Snowboarding: Fukada, Hasegawa win World Cup big air season opener

Japan’s Mari Fukada and Taiga Hasegawa each made a winning start to the snowboarding World Cup season on Saturday in big air, topping their respective women’s and men’s events comfortably in Switzerland.

Seventeen-year-old Fukada logged 87.50 and 94.00 points in the first two of her three runs for a 181.50 total in Chur, securing her second win on the circuit after her maiden victory two seasons ago.

Compatriot Reira Iwabuchi was second on 167.50, followed by Canada’s Laurie Blouin, who logged 163.00. Beijing Winter Olympics bronze medalist Kokomo Murase was fourth on 150.75.

“It took a really long time since my last win,” Fukada said. “Results didn’t come my way last season but I’m happy my work paid off.”

“The (2026) Olympic qualification is already under way so I hope to keep this going and make many podiums.”

Eighteen-year-old Hasegawa had an 87.50 with his first run before clinching the title with 89.75 in his third, totaling 177.25 to better Rocco Jamieson of New Zealand, who had 163.50 from his first two runs. Romain Allemand of France was third on 158.00. Scores are calculated based on a competitor’s best two runs out of three.

It was Hasegawa’s fourth win on the circuit, which includes a slopestyle triumph in March 2023.

“I suffered an injury at this tournament three years ago and I had a really bad image from it,” Hasegawa said. “I’m happy to come from behind to win, and relieved too.”

“I hope to display my best performance and keep winning this season.”

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