The atmospheric conditions did not disappoint in California, specifically in the Mammooth Mountain station, for the sect stop of the Freeski World Cup and the second slopestyle to be disputed.
Magnin made an intelligent first round finalist seeing that the slopestyle was selective and many contenders were going to the ground. The Movement skier did not risk excessively but neither did he relax with what his first round was clean scoring 80.75 points. Your RFEDI teammate, Javi Lliso, was the 14th in his qualifying round, scoring 75.33 points which did not earn him to be in the finals and finished in 26th place.
In the second round and with the atmosphere heated with many riders wanting to get rid of the spine of a mediocre first command, the level rose demanding the Spanish take more risks with what made a small mistake on a rail that penalized him by scoring only 31.75. The winner was the American Alexander Hall who starred in two great rounds with the best score of 95.50.
Magnin very happy after the result commented “I have no words to express the joy of this result after 9 months without skiing and after a tough recovery. This is a dream, I am going full throttle for the Olympics and my knee is fine … I took this competition as training and getting into finals is a gift “.
Thib’s trainer, Josep Gil, He described the athlete’s return to the ring as “spectacular since his preseason on skis began in November, which shows the good recovery and his work fighting to return to the maximum. They have been difficult months for Thib but with this result it is clear how far he wants to go“. The technician has clarified that” in Mammoth he has not skied 100%, he has sought to iron his rounds and polish the details that he must already have perfect for the Olympics “.
The sporting director of RFEDI, Olmo Hernán, considered that “the athlete’s rehabilitation has been optimal, the medical team has shown its great capacity and Thibault is a superprofessional and has taken it very seriously. Talent and rigorous work bring these joys. It is a great result one month before the Olympics”.
The 21-year-old Magnin has participated in the 2019 World Championships in Park City and in those in Aspen, both USA, in 2021 where he achieved 9th place in the Big Air. His best World Cup finish was 9th at the Big Air in Destne, Czech Republic, in February 2020.