Big in Japan - Big in Chur

Spotlight on the new Big Air Chur Champions 2024: Mari Fukada and Taiga Hasegawa from Japan win the FIS Snowboard World Cup in Chur in front of an enthusiastic crowd

For the fourth time, the Big Air Chur in Graubünden opens the winter season for freestyle pros from all over the world and celebrates the end of the festival season with hip music. With a great atmosphere, it's lights on at 8pm for the Big Air night final in snowboarding, which the women start. Three runs, two will be scored. It's off from the 41-metre-high starting tower down to the kicker and then to a safe landing in the finish area, where a snowboard-loving audience cheers the riders on.

For the fourth time, a Japanese woman takes a commanding victory in the women's snowboarding competition: Mari Fukada wins her first Big Air World Cup at the age of 17 ahead of two internationally established riders in Chur. "The conditions on the ramp are great today. I'm having a lot of fun. Thanks to everyone, thanks Switzerland!" Two incredible tricks - frontside 1080 and backside 1260 - earned her 1st place. Team-mate Reira Iwabuchi, Big Air Chur winner in 2022, came closest to her and came second. Laurie Blouin, the experienced Canadian who won Olympic silver, came third. "I'm delighted to be on the podium. It's been a while since I've felt this good and everything just fell into place tonight. The Big Air Chur is one of the best events ever - just because of the vibe," says the 28-year-old, taking over the DJ controls in the Riders Lounge Party later in the evening.

The air jumps of the 10 men were also astonishing. The boys in particular impressed the team of judges led by Italian Arianna Cau. And so three youngsters beamed from the podium. The 18-year-old Taiga Hasegawa has strong nerves and takes the lead with an outstanding third run. The clean frontside 1800 and the cab-1800 from round 1 bring him his first Big Air Chur title. Rocco Jamieson, also 18, performs a world cup premiere: backside rodeo indy pretzel switch backside rodeo. A backside rodeo in which he changes the direction of rotation in the air. The New Zealander landed in second place: "It was the first time I'd done this trick in a contest. Here, in front of this crowd, is the best place to do it. I can't imagine anything better!" The highest individual trick score of the evening (91.50) went to Frenchman Romain Allemand (17 years old) for his frontside 1800. In combination with his second trick, he ultimately came third. Even if podium contenders such as Anna Gasser and Valentino Guseli miss out on a place in the final, the atmosphere and level at this first Big Air FIS World Cup of the season are enormous.
After lively performances by Wanda and Nemo on the live stage and the fast-paced action spectacle of the 18 riders on the biggest ramp in Switzerland, fans, guests, visitors and freestyle teams dance into the night at the final live act by Paul Kalkbrenner and many also dance to the after-parties.

For the fourth time, the over and under 20,000 spectators revelled in the two freestyle days of Big Air Chur and would be looking forward to a new edition in the 2025/2026 season. This year's season has been duly opened thanks to a top-organized Big Air Chur.

Further information is available at www.bigairfestival.com