China's snowboarding queen Cai Xuetong proved age is just a number as she carved her way to a silver medal at the FIS Snowboard Halfpipe World Cup in Colorado! The three-time world champion landed an epic 88.50-point second run to secure her podium spot, battling against Japan's teen sensation Sara Shimizu who took gold with 90.50 points.
Why it matters: This event marks Cai's fierce comeback after the season opener in Zhangjiakou – and she's still the only athlete consistently challenging younger rivals. Meanwhile, all eyes were on Chloe Kim's return, but the US superstar narrowly missed the podium in her 2023 debut.
\"Every run feels like writing poetry on snow,\" Cai told fans after the competition. Her signature technical mastery and aerial creativity continue inspiring a new generation of winter sports enthusiasts across Asia.
Japan dominated overall, sweeping both podiums – men's gold went to Beijing 2022 Olympic champ Ayumu Hirano with a near-perfect 97.00 score. Next stop: Secret Garden, China, where Cai aims to flip the script!
Reference(s):
China's Cai earns silver in women's halfpipe at Snowboard World Cup
cgtn.com