Canadian teen Noah Porter MacLennan soars to ski big air silver at World Cup opener

Competing in his first-ever freestyle skiing World Cup big air final, Canada's Noah Porter MacLennan soared straight to the podium.

The 19-year-old won silver at the season-opening event in Chur, Switzerland, on Friday, placing only behind Olympic champion Birk Ruud of Norway.

Sitting in fourth place after two runs, Porter MacLennan knew he needed to throw something big down on his third and final jump — and he did just that, earning the top score of the round with an even 90 points.

The Ottawa native needed every bit of that score too, as his total of 180 placed him less than a point ahead of bronze medallist Troy Podmilsak of the U.S. (179.75) and fourth-place finisher Andri Ragettli of Switzerland (179.25).

HUGE second jump for Noah Porter Maclennan