Freestyle Skiing 10 February

Knutsen and Kinkead shine as freestyle skiers entertain in qualifying at Bakuriani 2025

Qualification for the freeski slopestyle competition at the Winter European Youth Olympic Festival Bakuriani 2025 began on Monday as young athletes from across Europe showcased their exceptional talent on the slopes.

Eager to make their mark with just the top 12 boys progressing to Wednesday’s (12 February), competition was fierce and the atmosphere filled with anticipation and excitement.

In the boys’ freeski slopestyle competition, 22 skiers from 14 countries took to the Bakuriani Freestyle-Snowboard Course. Leading the charge was Sweden’s Victor Knutsen, who dominated the field with a best score of 93.25 on his first run. His consistent performance earned him a spot in the finals, setting a high bar for the other athletes.

Following Knutsen was Austria’s Benjamin Lengger, who secured second place with a best score of 91.25. His runs demonstrated skill and creativity, showcasing the flair that the judges were looking for, whileCzech athlete Eliasz Kiszka rounded out the top three, finishing with a best score of 87.25.

Czechia, Switzerland and Finland will all be represented by two athletes in the final, with nine countries in total seeing athletes progress.

In the girls’ freeski slopestyle qualification, all nine competitors will compete in Wednesday’s final, meaning Monday’s competition was all about sending a strong message to the other competitors. Denmark’s Silje Kinkead did just that, taking the top spot with a strong score of 80.50 on her first run.

Sweden’s Estrid Fahlen followed closely in second place with a score of 71.50, while Ukraine’s Mariia Aniichyn claimed third with a best score of 70.25. There are seven different countries represented in the girls’ competition.

The conditions on the course were sunny with hard-packed snow providing an excellent surface for the athletes. The vertical drop of 118m and course length of 450m offered a challenging environment that tested the competitors’ skills and determination.