BY KAREN BOSSICK

Two-time Olympian Chase Josey placed eighth this weekend at the World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia.

The Sun Valley snowboarder was the only American to advance to the finals of the Bakuriani 2023 FIS Freestyle Ski, Snowboard and Freeski World Championships. Teammates Joey Okesson, Chase Blackwell and Lucas Foster failed to make it out of the qualifying rounds.

Josey had an intense three-run final to walk away with an eighth-place finish. It was his fourth World Championships appearance after competing on the world stage in 2015, 2019 and 2021. He put together a combination of tricks that he’s only competed with at the Olympics, including a front dub 10, cab 12, switch back 10 and double chuck front 12.

“It’s a tech combo that nobody’s really doing, so I’m just proud I landed it,” Josey told Kate Anderson, a reporter with U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “Today was my third time ever doing it in competition so I’m just stoked on that.”

Heavy winds in the morning and intermittent clouds and sun caused the flat bottom of the pipe to soften slightly and that tripped up many competitors. U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe Pro Team coach Maddy Schaffrick said the snow consistency was a little strange because it was soft but cold.

“But Chase rode really well,” she said. “He’s a seasoned veteran so he knows how to stay in his zone.”

Sixteen-year-old Chaeun Lee of South Korea finished on top of the podium in what was his first World Championships appearance. The silver medalist was Valentino Guseli of Australia and the bronze medalist, Jan Scherrer of Switzerland.