[OLYMPICS] Pre-Opening Day Recap: Big Air Qualis & Downhill Training (Oh, and Curling) - SnowBrains

"Japan's Ogiwara Hiroto set the benchmark early and never looked back. He became the first rider to crack the 90-point mark, landing a massive switch backside 1980 for 90.5 on his opening run. A backside 1800 Indy on run two scored 88, giving him a commanding combined score of 178.50, nearly 15 points clear of the rest of the field."

"Second strongest nation in terms of qualifiers is the wonder from down under: New Zealand, which managed to have three athletes qualify for the finals: Lyon Farrell, Rocco Jamieson, and Dane Menzies. Meanwhile, qualifying in 9th for Team USA, we have Oliver Martin, and Australia saw Valentino Guseli advance in 12th place to the finals. Three-time Olympic medallist Mark McMorris from Canada did not compete after crashing in training earlier in the week."

Men's snowboard Big Air qualifying in Livigno used a three-run format with riders counting their best two scores. Japan's Ogiwara Hiroto led the field with a combined 178.50 after scoring 90.5 on a switch backside 1980 and 88 on a backside 1800 Indy. Japan placed four riders in the final. New Zealand qualified three athletes: Lyon Farrell, Rocco Jamieson, and Dane Menzies. Oliver Martin qualified ninth for the United States and Valentino Guseli advanced 12th for Australia. Three-time Olympic medallist Mark McMorris withdrew after a training crash. In Bormio, athletes tested the Stelvio course with Ryan Cochran-Siegle posting the fastest training run.

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