PYEONGCHANG, South Korea — For a while, snowboarder Jamie Anderson was able to ride and focus on style without having to progress too much. The sport that values progression had become stagnant, and Anderson could reign as slopestyle queen without having to push her tricks.
Going into the Pyeongchang Olympics, it’s clear those days are over. First-time Olympians Julia Marino and Hailey Langland, who are 20 and 17 years old, respectively, have helped push the level of riding.
With many riders, including Anderson, trying double corks, the Olympic year has marked a big step forward in women’s snowboarding.