Anna Gasser Becomes Oldest FIS World Cup Contest Winner

It’s been so tough to knock Great Britain’s Mia Brookes out of the top spot on the podium at FIS Big Air competitions that it took the queen to do so in Austria.

Anna Gasser, often called the queen of Big Air, took a first place finish at the FIS World Cup event in Kreischberg, Austria over the weekend. She came out of the gate strong by landing a cab triple 12 for a score of 93, nearly 13 points higher than the Japanese rider Iwabuchi Reira.

Gasser followed that with a backside double 1080 in her second run, which landed her a 74.75. By the time she was set to drop into her third run, she was already guaranteed victory.

“This one is very special. I am very happy. The level of the girls is just so great right now,” Gasser said to Olympics.com after. “To still be able to keep up with my younger competitors, it’s such a great time for me, and just relieved, happy. It’s kind of proof that it was right to keep on going, that I’m still on the right path.”

The win was her 10th Big Air World Cup victory, and 20th podium finish, but her first since December 2023. Gasser, at age 33, is now the oldest winner in FIS Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air history. She announced that this would likely be her last World Cup Big Air on home soil, as she plans to stop competing after the Olympics in Italy in 2026.

“It means so much to be on top of the podium here for the last time in Austria,” she said. Brookes, the 17-year-old phenom, finished in third place with 148 points. Iwabuchi claimed second place with a score of 157.75. Brookes is now atop the standings in both Big Air and overall park and pipe. She has podiumed in every contest so far this year.