Pat Burgener, the Swiss snowboarder's trump card in the halfpipe, landed in 7th place in the final of the Freestyle World Championships in the Engadine.
29.03.2025, 15:27
29.03.2025, 15:52
SDA
The man from Crans-Montana put in a spirited performance in adverse conditions, but did not get through without making any mistakes.
After a botched first run, the 2017 and 2019 World Championship bronze medallist withstood the pressure and completed his second run in the snowstorm - albeit with a few minor mistakes. With 75.75 points, the amateur musician was the best of the Swiss trio in the final. The 17-year-old Mischa Zürcher, who has only competed in a World Cup event once before, made the most of his potential at this World Championships. The man from Appenzell took 11th place with 64.50 points. His colleague Gian Andrin Biele, who had also already fulfilled expectations by qualifying for the top 16 in the final, finished 14th (53.00).
Not much more was possible for Swiss-Ski. Other athletes were in a different league. The Japanese, who were aiming for a triple victory even without their co-favorite Ayumu Hirano, who had to withdraw at short notice, were unable to get past Australian Scotty James and his fourth World Championship gold. In his red boxing gloves, the 30-year-old struck back after winning the last of his three previous World Championship gold medals in 2019. James fended off the attacks of Ruka Hirano (92.25) and Yuto Totsuka (92.00) with a dream run and a score of 95.00 in the second round.
