Snowboarders amped up for success

China has 3 challengers qualify for women's finals

Being able to fill all quota spots in the women's and men's snowboard halfpipe competitions at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games is a breakthrough for China's snowboarding team, Chinese athletes said.

"Having good Chinese snowboarders to fill all quota spots at the Winter Olympics has always been the goal for the Chinese snowboard halfpipe team, and it's now been achieved. It means we've made it to a new level," said Cai Xuetong, who finished third in the qualifier for the women's event at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou on Wednesday.

The snowboard halfpipe is an event that China is still in the early stages of development, but improvement has ramped up in recent years. For the first time, China has four athletes taking part in both the women's and men's halfpipe events at Beijing 2022.

Besides Cai, 28, and Liu Jiayu, 29, two veterans who are embracing their fourth Winter Olympics, new Olympian Qiu Leng, 25, also won a spot in the finals, which will take place on Thursday.

Four years ago in Pyeongchang, Liu and Cai took second and fifth places respectively, setting their own personal bests. Liu's silver was also China's first Winter Olympic snowboard medal.

"The younger generation of Chinese snowboarders did a good job. We always help each other out when having fun at the halfpipe during trainings. The experience of competing with top athletes will surely help them progress faster," said Cai, who is in good shape for the finals after finishing top of the World Cup standings for a record seventh time at the end of the past season.

Liu, who fell on her third trick during her first run received a score of 72.25 after a safe second run, which put her in seventh place to qualify.

"Both my coach and I didn't expect that fall at all. But it's how competition works. I am glad that I performed well under pressure during the second run and made it to the finals," she said. "Of course, I will step up my game during the finals."

Filling all quota spots at women's and men's snowboard halfpipe competitions is a big step up for China's snowboard team, Liu said. "I have high expectations for the younger generation of snowboarders who performed well today. I am still young so I hope I can join them at the next Winter Olympics."

Although defending gold medalist Chloe Kim, 21, of the United States, fell during the second run, she took the lead in the qualifying round with 87.75 points from the first run. Kim plays an important role in motivating other female halfpipe snowboarders to push the limit, Cai said. "I always want to challenge Kim who is extremely talented. She keeps stepping up her game in competitions, which has also inspired us to do the same."

Gu Ao, who finished 14th at the men's snowboard halfpipe qualifier on Wednesday, said that he is proud to be in Team China for the first time. "We never had four Chinese halfpipe snowboarders competing together at the Winter Olympics before. It's unprecedented." With 58.5 points, he is the top ranked Chinese athlete.