Valentino Guseli makes big air final after Mark McMorris injury
– Livigno: Australian snowboarder Valentino Guseli transformed from reserve rider to medal contender after being called up at the 11th hour for the men’s big air qualifying final on Thursday.
Guseli had failed to qualify for the 2026 Olympics but was tapped on the shoulder four hours before the start of the qualifying race after Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris withdrew from the race following a bad crash in training on Wednesday.
Australia’s Valentino Guseli has qualified for the men’s big air finalCredit: access point
The 20-year-old Australian scored an impressive 91.5 with a pass from the back (five-and-a-half turns) in 1980, after making two good runs to place himself in the middle of the 30-man field, securing 12th and final place in Saturday’s final.
Guseli attempted to qualify for three events at the Milan Cortina Olympics – big air, slopestyle and halfpipe – but only managed to qualify in the men’s halfpipe after a slow start to the 2025-26 world cup season.
After making his third run on Thursday night, the Australian roared and threw his board into the air before waiting for the umpires’ decision.
More to come.
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