Kim Defends, Mastro Silver in World Championship Halfpipe

U.S. Snowboard Team members Chloe Kim and Maddie Mastro proved style and strength, claiming gold and silver in halfpipe at the Aspen 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships, featuring the Visa Big Air presented by Land Rover, at Buttermilk in Aspen, Colo., Saturday.

“I think that it was a challenging day today with less than ideal conditions, but everyone stepped up and put down some of their best runs of the year today,” said Rick Bower, U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe Pro Team Head Coach. “So, overall it was a really great day. I am excited to see them one and two.”

It was all smiles today for Kim, as she defended her 2019 World Championship title. Despite less than ideal halfpipe conditions with wind, snow, and a sprained ankle from practice, Kim prevailed. Her first two runs — both identical in their technicality and style — included switch backside rotations, laid-out mctwists, and a frontside 900. Kim, still coming off a competition hiatus for school, has made it clear — she is back.

“I am feeling really good,” said Kim. “I am so grateful to be out here and happy the weather held up for the contest. Winning feels really good!”

Mastro also had a strong performance, earning the silver. She most notably stomped a double Crippler and frontside 900 in her final run, showcasing her best competition run of the season. Mastro, remaining consistent throughout her runs, giving an impressive show of both pre-drop karaoke skills and aggressive riding, defining the best of women’s halfpipe snowboarding.

“It’s something I have been building toward all season and I am going to try and build off that run,” said Mastro. “We haven’t had many contests this year, so it has been a lot more pressure when they do come. So to have all that energy built up and accomplish that run, it’s an amazing feeling that nothing can really compare to — that’s what we work for.”

Today in the men’s halfpipe finals, there was a heavily stacked lineup of talent with Chase Josey finishing fifth, Chase Blackwell sixth, and Taylor Gold in eighth. Japan’s Yuto Totsuka took the gold, upsetting Australia’s Scotty James who settled for silver. Switzerland’s Jan Scherrer claimed bronze.

Blackwell, the U.S. Snowboard team’s up-and-coming rider boosted technical back-to-back double corks and a Cab 1080. Josey presenting some of the most technical runs of the day, showed his deep arsenal of tricks through double Michalchuks and a double Ally-oop, although washing out in two of his runs. Finally, Gold gave a good showing on home soil through boosting his signature McTwist Chicken Wing and double Michalchuk.

RESULTS
Men’s Freeski Slopestyle
Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle

START LISTS
Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe
 

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

Sunday, March 14
12:00 a.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Freeski Halfpipe - next-day broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
11:55 a.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Women’s Snowboard Big Air Qualifying - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock
12:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Snowboard Halfpipe - next-day broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBC
2:10 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Men’s Snowboard Big Air Qualifying, heat 1 - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock
4:25 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Men’s Snowboard Big Air Qualifying, heat 2 - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock

Monday, March 15
11:55 a.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Women’s Freeski Big Air Qualifying - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock
2:10 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Men’s Freeski Big Air Qualifying, heat 1 - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock
4:25 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Men’s Freeski Big Air Qualifying, heat 2 - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Streaming Peacock

Tuesday, March 16
12:00 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Freeski Big Air - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN, Streaming Peacock
1:30 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Freeski Slopestyle - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
3:30 p.m. FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships - Snowboard Big Air - LIVE, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN, Streaming Peacock

Sunday, April 11
2:00 p.m. World Freestyle Championships Event Recap, Aspen, Colorado, Broadcast NBCSN

SCHEDULE
Aspen 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships
Slopestyle, Halfpipe, and Big Air
March 10-16

Snowboard:
March 14 - Big air qualifications
March 16 - Big air finals

Freeski:
March 15 - Big air qualifications
March 16 - Big air finals
 

FOLLOW
Instagram - @ussnowboardteam
Instagram - @usfreeskiteam
Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard

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