Parkite freeskier Mac Forehand has always considered his World Championship results a mixed bag. Forehand had previously competed in three Championships, with two fourth place and two non-top 20 finishes. While most freeskiers would kill for those strong results, they won’t do for Forehand. The 2 3 year old already has an X Games gold, Crystal Globe title and several World Cup titles to his name. Last Friday, Forehand turned around his “mixed bag,” podiuming the World Championships slopestyle in Engadin, Switzerland, finishing second. Forehand finished the slopestyle finals with a score of 85.53; good friend and fellow Parkite Alex Hall joined him there in third place.Saturday, Forehand will gun for his second Championships podium in eight days. This time, he’ll be skiing the big air, again alongside Hall and others. Thursday, Forehand qualified second in his heat for the big air finals. The double-podium or potential victory would be another major accolade for Forehand. He’s looking to leave his mark one day in freeskiing through competition success and backcountry filming, like many others. “I really wanted to do well here,” said Forehand on the championships. “The (slopestyle) course here suits me really well.”The Enagadin course typically serves as the World Cup Finals course for the freeskiers, so they have familiarity on it. It also has larger-than-usual jumps, perfect for a strong big air skier like Forehand. Mac Forehand soars through the air on the slopestyle course in Engadin, Switzerland. Credit: Photo courtesy of Mac ForehandForehand now considers himself more of a slopestyle skier. His results, however, would indicate he’s still a force in both events, which he’ll finish in the top-10 in the year-end standings in. Forehand also finished both events in the top-five at the X Games in January.“The goal coming here was to win World Championships,” added Forehand. “But, getting second is definitely nothing I can complain about.”Forehand brought strong momentum into the Championships, podiuming the Tignes World Cup big air the week before. He’s still searching for his first win this season, after two last season.The big air jump conversely will be new to Forehand and the entire field. It’s right by a nearby town center and the same site as the ski jumps at the 1948 Winter Olympics. Forehand has a few tricks he’s excited to push himself on Saturday night. He’d like the win, podium, but also to make it home safely to enjoy a relaxing offseason. “It’s cool to see the heritage of it all,” said Forehand on the big air jump. “I’m looking forward to the night. … We’re gonna have a huge crowd.”Forehand and the field struggled to get much training in on the jump due to warm, spring conditions in Engadin. There are also a few concerns with the jump being a little small. In the offseason, Forehand plans to take a few trips, surf a bit and train in town. He’s still got a bit of backcountry filming to complete with Hall and others once the Championships are done. Forehand glides off the slopestyle rails at the World Championships. Credit: Photo courtesy of Mac Forehand“They’re like my brothers at this point,” said Forehand on Hall and the other freeski Parkites. “We spend the entire season and offseason with each other. We’re all best friends.”Forehand first moved to town four years ago and has felt accepted by his peers ever since. He loves being able to share success with them, especially on podiums where they get to spray each other with champagne. Forehand said it was a no-brainer to move out here from Vermont following high school. In the summers, he trains at the Olympic Park and Center of Excellence.“I’m from the great mountains of Vermont,” added Forehand. “Once I got done with high school, I was like, ‘Alright, I need to get out of here.’ … The skiing is amazing and the facilities here are exactly what I need.”The post Mac Forehand gunning for second World Championships podium appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less