Calgary, AB – After missing significant time last season due to injury, Canada’s Megan Oldham, Dylan Deschamps, and Noah Porter MacLennan came back with a vengeance at the VISA Big Air World Cup in Aspen, showcasing their impressive resilience and determination.
Megan Oldham led the way with a stellar performance, claiming her first World Cup gold in two years. Oldham, who took some time off last year to recover and rebuild her strength, took an early lead in Thursday’s women’s final with a first-run score of 92.00 for her left double 1260 mute. She followed up with a second-run score of 91.75 for her switch left double 1080 Japan, bringing her total to 183.75 points to top the podium.
“It’s been an awesome day here in Aspen. The weather was perfect, and the jump was running really well. I’m really happy I was able to land both of my tricks,” Oldham said after her win.
The victory marks Oldham’s third podium finish of 2025, following a second-place finish in the slopestyle Aspen U.S. Grand Prix event last week and another silver at the Laax Open in January. This triumph, her first in big air since 2022, proves her full return to form after her injury break.
“I’ve done a lot of 10s, but not too many 12s, so I was really hyped to land that double 12 mute,” Oldham added. “And the switch double 10—I hadn’t done that one since the Olympics, so it felt amazing to bring it back.”
In the women’s event, Italy’s 17-year-old Flora Tabanelli, the current overall leader in the women’s Park & Pipe standings, finished in second place with 175.25 points. Finland’s Anni Karava rounded out the podium in third with 157.50 points.
In the men’s event, Austria’s Matej Svancer took gold, followed by New Zealands’s Luca Harrington in second and American Konnor Ralph in third.
Both Noah Porter MacLennan and Dylan Deschamps reached the finals, finishing strong with sixth and ninth-place results, respectively. After spending significant time recovering from injuries last season, both athletes showed incredible skill and composure in their jumps.
Noah Porter MacLennan landed a strong performance with a dynamic mix of technical and stylish tricks, while Dylan Deschamps’ innovative approach in the air earned him a solid spot in the top 10. While Dylan has already claimed two World Cup bronze medals this year, Noah’s performance in Aspen is a clear indicator that he too is back to his competitive best.
“It was a difficult day for Dylan after landing a beautiful triple 18 he had a difficult time putting down His second , a switch triple bio 16 therefore costing him the podium,” said Freestyle Canada coach Toben Sutherland. “Noah Porter McLennan had an excellent day. Great result for him. He did do a switch 21 in training but not quite ready for competition yet, get ready cause it’s going down.”
Canadian Skye Clarke also competed in the women’s qualifying round, finishing in 17th place. In the men’s event, Jérémy Gagné finished 18th, while Aidan Mulvihill placed 34th. Both Clarke and Mulvihill, the 2023-24 NorAm Cup champions, are gaining valuable experience against the world’s best at events like this.
“We’re seeing some really promising performances across the board from our athletes,” Sutherland added. “Skye, Jérémy, and Aidan all gave it their best, and they’re continuing to develop as strong contenders on the world stage. It’s an exciting time for Canadian freeskiing. Everyone’s working hard, and with the next World Cup coming up in Stoneham, Quebec, we’re building towards the World Championships. These events are a crucial part of the journey.”
The Freestyle Canada Big Air team will continue to build momentum heading into the next World Cup, set for Stoneham, Quebec, in just a few weeks. “We’re really looking forward to competing in Stoneham,” said Sutherland. “The athletes are fired up to perform in front of a home crowd and continue building towards the World Championships later this season. There’s a lot of excitement about what’s ahead.”
The Freestyle Canada Big Air team is looking forward to finishing the World Cup season strong, with the final event scheduled for Tignes, France, from March 11-14, 2025. Fans can expect even more from these athletes as they continue their comeback journey.
The performances of Oldham, Deschamps, and Porter MacLennan show the incredible resilience of Canada’s Freeski athletes as they rise above injury setbacks and push towards future success.
