Snowboarding

Kim Tops Toyota Grand Prix Opener

by
USSA
2016-12-16 15:01
 

COPPER MOUNTAIN, CO (Dec­. 16, 2016) – Continuing her pattern of halfpipe dominance, Chloe Kim (Torrance, CA) took the win for the ladies and Chase Josey (Hailey, ID) was third for the men at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain on Friday.

It was a second-consecutive U.S. Grand Prix win for 16-year-old Kim, who made history at the Park City Grand Prix in February when she landed back-to-back 1080s (the first in competition for a woman) to take the win. The conditions at Copper Mountain on Friday were snowy and difficult, yet Kim was able to lay down a technical run that scored her a 95.50.

“I’m just stoked that I was able to put some runs down in these snowy conditions,” Kim said. “It’s so hard to ignore the snow and ignore the fact that your snowboard is going to go a lot slower than it usually would.” Kim held off a strong Chinese contingency—both Jiayu Liu and Xuetong Cai put down strong runs that placed them second and third respectively.


Chase Josey rode to third at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix. (Getty Images-Sean M. Haffey)

Josey earned his second World Cup podium finish—he was second at the Mammoth Grand Prix in January. With a stellar run that included his signature “double bacon flip,” (a switch double crippler), Josey posted a high score of 93.75. “I feel super stoked to get on the podium, Josey said. “It’s such a relief; it feels good.”

Swiss snowboarder Pat Burgener won the event with a first-in-competition switch backside double cork. Burgener edged out his countryman Iouri Podlatchikov, who finished second.

 

Also making the final for the Americans: Elena Hight (South Lake Tahoe, CA) was fifth; Louie Vito (Bellefontaine, OH) was fifth; Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT) was sixth; Greg Bretz (Mammoth Lakes, CA) was ninth; Danny Davis (Highland, MI) was 10th and did not compete in the final.

Snowboarding at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain weekend will continue Saturday at 12:30 p.m. MST with big air as a part of the Team USA Winter Champions Series. Watch it live on NBC starting at 2:30 p.m. EST.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Chloe Kim won. Her best run scored a 95.50: backside air, frontside 900 tail, McTwist, frontside 720 indy, Cab 720 stalefish
  • Chase Josey was third. His best run scored a 93.75: Double Michalchuk, frontside double cork 1080 indy, switch double crippler, switch backside 900 mute

QUOTES

Chloe Kim
I’m just stoked that I was able to put some runs down in these snowy conditions…it’s so hard to ignore the snow and ignore the fact that your snowboard is going to go a lot slower than it usually would. I love how snowboarding is all about riding with your friends…no matter where we end up on the podium, we’re always going to be good friends and we’ll always have each other’s backs.

Chase Josey
I feel super stoked to get on the podium—it’s such a relief; it feels good. I’m just stoked I got three runs, landed two out of three super solid, so I’m hyped about that.

RESULTS
Men’s Halfpipe
Women’s Halfpipe

2016-17 TOYOTA U.S. GRAND PRIX BROADCAST SCHEDULE 
(Schedule subject to change)
*live streaming is available on nbcsports.com/live or via the NBC Sports App

Copper Mountain, CO

Live Streaming
Sat. Dec. 17 | 11:30 a.m.  | Halfpipe Skiing

Broadcast
Sat. Dec. 17 | 2:30 p.m. | NBC | Big Air Snowboarding (Team USA Winter Champions Series)
Sun. Dec. 18 | 2:00 p.m. | NBC | Halfpipe Snowboarding
Sun. Dec. 18 | 3:00 p.m. | NBC | Halfpipe Skiing

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