OLYMPICS


 

Murase Kokomo and Kimata Ryoma top podium as Japan dominate the event

Japan swept the snowboard big air titles Friday (28 March) at the FIS World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland, as 2022 Olympic bronze medallist Murase Kokomo and 2020 Winter Youth Olympic champion Kimata Ryoma claimed the women’s and men’s wins, respectively.

Murase’s 162.50 held off the challenge of compatriot Iwabuchi Reira, who scored 156.00. Japan swept the podium, with Fukada Mari (153.25) taking the bronze medal.

For Murase, it’s the first world title for the Japanese rider, who also won silver in Engadin in slopestyle.

The 20-year-old was the top scorer in the opening run, throwing down a forward-spinning 1260 Indy grab for an 85.75 score. She followed that up with a 76.75 in her second run, where she performed a backside 1080 with a nose grab.

She led teammate Iwabuchi by six-and-a-half points going into the final run, where Murase would go last as the top scorer.

Iwabuchi failed to improve her score in the final run, giving Murase a victory lap and the world title win.

Beijing 2022 slopestyle champion Zoi Sadowski-Synnott qualified for the finals but did not start.

In the men’s event, the final standings were: Kimata (176.75), followed by Hasegawa Taiga of Japan (174.50). American Oliver Martin was third (171.75).

France’s Romain Allemand, the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games slopestyle bronze medallist, had a commanding nearly 10-point lead after the first two runs. His best of the two came in his first attempt, earning an 85.50 score for his forward 1800 blunt grab.

In the second run, Allemand scored 84.75. That gave him a total score of 170.25, ahead of Martin’s 160.75.

But Hasegawa made his challenge in the final run, throwing down an 87.50 score and erasing a 49.75 first-run effort that had held him down after two rounds. He moved into the lead – but only momentarily – with teammate Kimata earning a massive 95.00 score to overtake him.

After Martin went as the penultimate competitor, Allemand found himself six points off the lead and off the podium, needing a big final run to regain the top spot.

He came up short, failing to improve on his earlier scores, and settled for fourth.

Women's snowboard big air finals - Results

? Murase Kokomo (JPN), 162.50
? Iwabuchi Reira (JPN), 156.00
? Fukada Mari (JPN), 153.25
4. Suzuki Momo (JPN), 150.00
5. Mia Brookes (GBR), 149.50
6. Anna Gasser (AUT), 112.50
7. Annika Morgan (GER), DNS
8. Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (NZL), DNS


Men's snowboard big air finals - Results

? Kimata Ryoma (JPN), 176.75
? Hasegawa Taiga (JPN), 174.50
? Oliver Martin (USA), 171.75
4. Romain Allemand (FRA), 170.25
5. Miyamura Yuto (JPN), 155.75
6. Enzo Valax (FRA), 149.00
7. Ian Matteoli (ITA), 108.00
8. Yang Wenlong (CHN), 103.50
9. Mons Roisland (NOR), 79.75
10. Ogiwara Hiroto (JPN), 47.25