Fortunately, Friday turned out as a picture-perfect, bluebird day for the highly anticipated Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe event where Monster Energy’s Kim was looking for her first FIS World Championship title. Kim had already claimed gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics next to X Games gold in 2018 and 2019, so a World Championship title would complete snowboarding’s unofficial ‘Grand Slam’ of winning all three titles.
Facing the world elite of superpipe snowboarders, Kim sent a technically perfect routine down the massive halfpipe on Park City Mountain: A huge Indy air, frontside 1080 tailgrab, Cab 900 stalefish, switch back 360 mute and a big 540 Mc Twist Indy earned the world’s most competitive snowboarder 93.5 points and the gold medal on her first run. Taking her final run as a victory lap, Chloe stoked the crowd by almost landing a signature move never attempted in competition before – a front double cork 1080.
“I’m super stoked to take home the win here at our first legit World Championships. I love it here in Park City, and I’m proud of all the ladies’ riding today,” said Kim upon winning the 2019 FIS Snowboard World Championships. Kim was listed among the ‘Most Influential People of 2018’ by TIME Magazine and now officially holds all of snowboarding’s major titles.
In the highly contested Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe final, Monster Energy’s Totsuka once again turned heads with his mixture of high-flying aerials and technical ability. On his second run, the 17-year-old rookie from Yokohama, Japan, landed a huge 1440 double cork mute, huge cab 1080 tailgrab, double cork 1260 frontside, backside 900 and a massive frontside double cork 1080 for 92.25 points and a strong silver medal finish. Totsuka already claimed silver at the recent X Games 2019 and is emerging as a constant podium threat despite his young age.
As the final snowboarding event of the 2019 FIS World Championship, Snowboard Slopestyle also suffered from inclement weather. Sunday’s finals had to be cancelled due to strong winds, crushing podium aspirations for qualified Monster riders Darcy Sharpe, Sebbe De Buck and Rene Rinnekangas.
In Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle, Monster Energy’s Anderson took bronze on the strength of her flawless qualifying run. On the stacked obstacle course at Park City Mountain resort, the two-time Olympic gold medalist hit the rail section with switch boardslide 270 and boardslide 270, followed by frontside 720 mute, backside 540 mute and highly technical cab double cork 900 for 87.25 points and the bronze medal. Anderson came in hungry for a podium spot after missing slopestyle at the recent X Games Aspen 2019 following a crash in the Big Air event, where she also claimed bronze.
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