China’s Olympic champion Su Yiming claimed his second straight FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup title this weekend, thrilling fans at the National Ski Jumping Stadium in Beijing. Riding high after his season-opening win in Zhangjiakou last week, the 21-year-old pushed his total to 181.00 points to top the podium.
Japan’s Kira Kimura looked set to upset Su’s run. After landing a switch backside 1980 drunk driver grab to score 91.25 points on his final attempt, Kimura briefly led the standings with 178.25.
Fueled by an electric home crowd, Su returned with a flawless switch backside 1980 melon grab, edging his total from 177.50 to 181.00 points and securing the gold medal. His winning score capped a dramatic comeback after a disappointing result at this venue last year.
“Winning back-to-back titles wasn’t easy,” Su said after his victory. “Last year I had my worst final result here, so I focused on coming back stronger. I’m happy, but I’m even more focused on preparing for the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics.”
With this win, Su leads the men’s snowboard big air standings on 200 points, followed by compatriot Ge Chunyu (112) and Kimura (109). The result cements Su’s early-season momentum as he eyes his ultimate goal: a medal at the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics in 2026.
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Su Yiming wins back-to-back Snowboard Big Air World Cup titles at home
cgtn.com
