Halfpipe World Cup set to restart at Copper Mountain
Dec 11, 2019·Freeski Park & Pipe
A picture-perfect day of training on Tuesday wrapped up preparations for the 2019/20 Land Rover US Grand Prix FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup, with the world’s best halfpipe skiers now primed and ready to get back to competition in Wednesday’s qualifiers after a two-month break since the season-opener in Cardrona (NZL).
That Cardrona competition was an interesting one for shaping the rest of the 2019/20 season, especially on the women’s side where reigning PyeongChang 2018 gold medalist and two-time reigning crystal globe winner Cassie Sharpe suffered a concussion before the start of finals - the lingering effects of which will keep her out of competition until at least the new year.
In Sharpe’s absence it was 17-year-old Zhang Kexin of China stepping up to take her third career victory, with compatriot Ailing Gu (a recent transplant from the US team) following her up in second place, and Valeriya Demidova of Russia finishing in third.
Zhang looked exceptional in Cardrona and will be looking to pick up where she left off in the southern hemisphere back in September, while Demidova should be hungry for more after being somewhat disappointed with her third-place performance. 16-year-old Gu will unfortunately not be on hand at Copper, likely due to school commitments.
However, none of the competitors in Cardrona had to face down the USA’s A-team, and at Copper this week that squad will be out in full force, with the likes of Carly Margulies, Devin Logan and especially Brita Sigourney looking to make a statement in front of the home crowd.
Also to watch out for will be last season’s second-overall finisher on the halfpipe World Cup standings, Rachel Karker of Canada, who finished just off the podium in fourth at last season’s Copper Mountain World Cup. With Sharpe on the sidelines Karker is carrying the torch for the Canadian women.
Irving looking to carry Cardona momentum stateside
While the top US women largely sat Cardrona out, the country’s top men were out in full force in New Zealand, and had a hugely successful showing from which to build off for the rest of the season.
Tops amongst them was Birk Irving, who claimed a victory that actually made it two-straight wins when you go back to the final World Cup of 2018/19 in Mammoth Mountain. Only 20 years old, Irving is quickly proving himself to be the next one in a long line of exceptional US freeski halfpipe talent, and with the swagger he was carrying after Cardrona it would not be surprising to see him back on the podium again this weekend in Copper.
A whole slew of riders are going to have something to say about that though, with some of Irving’s US teammates tops amongst them.
Two-time reigning world champion Aaron Blunck finished third in Cardrona in September and was the winner last season in Copper, and the 23-year-old will be looking forward to a repeat performance this season. A little further down the US team entries you’ve got Taylor Seaton, Hunter Hess, and Alex Ferreira - just a few of the names amongst the massive US squad on hand capable of making it through qualifications and making some noise come finals time.
And then there’s David Wise, the two-time reigning Olympic champion and 2017/18 Copper World Cup winner, who’s returning to competition after suffering a serious leg injury at the Audi Nines last season. Wise is one of the world’s fiercest competitors in the halfpipe, but at what level he’ll be skiing at after his injury remains to be seen.
Beyond the US riders it’s the Canadians looking like the top squad to spoil the home team’s party, with 2018/19 halfpipe crystal globe winner Simon D’Artois, Cardrona second-place finisher Noah Bowman, and Brendan Mackay on hand and ready to boost.
Wednesday’s qualifications at Copper get underway with the women at 9:25 local time, followed by men’s heat one at 11:25 and heat two at 13:25. Finals on Friday, featuring the top 8 women and 10 men will begin at 11:00.
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QUICK LINKS:
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