Ayumu Hirano Leads the Way As Japan Takes 5 of 6 Podium Spots at Grand Prix

It was a frustrating finish for Kim, who laid down an incredible run that included a nosegrab backside 360, switch method, and back-to-back 1080s. But she was tripped up by some bad snow at the bottom of the halfpipe, and fell, despite completing all of her tricks. It seems like that slip-up may have cost her points, which kept her off the podium. And while that was not what she hoped for, Kim said that she’s having fun, something that wasn’t necessarily a guarantee just a few years ago.

“Most importantly, I’m having so much fun again, I really never thought I’d say this because I haven’t felt that in so long…but I’m really loving this again. And I’m so excited to get back on snow. There was a time that I dreaded it…but this trip at Copper, I realized just how fun this really is, and even when I was competing I didn’t feel that stressed.”

"That’s something I think I want to hang onto for a little while longer.”

United States rider Maddie Mastro won the season opener at China’s Secret Garden, but after scoring a 77 in her first run, was forced to opt out of the rest of her runs due to an ankle injury. That happened when she came down hard on the lip of the halfpipe during qualifiers just two days before.

“After my qualifying day, I didn’t know what my finals day was going to look,” Mastro wrote on Instagram. “I’m proud I was able to drop in for first run. With how my ankle was feeling I decided to opt out of my last two runs of finals.”