Russian, Canadian win FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup in Chongli

CHONGLI, China, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) — Russia’s Valeriya Demidova and Canadian Noah Bowman claimed victory in the women’s and men’s FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup here on Saturday.

China’s female skier Li Fanghui finished in 3rd place.

Valeriya, who got on her career first World Cup gold medal podium with the win, performed a powerful start in her first run to grab 92 points with no other skiers scoring more than 90 in the whole 3-run match.

The Russian then continued her momentum to finish with 92.50 in the second run.

“It’s a very nice venue and I know the 2022 Winter Olympics will be held there. It’s cold right now, however I think it will be warmer in 2022’s February,” said Demidova.

Sixth-started Chinese skier Li Fanghui was once in the leading place when she got 86.50 points from her first run but was soon overcome by seventh-started Rachael Karker, the runner-up, and the last eighth-started Valeriya.

“My performance in the first run was supernatural,” the 17-year-old Chinese said. “I put pressure on Valeriya and Rachael, but they have more experience in high difficulties and they did gear up after my first try.”

Last year’s champion, Zhang Kexin from China, got a double 83.25 in her first and second run, which made her list in the fourth place at last.

In the third run, Zhang was injured by a bad landing.

On the men’s side, Canada’s Noah Bowman posted 91.50 to grab his second win in the World Cup. The second and third place were occupied by US players Aaron Blunck and Lyman Currier.

As the only Asian male skier who entered the finals, China’s Mao Bingqiang, listed in ninth place. Mao finished his first run successfully but only demonstrated some ordinary flips and tricks, from which he just got 65.00 points. He made errors on the higher difficulties.