Sean Fitzsimons’ Gold Helps U.S. Dominate Slopestyle at Laax Open

Jake Canter competes in the men's snowboard big air heats at the 2021 Steamboat Resort World Cup on Dec. 2, 2021 in Steamboat Springs, Colo.

Sean Fitzsimons stood atop of the podium at the Laax Open on Saturday, and he had a familiar face by his side as he celebrated his victory.
Fitzsimons used a strong run to win the men’s slopestyle competition, and Jake Canter earned the bronze medal as American snowboarders had a strong showing at the world cup in Laax, Switzerland.
Americans took three of the top four spots, with Brock Crouch finishing right behind Canter. Norway’s Staale Sandbech earned the silver as the only non-American to finish on the podium.
Fitzsimons, a 21-year-old from Hood River, Oregon, picked up crucial points in the Olympic qualifying event after scoring 80.91 points on one of his runs to edge out Sandbech for the gold.
Fitzsimons was the first competitor to post a run of more than 80 points Saturday. Sandbech followed it up with his own 80-point run, but he had to settle for second with 80.43 points.
At one point, Canter, Crouch and Fitzsimons stood first, second and third, respectively, in the competition. 
Canter, an 18-year-old from Evergreen, Colorado, couldn’t maintain his lead over the final stretch of runs and took the bronze with 74.76 points. Crouch, 22, from Mammoth Mountain, California, finished less than a point behind Canter at 73.88.
The Laax Open is the third of six world cups in slopestyle this season.