Chloe Kim claims fifth Laax Open title as Scotty James goes back-to-back for his fourth
Jan 18, 2025·Snowboard Park & Pipe
U.S. snowboarder Chloe Kim and Australia’s Scotty James each won big on the legendary Laax halfpipe in a high-scoring and history-making final under the lights on Switzerland’s Crap Sogn Gion mountain.
Twenty-four-year-old Kim won the women’s event on Saturday night after judges awarded her 96.50 for her first run, the highest score of the night.
Kim also made history by becoming the first woman in snowboard halfpipe competition to stomp a switch frontside double cork 1080 in her winning first run.
Even more history-making went to fellow U.S. rider Maddie Mastro, who stepped up in a huge way on run two by stomping both her signature double crippler and a frontside double cork 1080 on her way to a 94.50-scoring second place finish.
With that run, Mastro became the first woman in halfpipe competition history to stomp two double inverts in one run, as well as the first woman in competition history to put down the frontside double cork 1080.
Third place for the women went to Korean phenom Gaon Choi, who returned to the halfpipe where she suffered a season-ending injury in 2024 to earn third place honours in what was arguably the most progressive women’s halfpipe final of all time with a score of 93.25.
For Kim, Saturday’s result is her fifth World Cup win in Laax after she previously won the halfpipe event in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
The two-time Olympic Winter Games halfpipe champion seemed to effortlessly impress judges and spectators alike on Saturday but admitted the cab double was outside of her comfort zone.
An ecstatic Kim hugged her prodigy Choi as the pair celebrated their first run performances.
Fourth place went to Japan’s Mitsuki Ono, who was among four Japanese riders in the field of eight women in Saturday’s final.
In the men’s competition, 30-year-old Scotty James of Australia proved once again why he is considered to be one of the greatest competitors in the history of snowboarding by stepping up his second and final attempt to put down a run that included a massive switch frontside triple cork 1440 on his way to a score of 95.75 and his 10th career World Cup victory.
James took the win ahead of Japanese rider Ruka Hirano’s score of 93.75, while compatriot and reigning Olympic halfpipe champion Ayumu Hirano claimed third place with a run one score of 87.00.
For James, Saturday’s win was his fourth victory in Laax after 2024, 2020 and 2019, as well as the seventh time he has finished on the Laax podium since 2017.
“It’s definitely not getting any easier. I have to say this year I’ve been really challenged and everyone is riding unbelievable. I think the whole top 12 field could have been on the podium,” said James.
Yuto Totsuka (JPN) narrowly missed out on a 21st World Cup halfpipe podium with a fourth place score of 85.25.
James said that the legendary Laax Open holds a special place in his heart and those of his competitors.
“It’s one of the best pipes in the world, there are no excuses but to go 110% on this thing, so you’ve got to bring your best if you want to stand on top, or even on the podium for that matter,” he said.
“To do that here in Laax, it gets harder and harder every year.”
After three out of five halfpipe events on the 2024/25 FIS Snowboard World Cup calendar completed, James and Totsuka are tied in the halfpipe standings on 230 points each. Both men have one victory and one second place finish thus far this season.
In the women’s discipline standings, Mastro leads with 220 points from her Laax victory, sixth place in Copper (USA), and one second place in Beijing (CHN). Her closest rival, 15-year-old Sara Shimizu (JPN), trails Mastro on 181 points.
The next and fourth snowboard halfpipe event of the 2024/25 FIS Snowboard World Cup season will take place in Aspen (USA) between 30 January and 1 February.
