Hirano dominates Secret Garden halfpipe as Japan demonstrate their strength in depth

BySportsbeat

Published 21/12/2017 at 10:29 GMT

There was no stopping the Japanese snowboarders in Secret Garden as Olympic silver medallist Ayumu Hirano led a clean sweep of the podium in the men's halfpipe.

Eurosport

Image credit: Eurosport

Then aged just 15, Hirano became the youngest snowboarder to win an Olympic medal with silver in the Sochi 2014 halfpipe final.

And his preparations for next year's Games look to be on track after a dominant victory in China on Thursday.

The 19-year-old laid down storming runs with his opening two efforts to effectively blow away his rivals, posting scores of 95.50 and 97.75 and leave his third as a victory run.

Snowboard

Trespeuch claims first career crystal globe ahead of GB's Bankes

24/03/2024 at 19:46

Second place went to Raibu Katayama on 90.75 while Yuto Totsuka was third with 90.50. Ando Naito rounded off a Japanese top four with 88.75.

With two wins and a runners-up finish from this season, Hirano has a healthy lead in the World Cup standings with 2800 points, 1200 ahead of Totsuka.

The women's competition also saw a clear winner with home favourite Liu Jiayu taking top spot with 92.75.

The 2009 world champion laid down her best run with her opening effort, something matched by fellow podium finishes Sena Tomita of Japan and Cai Xuetong of China.

But it was Tomita who split the Chinese boarders after scoring 87.00 to Cai's 82.25.

World Cup leader Chloe Kim was absent but still holds on to top spot in the standings on 2000 points to Liu's 1640.

Sportsbeat 2017

Snowboard