It is always a special day when the first day of finals arrives at the annual Toyota U.S. Grand Prix freeski and snowboard competition at Copper Mountain Resort. 

Not only is the action turned up a notch, but skiers and riders flock to the ski resort to watch as some of the best snowsport athletes compete on U.S. soil. On Friday, Dec. 19, spectators watched in awe as professional snowboarders competed in the men’s and women’s halfpipe finals.

Women’s halfpipe finals 

A total of four Americans advanced to the women’s snowboard halfpipe finals on Wednesday, Dec. 17, led by two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim, four-time X Games medalist Maddie Mastro and Steamboat Springs veteran Maddy Schaffrick.

Although she has already punched her ticket to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Kim made the trip to Copper to get her 2025-26 competition season officially underway after a long offseason.

Unfortunately, Kim took a fall in practice, resulting in her pulling from the competition. In addition to Kim dropping out of the final, Japan’s Sorana Ohashi also decided to not compete, bringing the 10-woman field down to just eight. 

With the path to a podium finish perhaps a bit easier, Schaffrick dropped into the pipe and put on the show for the fans huddled at the bottom of the competition venue. 

Schaffrick landed a 540 with a melon gran, a frontside alley oop, a switch backside 540 and a frontside 720. Schaffrick earned a score of 63.75 to sit in third after the first round of runs.

Mastro put down a nice first run landing tricks like a crippler, a backside 540, a frontside 360 and a cab 360. Although Mastro’s run was clean, the run only scored 50.00 to rank fourth after the first round of runs. 

Bea Kim of Palos Verdes, California was the third American to take a first run in the final. Kim was not able to keep her footing on the last hit of the halfpipe wall, scoring a 27.00 to rank seventh heading into her final run. 

Wanting to maintain her spot on the podium, Schaffrick went for it on her first hit of the halfpipe. Schaffrick appeared to get lost while in the air, resulting in her crashing. Schaffrick was then forced to wait out the rest of the competition to see where she would finish. 

Mastro was one athlete on the outside looking in on the podium. Needing to drastically improve upon her first run score, Mastro visualized her run at the top of the pipe before cruising into the pipe. 

Mastro landed another signature crippler before bringing around a backside 540, a frontside 720, a cab 720 and a frontside 540. The run marked an improvement from her first, but it was not enough to make the podium. Mastro placed sixth with a score of 61.75.

After not being able to put down a clean first run, Bea Kim executed on her last run of the day. Kim put down a stylish and technical run to score a 75.25. The score was enough for Kim, 18, to finish on the podium, taking third.

“I have come back from injury and this was my first competition back, so to be able to do it in the U.S. with the fans and my family watching, means a lot,” Kim said. “It is definitely really good to have this one under my belt. It puts a little bit more confidence in me that I am back in the competition scene and that I can do it.”

The performance marks Kim’s second podium finish in a World Cup. Kim’s first podium finish was in 2024 in Laax where she took second.

Korea’s Gaon Choi and Japan’s Sena Tomita secured the top two spots on the podium. As the final competitor to drop into the pipe, Choi, 17, skyrocketed to first place by putting down what the judges thought was the best run of the day. 

Choi finished in first with a score of 94.50 and Tomita took second (88.75). Schaffrick was the second American, taking fifth (63.75).

Men’s halfpipe finals

Colorado was well represented in the men’s snowboard halfpipe finals. Out of the 14 athletes who qualified for the event, six were American with three calling the Centennial State home.

Eagle’s Jake Pates was the first to drop into the halfpipe. With a steady breeze cutting across the pipe, Pates put down a switch back double 1080 before falling.

Leadville’s Chase Blackwell was the next American to get his first run in. Sporting baby blue snow pants, Blackwell took a full pull of the halfpipe. Blackwell most notably landed back-to-back 1080s before stomping a huge frontside 1260. The run sent the crowd into the frenzy, earning a 79.00 

Hailey, Idaho’s Chase Josey followed Blackwell down the pipe. Josey successfully landed his tricks at the top of the pipe, but bumped his butt against the wall of the halfpipe while trying to land his final trick. 

Edwards’ Ryan Wachendorfer was the next athlete to take advantage of competing close to home. With friends and family cheering him on, Wachendorfer finished his first run with a front double 1080. The run earned a 63.25, slotting in behind Blackwell.

After the first round of runs, Blackwell led the contingent of Americans in third place. Blackwell was preceded by Japan’s Yuto Totsuka in first (90.50) and Australia’s Valentino Guseli in second (79.75).

By the time Blackwell dropped for his final run, the seasoned rider sat in fourth place. Needing to put down a solid run to jump back into podium position, Blackwell entered the pipe riding switch, but fell while trying to set up for his second trick. 

After Blackwell’s second run, the competition was truly dialed up to another level. Wachendorfer was able to improve on his first run score, stomping a double Michalchuk after landing heel heavy on his last trick. 

Wachendorfer was awarded a score of 65.75, finishing in seventh.

Pates was also able to land a clean run on his final trip down the pipe. Pates most notably squeaked around a final trick on the last bit of the halfpipe wall, earning a score of 68.25 to take sixth.

Japan’s Ryusei Yamada,19, was able to shake up the rankings the most. After sitting in fourth heading into the second round of runs, Yamada stomped his final run to secure his first World-Cup win of his career with a score of 94.50.

Totsuka followed Yamada in second (90.50) with Guseli preventing the Japanese sweep by finishing in third (84.75). Blackwell finished as the top American in fifth with a score of 79.00.

“I am super stoked to put one down,” Blackwell said. “It is a relief. Get a score on the board and be somewhat in the running was my goal. Luckily I was able to do that on the first run and then I tried to build on the second. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. It is a baseline. It is still early season, still more contests to come before the Olympics. It is a baseline for everybody, but being up there today and putting one down is probably the best baseline you could have.”

Southberry, Connecticut’s Joey Okesson and Portland, Oregon’s Alessandro Barbieri both notched finishes within the top 10. Okesson took ninth (55.25), Barbieri finished in 10th (46.50) and Josey finished in a close 12th with a score of 26.25

The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix will conclude on Saturday, Dec. 20, with the men’s and women’s freeski halfpipe finals. The competition is scheduled to begin at noon.