00:00Freestyle rider, he was second on the Challengers last year, a really strong performance, and the Layset lowrider is ready to go.
00:07He was so excited this morning. He just wanted to get things started.
00:11Down watching the forerunners, he's like, I just want to be at the top. I want to go, go, go.
00:15And now he's getting his chance. Sasha is on course for his very first freeride World Tour run.
00:21And like you said, he has that freestyle background, so we can hopefully expect some tricks.
00:25It's that Aaron's style is going to be something he's after, but it's also making sure that he has the experience to navigate through these challenging conditions at the top, which he does.
00:35Like you said, these guys are really good snowboarders, and so they're making it look easy, and it's not easy right there.
00:40But now he's starting to hit that line where things are starting to improve snow conditions-wise, and we are in the meat of the features here, taking a fall line line so far.
00:49Yeah, Sasha lining himself right off the nose, landing perfectly, getting on that toeside edge, and getting direction towards his next feature, going cross hill.
01:01He's airing into the Kouar, backside 360, perfect landing for Sasha Balikos.
01:06So he is looking really strong here on his maiden voyage on a freeride World Tour venue, spinning again.
01:12Sasha stomped runs, two 360s, bringing the Aaron's style here to the snowboard men's category.
01:19Absolutely, and we'll confirm on the replay, but getting some grabs in there as well, really high execution.
01:24Judges love to see that.
01:26That kind of the grab to me, it shows the athlete is really in control and intentional in their trick.
01:31They're not just pulling it off, they're executing it.
01:35Yeah, that's exactly right.
01:37And for those riders, Amy, when they're in the start gate, you're thinking about your tricks, you're thinking about, you know, executing.
01:44Mentally, what does it take to be like, oh, and also I'm just going to add, you know, a little chili pepper with a grab.
01:48I mean, I think that's what separates the cream from the rest of the milk, is that ability to have so many things going on in your mind and remember to get the grab.
01:58But for a rider, a rider like this with that freestyle background, those grabs are second nature.
02:02You know, he's used to doing that every time he's in the air.
02:06Lining up his first feature, getting that grab, nice bolts landing, and immediately setting himself up for what's next.
02:12Kind of managing that snow, going into that 360 with the grab again, landing, immediately getting onto his heel side edge to get around those rocks.
02:20And setting himself up for his second 360.
02:23He doesn't quite get the grab there, which the judges will have seen.
02:27But did he spin both ways, Derek?
02:29I think both backside threes.
02:31So backside for snowboarders is a little bit easier.
02:34You're blind at the beginning, but as you come out of the rotation, you're able to see the landing.
02:38Whereas on a frontside spin, you see the landing when you take off.
02:41But then the rest of the way around, you're blind to it.
02:43So really strong execution there from Sasha.
02:47Brand new on the Freeride World Tour, but looking like an absolute veteran with that run.
02:52Taking off close to the rocks.
02:53His trajectories were all micro-perfect.
02:57And he is excited as the score coming in now, 88.67 from Liam Rivera.
03:04It's going to pop just behind that with an 84.67.
Be the first to comment