Park City’s Alex Hall claims Big Air Crystal Globe with win in France

Alex Hall holds his big air Crystal Globe in Tignes, France. Photo: FIS, courtesy of U.S. Ski & Snowboard

TIGNES, France — Alex Hall, U.S. Ski & Snowboard athlete and Olympic gold medalist, rose to the occasion under Friday night lights at the Mountain Shaker World Cup big air final in Tignes, France, adding another World Cup victory and the 2023-24 big air Crystal Globe to his already impressive resume.

After a disappointing 18.00 first run score, the Park City native and skier for the Park City Ski and Snowboard Team was forced to bank his chances on a successful big air season finale showing on his final two runs. Hall attempted the same trick on run two, stomping a right double-cork 1080 bring-back to 900 that scored a massive 90.50 to put him back into podium contention. With a three run, low-score drop format, the pressure was on for Hall to nail his final attempt—and did he deliver.

In front of a rambunctious crowd in Tignes, Hall’s switch left tailbutter 1800 that he premiered at X Games in February made its World Cup debut, earning a monster score of 96.00 to secure Hall the top spot in the final big air competition of the season, as well as the big air Crystal Globe—the first of his career.

After considering pulling out of the final World Cup competitions to focus on personal filming projects, Hall was noticeably surprised with his achievements. “I didn’t really know I was in the running before this. I wasn’t sure,”

“I’ve been competing a long time but haven’t won a Globe, so it feels pretty sick to get one,” Hall said to U.S. Ski and Snowboard. 

When asked about his gutsy decision to throw the 18 on his third attempt, Hall knew he had to go big in order to beat the likes of Norway’s Leo Landroe and Switzerland’s Andri Ragettli.

“Everyone was killing it so I knew I had to throw something down, but I didn’t know if I was going 14 or 18 until about seconds before dropping,” Hall joked. “I was a little unsure of the speed too, but I figured I’d just point ’em from the top and go for it. I’m hype to land that one; it’s one of the better jumps I’ve done for sure.”

Landroe finished second overall in Tignes and Ragettli took third, earning the Swiss the runner-up big air Crystal Globe. Italy’s Miro Tabanelli rounded out the big air World Cup standings, finishing third overall for the 2023-24 season.