Liu and Podladtchikov win LAAX OPEN halfpipe event | Kim and Totsuka win 2018 Halfpipe World Cup title
Aug 31, 2018·Snowboard Park & Pipe
Jiayu Liu (CHN) and Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) have claimed victory in the LAAX OPEN Halfpipe World Cup event which took place in challenging conditions today with the snow keeping on falling in the Swiss Alps.
Over the last couple of days, a low had mixed up the schedule of the iconic snowboard event already, and while today's first runs in the super pipe at Crap Sogn Gion took place in decent conditions, the weather changed again for the worse.
But riders foiled Mother Nature who had caused the cancellation of the slopestyle competition yesterday by braving the dumping white and sending it in the two run-best one count final which turned into a high-class show as expected with today's contest not only being the final one of the international Olympic qualifier process for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games but also the ultimate halfpipe competition of the 2017-18 FIS Snowboard World Cup season.
As a result, the first crystal globes of this winter were awarded to the respective top ranked riders in the famous resort.
While Chloe Kim (USA; 2,800) who had decided no to travel over the pond to compete in this winter's fifth and last halfpipe competition earned her career's first title with two wins and a second rank finish, today's second Yuto Totsuka (JPN; 3,000) was able to wrap up his first ever World Cup season by getting his hands on the coveted trophy.
Only 16 years of age, the talent from Kanagawa almost got the win in Laax today, too, scoring a 88.25 in his second run but couldn't beat the top score of 90.50 earned by Podladtchikov.
The reigning Olympic champion had landed a frontside 900 tail to backside 720 nose, frontside double cork 1080 frontside grab, cab double cork 1080 mute and a sweet backside alley oop double rodeo melon to walk away with the prize cheque.
It was the Russia-born Swiss rider's fourth World Cup win, which meant a lot to the 29-year-old as “to win in front of a home crowd is always special.”
His home soil victory in the prestigious event was only overshadowed by the injury of his fellow teammate David Habluetzel who took a nasty slam in his second run.
The fifth ranked rider of the 2014 Sochi Olympics was transported to the hospital in Chur by helicopter where doctors diagnosed a bruised lumber spine and shoulder as well as a concussion. The 21-year-old, however, is stable and will remain in the hospital for observations.
Yiwei Zhang (CHN) rounded out the men's podium as third with a 87.00.
In the women's event, Zhangs teammates Jiayu Liu (96.25) and Xuetong Cai (83.75) went first and second with Liu securing her career's tenth by throwing down a clean run which she opened with a switch backside air to cab 720 melon, frontside 540 stale and backside 540 mute while wrapping things up with a frontside 720 stale.
“To win in Switzerland is incredible. It's such a beautiful country, and the people are fantastic,” she said.
Queralt Castellet (ESP) was able to keep the momentum from her Snowmass win last weekend finishing third scoring a 81.75.
Results
