2019/20 halfpipe World Cup season set to begin at Copper Mountain
Dec 12, 2019·Snowboard Park & Pipe
The 2019/20 FIS Snowboard Halfpipe World Cup season is finally set to get underway this weekend at Colorado, USA’s, Copper Mountain Resort, where a star-studded field of riders will take to Copper’s exceptional halfpipe looking to start strong on the path towards this season’s crystal globe. While the forecast is calling for decent weather through Thursday’s qualifications, an incoming system could hit Copper on the weekend, where finals are slated to go down on Saturday. Still, hopes are high for a successful competition and a beginning to the season that the riders deserve.
Maddie Mastro set for starring role on home soil
All eyes in Copper will be on 19-year-old Maddie Mastro, as the host squad’s highest hope in the women’s field comes into competition this season with her performance at last year’s Burton Open still fresh in the snowboard world’s mind. There, Mastro became the first woman to land a double invert in competition when she put down a double crippler on her final run to take first victory in a major competition.
Even without the dub Mastro really has it all, with a diverse bag of tricks, big amplitude, and a whole lotta style. If she’s able to put down her best possible run on the day it’s going to be tough for any of the other riders to match her, regardless of the conditions.
All of that being said, there’s a good collection of women on hand who should give Mastro a run for her money, including five-time halfpipe crystal globe winner Cai Xuetong of China.
The epitome of consistency since her debut on the World Cup, Cai has only finished outside of the top-10 three times in her decade on tour, while picking up 23 podiums and 10 victories in her 32 competitions entered during that period. Last year the 26-year-old took four podiums in five World Cup competitions, including a win at the final event of the season in Mammoth, while also earning silver at the Utah 2019 world championships.
Then there’s Queralt Castellet (ESP), who’s coming off what was possibly the best season of her career last year, as she picked up two podiums in four World Cup starts (including a win in Calgary), as well as X Games silver and a fourth-place finish at the Utah 2019 World Championships. Still on top of her game at 30-years-old, Castellet will be keen to improve on last year’s eighth-place performance at Copper.
Third-overall finisher in last season’s World Cup standings was Verena Rohrer (SUI), the best end-of-season result of her career. However, Rohrer had her worst result of the season last year in Copper with a ninth-place finish; expect her to improve upon that this season.
Scotty James coming in hot after perfect 2018/19
Over on the men’s side of things you’re going to be hearing the name Scotty James (AUS) a lot this weekend, and likely through the rest of the season.
James is coming off a 2018/19 campaign when he won every competition he entered, from the Copper Mountain and Laax Open World Cups, to the Utah 2019 world champs, to the X Games, the Dew Tour, and finally the US Open. James on his best day is nearly untouchable in the world of men’s halfpipe, and a repeat performance of last year’s Copper win wouldn’t be surprising to anyone.
One rider looking to upset James him this weekend will be Yuto Totsuka (JPN), the 18-year-old who has hit the podium in eight of nine career World Cup competitions and claimed the halfpipe crystal globe in both of his first two seasons on tour. Interestingly, last season at Copper was the only time he’s missed the podium in his career. Look for Japan’s top pipe ripper to rectify that situation this weekend.
Totsuka’s 17-year-old teammate Ruka Hirano - who finished second overall last season in his first on the World Cup - will be an interesting rider to watch this winter, giving Japan one of the best one-two punches on tour.
The host US squad will be well-represented by the likes of the Chase’s Josey and Blackwell, as well as Ryan Wachendorfer, Taylor Gold, and Toby Miller - who will be looking to repeat last season’s performance where he earned his first career World Cup podium on home soil at Copper.
And last but not least, don’t forget the Swiss duo of Jan Scherrer and Pat Burgener, who finished third and fourth overall in 2018/19 and should most definitely be in the mix come finals time.
Qualifications are set to start on Thursday at 9:30 local time in Colorado, with the women in the pipe first, followed by the men at 11:50. Finals are slated for Saturday, beginning at 12:00 noon.
QUICK LINKS:
Copper Mountain World Cup data page (start lists, live scoring, results)
Livestream (with geographic restrictions)
