Mathilde Gremaud made history Saturday at the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup in Laax, Switzerland, becoming the first woman to successfully land a triple cork 1440 in competition while capturing her third slopestyle gold medal of the season.
The 25-year-old Swiss sensation posted a winning score of 94.50 on her second run, executing the groundbreaking trick on the final jump of the course to separate herself from a field that included defending Olympic champion Eileen Gu of China and Norway’s Johanne Killi.
Technical Mastery on Home Snow
Gremaud’s run featured flawless rail execution before she unleashed the triple cork 1440 – four full rotations while flipping three times – a maneuver previously attempted only in training by a handful of women. The Fribourg native landed cleanly and raised her arms in celebration as the crowd at LAAX OPEN erupted.
“I’ve been working on this trick for two years,” Gremaud said after her victory. “To land it here in Switzerland, in front of the home crowd, makes this moment even more special.”
The technical difficulty of her final hit earned maximum amplitude and execution scores from the five-judge panel, with her overall run showcasing the progression that has defined women’s freeskiing over the past Olympic cycle.
Building on Olympic Success
Saturday’s victory extends Gremaud’s dominant 2024 campaign, which began with back-to-back World Cup wins in Copper Mountain and Mammoth Mountain. The reigning Olympic bronze medalist from Beijing 2022 now leads the overall slopestyle standings by 180 points over Gu, who finished third with a score of 89.25.
Killi claimed second place with a 91.75, landing her signature switch double cork 1260 on the money jump but falling short of matching Gremaud’s technical innovation and execution through the rail sections.
Gremaud’s rail work has become her signature, combining technical precision with creative line choices that maximize scoring potential. Her switch-up to front slide on the rainbow rail and 450 out earned near-perfect marks from judges who have seen her consistently push boundaries in that portion of the course.
World Championship Implications
With the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships set for March in Engadin, Switzerland, Gremaud’s triple cork breakthrough adds another weapon to an already formidable arsenal. The trick joins her double cork 1260 and switch double cork 900 as signature maneuvers that have established her as the most technically progressive rider in women’s slopestyle.
“The level keeps rising every year,” said Gu, who attempted her own triple cork but couldn’t stick the landing on her final run. “Mathilde is pushing all of us to go bigger and cleaner.”
American Sarah Hoefflin, who won Olympic gold in PyeongChang 2018, finished fourth with an 87.00 despite a clean run that featured her trademark style and amplitude. The 33-year-old veteran acknowledged that the younger generation’s technical progression has forced every competitor to evolve or risk falling behind.
Perfect Conditions for History
Bluebird skies and firm snow conditions at 2,200 meters elevation provided ideal circumstances for progression at LAAX, a venue that has hosted breakthrough moments throughout its World Cup history. Temperatures hovered around 15 degrees Fahrenheit with minimal wind, allowing riders to commit fully to their most technical maneuvers.
The course itself featured a redesigned jump line with enhanced takeoff angles that encouraged bigger rotations, though judges emphasized that execution and landing quality remained paramount in scoring. Gremaud’s ability to combine maximum difficulty with textbook technique separated her from competitors who struggled to match either element consistently.
Her winning margin of 3.25 points marked the largest victory gap in women’s slopestyle competition this season, highlighting the statement nature of her performance and the technical gulf her innovations have created.
The World Cup circuit continues February 15-16 in Seiser Alm, Italy, where Gremaud will look to extend her winning streak and further cement her status as the sport’s most dominant force heading into World Championships on home snow.
