In an impressive display at the freestyle skiing World Cup stage held in Tignes, France, Estonian skier Henry Sildaru managed to qualify for the finals by the slimmest of margins. In the first round of qualifying, Sildaru scored 38.08 points, ranking him 20th in his group, but in the second round, he significantly improved his performance, scoring 68.71 points to place eighth overall, the last spot to advance to the finals. This thrilling competition was characterized by a tense battle, as the American competitor Troy Podmilsak was eliminated with a score of 67.93 points, just missing out on the cut.

The qualifying rounds featured a total of 16 competitors divided into two groups, and only the top eight from each group would proceed to the finals. The best score in the first group was achieved by Italian skier Miro Tabanelli, who impressed the judges with a score of 77.53 points. The competition in Tignes is particularly significant as it serves as a precursor to the upcoming Milano Cortina Olympic Games, where Sildaru aims to make a mark in the park skiing event.

As Sildaru prepares for the finals on March 19, he carries the experience from his second-place finish in a similar event held in the United States earlier in January. The stakes are high as he competes against notable skiers, including Norwegian Birk Ruud, the Olympic champion, who ranked fourth in this qualification round with a score of 73.36 points. Sildaru's journey through the qualifiers highlights not just his competitive spirit but also the growing prominence of Estonia in the realm of freestyle skiing.