Team USA Gears Up for Women’s Olympic Big Air and Slopestyle Events
As the excitement builds for the upcoming women’s Olympic big air and slopestyle events, Team USA athletes are gearing up for competition. Lily Dhawornvej, a 16-year-old snowboarder from Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, shared her awe at witnessing Zoi Sadowski-Synnot’s gold medal-winning performance four years ago. Now, Dhawornvej prepares to compete against the Kiwi star herself at this year’s Games.
Event Schedule and Venue
The women’s snowboard big air qualification rounds will kick off on February 8, with finals scheduled for the following day, February 9, at Livigno Snow Park in Italy. Additionally, the slopestyle competition is set for February 16.
Meet the Team
Team USA features three standout women, two of whom hail from SSCV. Hahna Norman, the oldest at age 21 and originally from Truckee, California, joins Dhawornvej and 16-year-old Jess Perlmutter from New Jersey. Norman acknowledges the responsibility of being the squad’s veteran.
- Lily Dhawornvej: 16, multiple top-10 World Cup finishes, bronze medalist.
- Hahna Norman: 21, experienced athlete, 2023 slopestyle national champion.
- Jess Perlmutter: 16, winner of X Games gold in knuckle huck.
Recent Performances
All three members of Team USA enter the Olympics with impressive momentum. Perlmutter recently earned seventh place in her slopestyle World Cup debut in Aspen, followed by her gold medal victory in the knuckle huck. Dhawornvej secured her first World Cup podium at the final Olympic qualifier in Laax, Switzerland, adding to her string of eight top-10 finishes.
Norman’s journey to the Olympics has been fraught with challenges, including a torn ACL that kept her from competing in the 2022 Beijing Games. Despite these setbacks, she has remained resilient and enthusiastic about representing the U.S. in Italy.
Anticipation for Big Air Competition
The women’s big air event has generated significant hype, with it being dubbed one of the most must-watch competitions of the Games. Athletes to watch include:
- Zoi Sadowski-Synnot
- Kokomo Murase – reigning world champion
- Mia Brookes – defending big air and overall crystal globe winner
- Mari Fukada from Japan
Murase recently made headlines by landing the first backside triple cork 1620 in X Games history. Anna Gasser aims for a big air three-peat following her wins in PyeongChang and Beijing.
Atmosphere and Team Spirit
As competitors settle in, the atmosphere is lightened by fun activities. Dhawornvej shared her experiences with pin collecting, which has fostered connections between athletes. With the stress of qualification behind them, both Norman and Dhawornvej look forward to the exhilarating competitions ahead.
As the Olympics approach, Team USA remains poised to showcase their talents on the world stage in both the big air and slopestyle events.
