Big Air is the jewel in the X Games crown: A place where it’s easy to lose count of flips and rotations and where previously unthinkable tricks get dropped ten a penny. With so many new faces on the invite list this year, we roped-in our resident tipster and Planks’ founder, Jim “do you like dags?” Adlington to open his form book and share his predictions.
Men's Ski Big Air Bookies Guide - X Games Aspen 2021
Men's Ski Big Air
Men's Ski Big Air
Big Air is the jewel in the X Games crown: A place where it’s easy to lose count of flips and rotations and where previously unthinkable tricks get dropped ten a penny. With so many new faces on the invite list this year, we roped-in our resident tipster and Planks’ founder, Jim “do you like dags?” Adlington to open his form book and share his predictions.
Since winning the Olso X Games in 2019 in front of a home crowd, Birk Ruud has been a force to reckon with. The first World Cup event of the year at Kreischberg went Birk’s way with a healthy lead over second-placed Antoine Adelisse. Antoine, the La Plagne local, has some unique trickery in his bag, like his switch triple cork 1440 pre-nose. He will undoubtedly be scrapping it out for the top spot. Alex Hall isn’t only a match for Birk Ruud in terms of stature, the 6’4” giant's switch double 1800 and double 1980 are podium-worthy tricks. He’s won gold before; he can win it again. Having come so close to the gold medal at last year’s X Games with the first-ever switch triple misty, Swiss skier Andri Ragettli is undoubtedly a threat. He’ll be keen to impress his 2 million TikTok fans. Henrik Harlaut, the all-time record holder for most X Games medals held by a ski athlete and winner of last year’s Big Air at Aspen, is the master of trick innovation. Last time it was the switch triple orbital 12 that blew the lid off the contest, but what surprise does the 29-year-old Swede have for X Games 2021? We’ll have to wait and see. Woodsy is no stranger to X Games glory and Big Air in Aspen is his happy place, accounting for three of his five X Games medals. Coming back from injury, Woodsy will be keen to show he’s still a contender. Hopefully, his switch triple octo grab 1620 makes an appearance.
Based on recent contest results it seems most likely that the Norwegian and Frenchman will be battling it out for gold with Hall and Regattli applying pressure from third and fourth. But don’t discount the old guard, both Woodsy and Henrik have the experience and trick catalogue to win the top spot on Saturday night. Go on Woodsy!
Back our boy Woodsy in his 8th X Games Big Air final.
If Woodsy wins, you win! Planks is refunding 100% of any purchases of Woodsy’s Signature Series, bought between now and the start of the Men’s Ski Big Air X Games Final, if Woodsy wins gold.
Last season he was out, injured, but Woodsy revels in underdog status. His previous X Games Big Air form speaks for itself with gold at Aspen in 2017 and bronze medals in the proceeding 2018 and 2019 events. And don’t forget, he’s still the reigning Slopestyle World Champion. Woodsy always shines under the pressure of the bright lights and never fails to bring positive vibes to Aspen.