US riders stand out at Copper Mountain halfpipe qualifiers

The hosting nation has delivered an impressive proof of its strength when it comes to halfpipe riding dominating the qualifiers for the 2017-18 season's second World Cup stop which currently takes place as part of the 2018 Toyota Grand Prix in Copper Mountain, CO. more than three months after the season's opener in Cardrona, New Zealand.

With all athletes focusing on qualifying for the Olympics, Team USA was on point despite of the partly heavy snow fall which seems to come in on an annually base as soon as riders have switched from training to competition mode.

But, as mentioned, the weather situation didn't bother the US roster at all with its team members going all in as the Copper Mountain World Cup stop counts as first event of US Olympic trials.

In the women's event, defending champion Chloe Kim, who has emerged from being the future of halfpipe riding to the now of halfpipe riding over the past years.

The 17-year-old halfpipe sensation landed a backside air to frontside 900 tail, mc twist indy, frontside 720 melon and a cab 720 mute to win the first heat with a score of 89.00.

However, it wasn't the top favourite for another win in the Copper Mountain superpipe to walk home with the top score.

Kim was topped by Maddie Mastro who threw in her hat in the race for an Olympic spot with back-to-back 540s to frontside 720 indy, haakon flip stale, a crippler and a backside seatbelt double grab to finish things off earning a 91.33.

And as if that wasn't enough of pure domination, three more US girls (Elena Hight, Kelly Clark and Arielle Gold) also clinched their spot in the finals of the top-8 women which also include China's Jiayu Liu, Sena Tomita (JPN) and Mirabelle Thovex (FRA).

Over in the men's event, things looked pretty similar with seven US riders making it to the finals featuring the likes of superstar Shaun White, last year's third Chase Josey, Gregory Bretz, Ben and Gabe Ferguson, Louie Vito and Danny Davis.

However, Raibu Katayama (JPN) and Scotty James (AUS) stood out as top qualifier of their respective heat with 2014 Olympic Silver medallist Ayumu Hirano (JPN) also surviving the qualification cut to move on to the finals of the top-10 men.

Katayama stomped a clean and well-executed run consisting of a frontside 1080 tail to cab 1080 double cork mute, frontside 900 mute, backside 900 mute and a final frontside 1080 double cork indy to take the top seat in heat 2 with a 96.00.

Reigning World Champion Scotty James started things off with a mellow backside 360 stale into a switch backside 900 mute before adding a cab double cork 1080 to frontside 900 melon and a double mc twist, all tricks spiced up with massive amplitude, to win heat 1 with the top score of the day (97.00).

While the qualifiers for big air are slated to take place today starting at 10:15 AM LOC (6:15 PM CET) with the women, halfpipe finals are slated to take place on Saturday at 11 AM LOC (7 PM CET).

Check Live TV informations here.

Liv scoring is also available for both, women and men.