Chloe Kim, a two-time Olympic snowboard champion, showed her unstoppable skills at the Aspen competition on February 2, 2024. She won her second consecutive halfpipe event of the 2024/25 FIS World Cup season.
Kim dominated right from her first run. She dazzled everyone with tricks like the frontside double cork 1080 and scored an impressive 96.50, making her victory almost certain. With this win, she celebrated her 12th career World Cup title.
In her second run, Kim aimed to improve her score but unfortunately fell on her first trick and couldn’t finish her last run.
Choi Gaon from South Korea held the second spot on the podium with a score of 88.75, while Japan’s Shimizu Sara took third with 85.25.
The men’s event was also thrilling. Hirano Ruka staged an incredible comeback, starting in last place after two runs but finishing first with a score of 93.25. This marked his first World Cup win in nearly two years, and it also led a sweep for Japan on the podium.
Yamada Ryusei set the pace early with a solid first run, scoring 88.25, but he couldn’t improve on his second run. Many competitors struggled in their runs, and Australian superstar Scotty James managed to move into second place with an 85.75.
Yamada’s final run ended in a tough moment when his board hit the lip and the bottom of the pipe, but he got up looking dazed but otherwise fine.
The action picked up when Olympic champion Hirano Ayumu jumped into first place with a score of 89.50. However, it was Hirano Ruka who ultimately claimed victory, with Yamada finishing in third, followed by Totsuka Yuto and James rounding out the top five.
