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! ⏳
