Bobby Brown of the USA has claimed this year’s AFP Men’s Slopestyle title. The 18-year-old put together a rock solid season, with some big podiums and even bigger wins to take the crown from last year’s winner, Tom Wallisch, who finishes second in the AFP rankings this year. “Yeah I was stoked when I heard I had won! I Couldn’t have asked for a better year,” says Brown. “I had tons of fun and did pretty well. What more could  you ask for?” Bobby, who is currently rehabbing a back injury sustained while filming in Sun Valley in March, missed the final slopestyle event of the year, The Dumont Cup, as well as the final two big airs of the AFP season. “I hurt my back a few weeks ago, and was kind of bumming, but when I heard the news I was stoked and realized I had a great season.”
While Bobby consistently skied well, including two Winter Dew Tour podiums, two X Games podiums, two podiums in early season New Zealand comps and multiple Big Air results, Bobby only needed three of those to lock up the title. Unveiling his new switch double misty-flip 1260, in addition to a rock solid run, Bobby took gold at Winter X Games in Aspen, in only his second trip there. And it was the same switch double misty-flip and huge bag of tricks that allowed Bobby to snag the silver at Winter X Games Europe in Tignes. And Bobby’s flawless air sense and concrete competition consistency to take the win at the Winter Dew Tour Mount Snow. “I am not one of the guys with flawless style such as Wallisch, (even though I try) so I was trying to go a big as possible and put together really difficult runs. I guess it worked,” says Brown of his competition strategy.
With the level of slopestyle skiing skyrocketing this year, will Bobby have a target on his back when the slopestyle contests resume next fall? “The level is going to be insane so I am going to need to be on top of my game if I want to take the title next year,” explains Bobby. “I’m for sure going to be gunning for it again.” Bobby Brown will have his work cut out for him as the race was super tight this year, and next year promises to be just as close. Tom Wallisch finished a mere 100 points behind Brown and Andreas HÃ¥tveit finished just 100 points back from Walisch. “So many people are pushing the sport and I can’t wait to see where it goes in the future,” praises Brown. “Tom and Andreas are insane.”
As the Slopestyle category of the AFP rankings draws to a close, all eyes are on the Big Air in Ã…re, Sweden for the Jon Olsson Invitational and the Superpipe in Whistler, Canada for the Telus WSSF events, as the Superpipe and Big Air AFP races are super tight, and we could see some final shifts in the rankings. Jossi Wells has already been named AFP Men’s Overall Champion and Kaya Turski was names the AFP Women’s Slopestyle Champ for the season.
For more information, visit the AFP web site.
