Choi, Yamada claim snowboard halfpipe wins at Copper Grand Prix

The men’s and women’s snowboard halfpipe finals went down on Friday at the U.S. Grand Prix and World Cup stop at Copper Mountain. Here is the rundown of results from what was a Team USA Olympic qualifier.

Women’s finals 

Although she had already punched her ticket to the Milan Cortina Winter Games, two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim made the trip to Copper to get her competition season underway.

However, Kim fell in practice, resulting in her pulling out of the competition. In addition to Kim dropping out, Japan’s Sorana Ohashi also decided to not compete, bringing the 10-woman field down to eight. 

With the path to a podium finish perhaps a bit easier, Maddy Schaffrick of Steamboat Springs dropped into the pipe and put on a show for the fans huddled at the bottom of the venue. 

She landed a 540 with a melon grab, a frontside alley oop, a switch backside 540, and a frontside 720. Schaffrick earned a score of 63.75 to sit in third after the first round of runs.

California’s Maddie Mastro put down a nice first run, landing tricks like a crippler, a backside 540, a frontside 360, and a cab 360. Although her run was clean, it only scored 50 to rank fourth after the first round.

California’s Bea Kim was the third American to take a first run in the final. She was not able to keep her footing on the last hit, scoring a 27 to rank seventh heading into her final run.

Wanting to maintain her spot on the podium, Schaffrick went for it on her first hit of the halfpipe. She appeared to get lost while in the air, resulting in her crashing. She was then forced to wait out the rest of the competition to see where she would finish.

Mastro was one athlete on the outside looking in on the podium. Needing to drastically improve her score, she visualized her run at the top of the pipe before cruising in.

Mastro landed another signature crippler before bringing around a backside 540, a frontside 720, a cab 720, and a frontside 540. The run marked an improvement from her first, but it was not enough to make the podium. Mastro placed sixth with a score of 61.75.

After not being able to put down a clean first run, Bea Kim executed on her last run of the day. She put down a stylish and technical run to score 75.25. It was enough for Kim to finish on the podium, taking third.

“I have come back from injury and this was my first competition back, so to be able to do it in the U.S. with the fans and my family watching, means a lot,” Kim said. “It is definitely really good to have this one under my belt. It puts a little bit more confidence in me that I am back in the competition scene and that I can do it.”

Korea’s Gaon Choi and Japan’s Sena Tomita secured the top two spots on the podium. As the final competitor to drop in, the 17-year-old Choi skyrocketed to first by putting down what the judges thought was the best run of the day. 

Choi finished in first with 94.50 and Tomita took second with 88.75. Schaffrick was the second American, taking fifth with 63.75.

Men’s finals

Eagle’s Jake Pates was the first to drop in. With a steady breeze cutting across the pipe, he put down a switch back double 1080 before falling.

Longmont’s Chase Blackwell was the next American. He most notably landed back-to-back 1080s before stomping a frontside 1260, scoring 79.

Idaho’s Chase Josey followed Blackwell. He successfully landed his tricks at the top, but bumped against the wall while trying to land his final trick.

Edwards’ Ryan Wachendorfer was the next athlete to take advantage of competing close to home. With friends and family cheering him on, he finished his first run with a front double 1080. The run earned a 63.25, slotting in behind Blackwell.

After the first round, Blackwell led the contingent of Americans in third. He was preceded by Japan’s Yuto Totsuka in first (90.50) and Australia’s Valentino Guseli in second (79.75).

By the time Blackwell dropped in for his final run, the seasoned rider sat in fourth. Needing to put down a solid run to jump back into podium position, he entered the pipe riding switch, but fell while trying to set up for his second trick.

After Blackwell’s second run, the competition was truly dialed up. Wachendorfer was able to improve on his first run score, stomping a double Michalchuk after landing heel-heavy on his last trick.

Wachendorfer scored 65.75, finishing seventh.

Pates was also able to land a clean run on his final run. He scored 68.25 to take sixth.

Japan’s Ryusei Yamada was able to shake up the rankings the most. After sitting in fourth heading into the second round, he stomped his final run to secure his first World Cup win with 94.50.

Totsuka followed Yamada in second (90.50), with Guseli preventing the Japanese sweep by finishing third (84.75). Blackwell finished as the top American in fifth with 79.

Connecticut’s Joey Okesson and Oregon’s Alessandro Barbieri both notched finishes within the top 10. Okesson took ninth (55.25), Barbieri finished 10th (46.50), and Josey finished 12th.

The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix concludes Saturday with the men’s and women’s halfpipe skiing finals.