American snowboarders have a history of dominating podiums and the 2014-15 season was no different. The U.S. athletes graced the podium of everymajorevent in snowboarding from the first U.S. Sprint Grand Prix in Copper Mountain to the US Open in Vail and almost everything in between—including 30 podium finishes and three podium sweeps. Here are some of our favorite highlights.
Chloe Kim grabbed the gold in Aspen at the X Games. (Getty Images-Doug Pensinger)
CHLOE KIM WINS X GAMES GOLD
Never-been-done-before moments of glory are what the made-for-TV X Games is all about and thanks to Chloe Kim and Kelly Clark, this year did not disappoint. The media-hyped rivalry between 14-year-old phenom Kim and 31-year-old legend Clark came to a head under the lights in Aspen as Kim landed a switch backside air to cab 900 to switch backside 720 combo in her third and final run to beat seven-time X Games gold medalist Clark, making Kim the youngest competitor to ever win X Games gold.
Chase Josey won the second annual Red Bull Double Pipe. (Red Bull Content Pool-Chris Garrison)
CHASE JOSEY’S DOUBLE PIPE WIN
In its second year, the Red Bull Double Pipe put together two halfpipes with a 35-foot channels, spines, jumps and rails, challenging pipe riders to step outside of their choreographed runs and get creative and technical. 19-year-old Chase Josey impressed us all with his technical transfers and creative riding to win this year’s Double Pipe and put him on the map as one of the most well rounded pipe and park riders in the business.
Eric Willet, Chase Guldemond and Eric Beauchemin stand on the podium at the U.S. Grand Prix in Park City. (Getty Images-Gene Sweeney Jr.)
In front of thousands of people in downtown Istanbul, Ty Walker won the first-ever women’s FIS big air World Cup. This was the first time women were included in an FIS-sanctioned big air and Walker threw down two solid jumps to stomp her way into the history books.
Lindsey Jacobellis rides to her fourth World Championships title in Kreischburg. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Stanko Gruden)
LINDSEY JACOBELLIS WINS FOURTH SBX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Kelly Clark wins the Burton US Open halfpipe comp. (Burton)
CLARK WINS EIGHTH US OPEN IN 13 YEARS
Kelly Clark is know for consistency, and that consistency has paid off—earning her wins at every major event in snowboarding from the Olympics to the X Games to the US Open. This year she grabbed her eighth US Open win in 13 years, which is consistently awesome and a nearly unbeatable record.
Taylor Gold competes in the Grand Prix at Copper Mountain, grabbing the overall win. (Getty Images-Tom Pennington)
TAYLOR GOLD TAKES BACK-TO-BACK WINS
Taylor Gold was the only male rider of the 2015 season to earn back-to-back wins in halfpipe. In a sport where 30 guys could win on any given day, this is a feat.
Ryan Stassel shreds to first at World Championships. (Getty Images-AFP/Michal Cizek)
Hailey Langland wins the U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain. (Mammoth Mountain/Peter Morning)
Hailey Langland Wins Grand Prix
14-year-old Hailey Langland took home top prize at the Mammoth Mountain Grand Prix surprising herself and impressing a top notch field of veteran competitors including Sochi silver medalist Enni Rukajärvi. This was Hailey’s first time competing at a major event and her first win. Not a bad way to kick off what is looking to be a long career.
Total season results count: four World Championships medals, 17 World Cup podiums, four Junior Worlds medalists, six X Games medals, four TTR top-three season finishers and 30 major event podiums.
