Vail’s Tess Johnson takes sixth in Idre Fjall World Cup mogul competition

Vail’s Tess Johnson is off to another consistent start on the FIS Freestyle moguls World Cup tour.

The Ski and Snowboard Club Vail alumna — who was fifth in Ruka, Finland on Nov. 30 — was one of three Americans to ski into the super final at the second stop last weekend in Idre Fjall, Sweden.

“I’m super thrilled to have skied in two super finals in a row for the two World Cups we’ve had this year,” Johnson said. “I have a new trick that I’ve been competing, a cork 720 with a grab on the top air, and that’s been going really well. Generally, I’m just happy with how I’m skiing as well as my mentality this year, and I can’t wait to continue the momentum and improve each day.”

Johnson placed sixth as Australian Anthony Jakara picked up the win with an 82.94 score. Perrine Laffont (80.89), who took the victory in Ruka on Nov. 30, placed second and Canada’s Maia Schwinghammer (80.71) rounded out the podium.

“It feels good to finish up in first place,” Anthony, last year’s winner in Idre Fjall, told FIS media. “I don’t think there was any more pressure than any other competition. I know what I’m trying to achieve every time. I’m competing against all those other girls, but I’m kind of just competing against myself in a way.”

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The cold, foggy day created icy conditions, which lended to fast times on the 239-meter ‘Mascots Delight’ course. Jaelin Kauf posted the highest time score (18.41) on the 26-degree pitch to lead the American trio in the super final with a fourth-place finish. Olivia Giaccio was fifth and Johnson came in sixth. It was the second week in a row where three Americans qualified for the super finals.

“So we have each other for support and inspiration in every round which makes it extra fun,” Johnson added.

Fog forced Idre Fjall event organizers to cancel the dual moguls competition scheduled for Dec. 7. The World Cup originally scheduled for this weekend in Alpe d’Huez, France was also canceled.

“But we are making the best of the added recovery time and looking ahead to the World Cup in Bakuriani next weekend,” Johnson said.

Fellow Ski and Snowboard Club Vail alumni Kai Owens and Dylan Walczyk also competed in Sweden on Dec. 6. Owens was 27th in qualification and Walczyk finished 15th overall in the men’s competition, where Mikael Kingsbury claimed his 92nd-career World Cup win.

Johnson and Owens sit in fifth and ninth, respectively, in the overall moguls standings as the tour heads to Bakuriani, Georgia, for moguls and dual moguls Dec. 20-21.