Tess Johnson claims first World Cup win in 7 years in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Rudi Garmisch/FIS
After claiming her first podium in two seasons last month in Beidahu, China, Tess Johnson said she’s skiing better than ever. Apparently, there was another level the Vail mogul skier had yet to reach.
Johnson claimed her first World Cup win in seven years on Friday in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The 24-year-old’s signature venom grab and new cork 720 top air set her apart in the qualification, where she earned the top score. In the final, she defeated teammate Jaelin Kauf — who’d won the previous five World Cup moguls events — by 0.02 points as Japan’s Rino Yanagimoto was third.
“I’m super happy with the run I put down, it was a solid top to bottom,” Johnson told U.S. Ski and Snowboard media liaison Ryan Odeja. “I ran first out of the gate, which I’ve only done once in my career, so that was a good way to start the day early, and I’m really looking forward to finals.”
Due to inclement weather, the competition was cut short after the first finals round as Johnson secured her second World Cup win. The other came on March 4, 2018 in a dual moguls event in Tazawako, Japan. In 99 career starts, the 2018 Olympian has accrued nine podiums.
On Saturday, Kauf claimed her seventh win of the season and her 12th-straight podium as Johnson finished fourth. It was the sixth-straight event where Johnson has finished fourth or better.
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“I was pretty excited to get my first podium of the season last week and I’m hoping to build on that and put some good runs down,” Johnson stated. “The outcome is always in the back of our minds as competitors, but I’m keeping my focus on my skiing and what I can control.”
Fellow Ski and Snowboard Club Vail athlete Kai Owens finished 15th in the individual event and seventh in Saturday’s duals. In winning, Kauf secured the overall moguls and dual moguls crystal globes. The Steamboat Springs native also currently leads the moguls standings by six points over Perrine Laffont.
“That’s pretty incredible,” Kauf told FIS regarding her first career titles. “I’ve been working at that for a long time. So cool to win today, and I’m really excited about those titles, it’s really special.”
Johnson is third in the overall standings, just six points ahead of Canadian Maia Schwinghammer. The Vail skier’s best finish in her eight previous World Cup seasons is fifth (2019, 2022).
The World Cup season concludes in Livigno, Italy with a moguls competition on March 11 and dual moguls the following day.
