World Championship bronze medallist Izzy Atkin laid down a marker less than a month out from PyeongChang 2018 as the teenager recorded her first World Cup podium of the season.
The slopestyle skier put down a storming first run to score 87.80 and sit in second place heading into the final run at Aspen Snowmass.
And while America’s Maggie Voisin bettered her effort with a run of 89.00 as the Brit could only manage 25.60 on her second run, she had still done enough to climb onto the podium.
Norway’s Johanne Killi may have taken the win with her first-run score of 91.60 – the only skier to break the 90-point barrier – but Atkin will still be pleased to be back among the medals.
Atkin announced herself on the scene with a bronze medal in the 2017 World Championships but had only made two appearances on the World Cup circuit this season – finishing seventh in Stubai, Austria, before heading to America.
The result leaves her 12th in the slopestyle World Cup and Atkin is now focussed on the Winter X Games – also being held at Aspen Snowmass – before potentially heading to PyeongChang for an Olympic Winter Games debut.
“I’m stoked to put a run down; I really liked the course and the good weather today,” she said.
“Now I can look forward to the X-Games and then onto PyeongChang.
“Thanks to everyone at GB Park and Pipe, British Ski and Snowboard and Pat [Sharples – coach].”
And there was more for British fans to smile about in Aspen as James Woods backed up his win in New Zealand – way back in August – with a sixth in the men’s slopestyle.
Like Atkin, Woods was making just his second World Cup appearance of the season, and now lies fifth in the standings with 140 points.
Sportsbeat 2018