Big week in Copper set for big halfpipe showdowns

After a stellar season-opener at the former Beijing 2022 Olympic venue in Secret Garden (CHN) last weekend, the FIS Snowboard halfpipe World Cup is straight back into action this week, where the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain will be the final Park & Pipe World Cup event of before we break for the holidays.

Halfpipe qualifications at Copper will be getting underway at 9:30 MT on Thursday with the women, followed by men’s heat one at 11:50, and heat two at 14:00. Finals are then going down on Saturday beginning at 13:00.

MASTRO LOOKING FOR FIRST WORLD CUP WIN, BUT ONO AND CHOI STAND IN WAY

While the women’s field id down a couple a couple of big names after Beijing winner Cai Xuetong and runner-up Liu Jaiyu both elected to stay back in China following their podiums on home soil, we are set to see another one of the world’s finest take her place on the start list, as last season’s halfpipe and Park & Pipe overall crystal globe winner Mitsuki Ono of Japan is back in the mix.

Also the Bakuriani 2023 World Championships bronze medallist, Ono last season was nearly unstoppable, taking victories in three of four World Cups entered on her way to the globes. It seems that whatever ailment was keeping her out of Secret Garden has been healed, and she’s ready to get back in the podium hunt this week.

Ono’s return might be bad news for the USA’s own Maddie Mastro, who finished third at Secret Garden and is still searching for her first career World Cup victory. Mastro has probably spent more time in the Copper Mountain halfpipe than any other rider in the field, however, and a little home field advantage might help her finally grab that spot on top of the World Cup podium that has eluded her for so long.

Perhaps the most exciting News news coming out of Copper this week is the World Cup debut of Gaon Choi, the 15-year-old Korean phenom who stunned the halfpipe world with her X Games victory last season in her major international competition debut.

Mentored by the GOAT Chloe Kim, and hailed by many to be the next Chloe Kim (no pressure, kid), Choi has all the skills to make an immediate impact on the World Cup circuit. Will this week in Copper end up being the first of what is almost certain to be many, many World Cup podiums? Time will tell, but we’ve got a feeling the answer will be in the affirmative.

Others to watch out for in the women’s field include last season’s Copper Mountain winner Queralt Castellet of Spain, Ruki Tomita of Japan, and Canada’s Brooke D’hondt.

JAMES AND HIRANO SQUARE OFF AT COPPER FOR FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS

In the men’s competition we’re looking forward to watching essentially everybody who was on hand in Secret Garden back duking it out again here Copper, with Secret Garden top dawg and three-time Copper Mountain winner Scotty James of Australia leading the way.

While James hasn’t lost at Copper since the 2018/19 season, this year’s competition could be his most difficult yet as he seeks to keep the streak alive, as this will be the first time he’ll face down reigning Olympic champion Ayumu Hirano here at Copper in 10 years.

That’s right, both James and Hirano were in the mix at Copper back in 2013, and in the ensuing decade the pair has gone on to become two of the absolute best halfpipe riders the world has ever seen, with both doing their own part, in their own way, to reshape what is possible in the U-ditch. Now with five Olympic medals between them and innumerable other awards and accolades spilling out of their trophy cabinets, it’ll be fun to watch them go head-to-head at Copper at the peak of their powers.

Both James and Hirano will have some national back-up with them this week, with James’ compatriot Valentino Guseli hungry for redemption in the halfpipe after just missing out on big air finals here in Copper, and Hirano the leader of the incredibly strong Japanese team that also features his brother Kaishu, their not-brother Ruka Hirano, Yuto Totsuka and Shuichiro Shigeno.

And of course, don’t forget about reigning halfpipe World Champion Chaeun Lee of Korea, who joined James and Ruka Hirano on the podium in Beijing this past weekend and has looked explosive through training this week in Copper.

For the host U.S. squad it’s likely going to be Lucas Foster and his mind-bending double alley-oop McTwist leading the way, while Chase Josey, Joey Okesson and Chase Blackwell should also be pushing for a spot in the 10-man final.

Stay tuned to our social media channels for full where-to-watch info closer to finals time.

QUICK LINKS

• Copper Mountain data page (start lists, livescoring, results)

• World Cup standings

• Photos

• FIS TV livestream and highlights