Freeski World Championships being held in Georgia.
Andrews, who finished in 6th place in the women’s finals at her World Championships debut, said; “It feels pretty good, I didn’t manage to put down the best skiing I could have, but I am stoked with the result nevertheless. It’s really cool to be here in Georgia with the whole New Zealand Team.”
Andrews is making waves in the international freeski world, claiming her first Slopestyle World Cup podium just last month at Mammoth Mountain.
Andrew’s explained; “I think Mammoth really helped my confidence coming into World Champs, especially as it is my first World Champs and first season on the World Cup circuit. The podium really helped me to back myself to put down a solid run here.”
Today was Barclay’s second World Championships appearance, his first being in Aspen in 2021. Barclay, who was New Zealand’s most successful freeski slopestyle athlete at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, finished in 9th place in the men’s finals today.
Barclay dropped into the heavily stacked men’s final and put down what he considered the cleanest run of his career. After putting down a solid first run, Barclay stepped it up for his second run by adding additional degrees of rotation to his jumps and was rewarded an additional five points.
Barclay was stoked with his performance today, saying; “It feels amazing, I was very happy just to be in the finals at World Championships alongside some of the big names of freeskiing. I am really happy to put down a personal best run and ski the best that I could.”
Another hugely successful day for the Kiwi Team here in Bakuriani, Georgia. The action will be continuing in the coming days, with Gustav Legnavsky (Wānaka, 17) and Ben Harrington (Wānaka, 21) both competing in the men’s Freeski Halfpipe World Championships.
14 months ago