Andri Ragettli gets a second chance at a medal in the Big Air at the home World Championships in the Engadin on Saturday evening. The freeskier from Graubünden survived a tough qualification round, finishing 4th in his heat, which was just enough to secure a spot in the final. A top 5 ranking was required, and Ragettli narrowly met that mark.
Ragettli's performance comes on the heels of a disappointing fourth-place finish in slopestyle just a week ago. He showed resilience in the face of pressure, managing to qualify despite fierce competition. Fellow Swiss skier Fabian Bösch, the 2019 World Champion, fell short by just 1.25 points, finishing in sixth place. Colin Wili and Kim Gubser also failed to qualify, missing their marks by seven and ten points respectively.
Despite the absence of slopestyle world champion Mathilde Gremaud, who was knocked out in the earlier rounds, Switzerland will still be represented by a strong duo on Saturday evening. Sarah Höfflin, who was the standout performer in the women's qualification on Wednesday, will join Ragettli in the finals. The anticipation is building as the Big Air final is set to take place on March 29, 2025, at 19:30.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Ilia Malinin has been making waves at the 2025 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Boston. The USA figure skater, buoyed by the home crowd, found his 'flow state' during the short program, scoring an impressive 110.41 points. This score not only put him more than three points ahead of the competition but also marked a new personal best for Malinin, improving his previous record by 3.16 points.
Malinin's performance was a culmination of hard work and a shift in his training approach after winning his third consecutive national title in January. "I was really zoned in in that program, but some of the times I really do remember, the key points like at that end when the whole audience was going crazy," Malinin reflected after his skate. His routine featured a quad flip and a triple Axel, both executed flawlessly, which drew loud cheers from the audience. The atmosphere was electric, with fans erupting in applause after each successful landing.
Reflecting on his experience, Malinin said, "I was not expecting them to cheer me on halfway through my step sequence, but it was definitely an uplifting experience and it felt really good." The 20-year-old skater, who had previously set his short program best at 107.25 during the Lombardia Trophy in September 2024, seemed to thrive under the pressure of performing at home.
After completing his program, Malinin was awarded a custom Boston Bruins jersey with his nickname, "Quadgod," emblazoned on the back. This recognition further fueled his confidence as he prepares for the upcoming free program, scheduled for March 29, 2025. Malinin's focus now shifts to breaking his personal bests in both the free program and overall scores, which remain from his victory at the 2024 ISU World Figure Skating Championships.
Both athletes, Ragettli and Malinin, are set to compete in their respective finals on Saturday, March 29, 2025, and the excitement surrounding these events is palpable. Fans are eagerly awaiting to see if Ragettli can clinch a medal in Big Air and if Malinin can extend his undefeated season with another stellar performance on home ice.
As the day approaches, the stakes are high for both athletes, and the pressure is on. Will Ragettli secure a medal in front of a home crowd? Can Malinin continue his winning streak and defend his world title? The answers will unfold in what promises to be an exhilarating day of competition.
