Park Citys Joss Christensen, reigning slopestyle gold medalist, left off U.S. Olympic team
One of the breakout stars of the 2014 Olympics won’t be in South Korea to defend his throne.
Park City’s Joss Christensen, who won gold in the men’s ski slopestyle event at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia, was left off the U.S. Olympic squad bound for Pyeongchang Olympics, which begin in two weeks. The 26-year-old suffered a torn ACL in May during a ski run in Mammoth Mountain, Calif.
While the innovative high-flying skier eventually returned to the snow this winter, Christensen wasn’t able to land on any podiums in an Olympic qualifying event. Without Christensen, the U.S. freeskiers will have Gus Kenworthy and Nick Goepper, who finished with silver and bronze, respectively, at the 2014 Olympics alongside Christensen.
McRae Williams, who grew up skiing alongside Christensen on the hills in Park City, made his first Olympic team as a discretionary choice. Williams is currently the reigning slopestyle world champion. He barely missed out on the 2014 Olympic team, which served as motivation during the last cycle.
Read more: https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2018/01/23/park-citys-joss-christensen-reigning-slopestyle-gold-medalist-left-off-us-olympic-team/