GB Park and Pipe skier James ‘Woodsy’ Woods has defended his title, winning the North Face Freeski Open for the second year in a row in Cardrona Alpine Resort, New Zealand today.
The silver AFP (Association of Freeskiing Professionals) slopestyle event was tightly contested, with Woodsy having to shake off challenges from Switzerland’s Elias Ambhül and NZ rider Jossi Wells, who finished just behind him in second.
After a first run score of 92.75 from Woodsy, Wells scored 91.50 on his second run, meaning it was all down to the last run.
“I knew that Jossi had a mega run in the bank and we were pushing each other harder and harder” explained Woodsy. ”It was head to head the whole way through, right from qualifiers”. But despite Wells scoring 92.50 in his last run it wasn’t quite enough to close the gap on Woodsy who notched up 94 on his final run.
Woodsy will now go on to compete in the Ski Slopestyle World Cup, which kicks off in Cardrona on 27th August.