Nick Goepper leads sweep for USA in men’s halfpipe as Eileen Gu wins 16th World Cup
Dec 07, 2024·Freeski Park & Pipe)
Chinese skier Eileen Gu has returned to the top of the all-time FIS World Cup wins leaderboard with a 16th victory, while Nick Goepper led a halfpipe clean sweep of high-scoring veterans for the USA.
Thirty-year-old Goepper made his unprecedented transition from slopestyle to halfpipe look easy on Saturday after landing the highest-scored run of the day at China’s Secret Garden resort.
Goepper pulled ahead with a 95.00 in his second and final run, and his arsenal of tricks included the first time a switch right bone air 900 tail has been done in competition.
The American was delighted to be able to cement his halfpipe transformation, as the three-time slopestyle Olympic medallist sets his sights on some halfpipe hardware at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Trailing Goepper by 2.75 points in second place was fellow U.S. freeskier Alex Ferreira, who claimed last season’s halfpipe and overall Freeski crystal globes after winning every competition on the halfpipe season calendar, including last year’s Secret Garden event.
At the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Ferreira earned the bronze medal just behind his silver medal-winning teammate David Wise. On Saturday in the same pipe, the pair switched positions, with the 34-year-old Wise finishing third after qualifying for Saturday’s final in pole position.
The U.S. clean sweep is the only time a FIS Freeski World Cup podium has featured all three athletes over the age of 30.
Canada’s Brendan Mackay finished just outside of the podium after winning the first event of the halfpipe season in Cardrona, New Zealand in September.
Meanwhile, Eileen Gu led the women’s competition on Saturday from the get-go after qualifications and finals were scheduled for the same day due to unfavourable weather conditions on Thursday.
The 21-year-old described Saturday’s three-run women’s final as a tough one despite taking the win with a second-run score of 90.00 for a right cork 900 lead Buick, left cork 900 japan, right 720 lead tail, switch left 360 Japan, left alley oop flat 540 mute, and right alley oop 180 blunt.
“I actually had a pretty heavy slam a few days ago in training and was just recovering alone in my room for three days,” said Gu.
“I came out today and had another tough slam (in) the first round of finals, so I was really going through it mentally, fighting a lot of demons all day."
Fellow Chinese skier Li Fanghui claimed second place with a score of 82.75 for her first World Cup podium in five years, while Svea Irving (USA) finished third with a score of 80.00.
Gu’s win on Saturday is her second of the 2024/25 halfpipe season and marks her 16th FIS World Cup career win, putting her back into a tie for the lead with Tess Ledeux (FRA) for most FIS Freeski World Cup wins of all time.
“I love it, I think it’s such an honour that two women are fighting for the title in a traditionally male dominated sport. To be able to have that is really exciting,” said Gu.
“With that said, I would love to compete in more slopestyle and big air contests and give myself a few more opportunities to pull ahead. It’s all love. Love the sport, love the competitors. I’m really happy to have such an amazing field pushing me.”
The next halfpipe contest of the 2024/25 FIS Freeski World Cup season will take place in Copper Mountain between 19 and 21 December.
HALFPIPE FACTS & FIGURES
Eileen Gu (CHN) has won 13 halfpipe World Cup events since 2020 for a total of 15 halfpipe podium finishes.
Gu is the all-time leader for halfpipe wins across men’s and women’s competition.
Gu is tied with Tess Ledeux (FRA) for most FIS World Cup wins of all time.
David Wise (USA) is the all-time leader for halfpipe World Cup finishes, with 19 since 2009.
With 30-year-olds Nick Goepper and Alex Ferreira, and 34-year-old David Wise all in the top-three, the men’s podium on Saturday was the first in FIS Freeski World Cup history featuring three athletes aged 30+.
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