Canadian teen snowboarder Eli Bouchard wins first World Cup gold medal

Canadian snowboarder Eli Bouchard soared to his first win on the World Cup circuit at a big air competition Thursday in Aspen.

The 17-year-old from Lac-Beauport, Que., won gold in the event with a total score of 189 points after placing first in the final’s first and third runs and runner-up in the second.

Bouchard is in his first World Cup season after winning big air gold at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea.

Japanese snowboarders Taiga Hasegawa (184.5) and Yuto Miyamura (171.25) rounded out the podium.

Regina’s Mark McMorris (161.25) was sixth and Liam Brearley of Gravenhurst, Ont., (137.25) was seventh.

In the women’s event, Zoi Sadowski Synnott was first with 172.25 points, followed by Japan’s Kokomo Murase (170.25) and Momo Suzuki (150). 

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