Next generation Japanese Halfpipe riders dominate Junior World Championships

Japan’s Halfpipe legacy is set to reach new heights after its next generation of snowboarders dominated the men’s and women’s finals at the Junior World Championships in Calgary on Thursday.

Sixteen-year-old Sorana Ohashi was the first Japanese athlete to become Halfpipe Junior World Champion on Thursday after she topped the eight-woman final with her second-run score of 86.50.

In the men’s final, Konosuke Murakami claimed victory with his second run score of 96.50, which was also the highest score of the day.

Ohashi was the top qualifier going into the women’s final and had already done enough to claim first place with her initial score of 84.50 before the judges awarded Ohashi 86.50 for her second run.

Switzerland’s Lura Wick was runner-up on 74.25, while Aiko Okada (JPN) was third on 71.00.

Ohashi’s winning run began with a switch cab 720, then a frontside 540 tail grab, a frontside 720 indy grab, and a cab 360 tail grab on the final hit.

Her win in Calgary marks her first podium finish of the 2025/26 season after the teenager qualified for three finals out of her four World Cup starts.

Meanwhile, fellow Japanese rider Konosuke Murakami was also the top qualifier going into the men’s final.

The 16-year-old set an early benchmark with his first attempt score of 91.00 but momentarily slipped into second place when team-mate Haku Shimasaki (JPN) overtook him with his second-run score of 94.50.

Murakami responded with a 96.50 in his second attempt after impressing judges with a frontside double 1260, backside 900 tail grab, a frontside double cork 1440, a cab 900 mute grab, then a switch backside 900 on his last hit.

Murakami’s high score relegated Shimasaki to second place, while Mischa Zuercher (SUI) was third on 84.25.

The men’s podium was also a repeat of their qualification placings from Monday. Murakami’s victory in Calgary also marks the 16-year-old's only podium finish in the 2025/26 season. The last time Murakami stood on a podium was as runner-up at the 2025 Japanese national championships, and his best result on the World Cup circuit since making his debut in 2025 was seventh place in Secret Garden (CHN) in December.

Murakami and Ohashi’s victories on Thursday also increased Japan’s tally of victories in Calgary to four out of the six Junior World Championships titles contested thus far. Fourteen-year-old Hiromu Watanabe opened Japan’s Junior World title tally in men’s Slopestyle on 28 February, while 15-year-old Hakuto Kitayama claimed the men’s Big Air title on 4 March.

The Rails competition on Friday 6 March will be the last opportunity for snowboarders to secure a podium spot at the 2026 FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships.

QUICK LINKS

FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships data page (results, start lists, live scoring)