China’s Cai Xuetong ‘stomps her authority’ over Winter Olympics warm-up, while Japan’s Ruka Hirano takes top spot in men’s event

Snowboarder dominates half-pipe event in United States with almost flawless final run

Switzerland’s Jan Scherrer ruined a Japanese sweep of podium honours with a stellar final run to win silver ahead of bronze medallist Yuto Totsuka in men’s event

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Cai Xuetong reacts after her final run. Photo: AP

Published: 2:58pm, 13 Dec 2021

China’s two-time world champion snowboarder Cai Xuetong nailed her final run of the day to stand atop the podium at the 2021 Grand Prix, held at Copper Mountain, 77 miles west of Denver.

On the men’s side, Youth Olympic Games champion Ruka Hirano of Japan won the men’s competition, with US snowboard legend Shaun White finishing eighth at one of two December tune-ups and qualifying events leading to the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games.

With more than 1,000 lined up to watch Cai’s final run, the Chinese snowboarder “stomped her final jump with authority,” according to one commentator.

Cai Xuetong soars over the half-pipe during the US Grand Prix snowboarding event at Copper Mountain. Photo: AP

Also known as “Tong Tong,” Cai, 28, a native of Harbin, China, “displayed great momentum on a clean final run with two 900s to claim victory in the US Grand Prix women’s snowboard half-pipe”.

Cai’s virtually flawless final run on Saturday earned her a score of 80.5 that jumped her into first place, ahead of second-place finisher Sena Tomita from Japan and bronze medallist Queralt Castellet from Spain.

For the men, Switzerland’s Jan Scherrer ruined a Japanese sweep of podium honours with a stellar final run to win silver ahead of bronze medallist Yuto Totsuka.

Ruka Hirano in action the US Grand Prix snowboarding event at Copper Mountain. Photo: AP

Hirano, 19, had an opening run of 89.25 that carried him to victory, while three-time Olympic gold medallist White’s first run of 75.50 put him into first place.