Ruby Star Andrews (Queenstown, 20) claimed her third World Cup podium of her career at the weekend.
The Queenstown skier won bronze at the FIS Freeski Slopestyle World Cup held in France — her best result of the season and first World Cup finished since November 2023.
"A season’s best result feels amazing for me, especially because we are into the Olympic qualifying period,’’ Andrews said.
‘‘I have been working super hard on my rail skiing while consolidating my jump tricks — to lace those things together and land on the podium is a dream come true."
As the fourth qualifier, Andrews had the advantage of watching over half the field drop before her, giving her valuable feedback on the variable speed on course.
Andrews’ work on her rail skiing was evident in her run, which included a 270 on to the down rail and a huge front 630 out of the up-flat rail.
She oozed her trademark style on the jumps, with two different 900 rotations to start and finish her run, and scored nine out of ten points on the left slide front 630.
Dropping into her second of two runs, Andrews was looking for more and was hungry to step her way further up the podium — but unfortunately a bobble on the final jump cost her dearly in what is a game of precision execution.
Top qualifier Kirsty Muir, of Great Britain, took the lead from her first run — which held as the top score of the day for the remainder of the competition — to finish in first. Australia’s Abi Harrigan secured her career first World Cup podium with second.
Luca Harrington was the top qualifier in the men’s competition, but could not put a top to bottom run down in the deteriorating weather conditions and finished 10th.
His consistency throughout the season resulted in him finishing second overall in the men’s park and pipe World Cup standings.
Team-mate Ben Barclay finished in sixth place. — APL
