Chloe Kim competes in the Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe Semi Finals during the Laax Open, part of the … [+]
It was a historic women’s halfpipe competition at the Laax Open in Switzerland this weekend, and leading the charge were—unsurprisingly—two of the discipline’s longtime standard-bearers: Chloe Kim and Maddie Mastro.
Kim and Mastro may each be only 24 years old, but in the women’s halfpipe field, they’re seasoned vets. And they’ve both solidified their places in the sport’s legacy.
At 17, Kim became the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal at the Pyeongchang 2018 Games; at Beijing 2022, she became the first woman to win two gold medals in halfpipe. She was the first woman to land back-to-back 1080s in competition, and at X Games Aspen 2024, she became the first to land a 1260 in competition.
Mastro has made her own innovative contributions to the sport. She was the first to land the double crippler (a frontside double backflip with no spin) in competition.
And in the women’s halfpipe final at this weekend’s Laax Open, where Kim and Mastro earned gold and silver, respectively, they added more history to their résumés, becoming the first women to land a double cork 1080 in competition.
Kim’s switch frontside double 1080 came in her first run, which scored 96.50 and ultimately stood as the top score of the contest.
In her second run, Mastro landed the first frontside double 1080 in women’s competition as well as her double crippler, becoming the first woman to land two double inversions in one competition run.
Sixteen-year-old Gaon Choi of South Korea rounded out the women’s podium. Choi has cited Kim as her inspiration to begin snowboarding.
Japanese riders finished fourth through seventh—in order, Mitsuki Ono, who is currently ranked first in the world; Rise Kudo; Sena Tomita and Sara Shimizu. Spain’s Queralt Castellet finished in eighth.
As the road to Milano-Cortina 2026 gets underway, Mastro and Kim are ranked second and fourth in the world, respectively, earning valuable quota points for the U.S. as well as themselves.
Women’s halfpipe snowboarding has never been more exciting, and Kim and Mastro are setting the tone for the rest of the field. The two U.S. Snowboard Team members will carry their momentum into next week’s X Games Aspen.
Chloe Kim and Maddie Mastro have made history once again in the world of women’s halfpipe snowboarding at the Laax Open. These two talented athletes have been pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the sport, and their performances at this prestigious event have solidified their status as two of the best in the world.
Chloe Kim, the Olympic gold medalist and four-time X Games champion, put on a show-stopping performance in Laax, landing a flawless run that earned her the top spot on the podium. Her technical tricks and smooth style wowed the judges and spectators alike, showcasing why she is considered a true powerhouse in women’s snowboarding.
Maddie Mastro, another rising star in the sport, also delivered a standout performance at the Laax Open. With her impressive amplitude and stylish grabs, she secured a podium finish and proved that she is a force to be reckoned with on the halfpipe.
Together, Chloe Kim and Maddie Mastro are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in women’s halfpipe snowboarding, inspiring the next generation of athletes to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals. Congratulations to these two incredible athletes on their historic performances at the Laax Open!
Tags:
Chloe Kim, Maddie Mastro, women’s halfpipe, Laax Open, snowboarding, progression, historic event, female athletes, competition, snow sports, winter sports, achievements, record-breaking, athlete spotlight, professional snowboarders, Olympic champions.
#Chloe #Kim #Maddie #Mastro #Progress #Womens #Halfpipe #Historic #Laax #Open
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.