Stoneham (QC), Canada – China’s Xuetong Cai, and and Janne Korpi of Finland are the 2012 Halfpipe World Cup Title winners.
Cai, 18, secured her career’s third consecutive Crystal Globe by claiming victory in the last halfpipe contest of the 2012 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup season, held on Thursday at Stoneham Mountain Resort in Quebec, Canada. It was Cai’s second win of the season and the sixth of her career. Cai’s Chinese teammate Shuang Li finished in second on Thursday for her second podium result ever, followed by Haruna Matsumoto of Japan rounding out the podium in third.
Of her run comprised of a frontside 540 melon, backside 540 mute, frontside 720 indy, cab 360 tail and frontside Air, Cai simply said, “I’m very happy about my win and my third World Cup title.”
On the men’s side, Janne Korpi celebrated his first ever World Cup title by finishing third on Thursday behind of reigning World Champion Nathan Johnstone of Australia, and Japan’s Taku Hiraoka.
“It was really fun out there. I’m glad the weather held up a bit better today. The pipe was really good. It allowed some good riding,” Johnstone said of his third career World Cup win earned with a run that consisted of a frontside 900 mute, backside 900 melon, frontside 1080 mute, and cab 720 taipan. “I’m pumped to get that first run landed. I was hoping to build on that in the second run but kind of stumbled on that flat 900 and ran out of pipe but it’s all good. I’m still happy!”
“I’m happy about my third place but kind of disappointed from my run. I didn’t do what I was supposed to do,” said Korpi, who clinched the title with a frontside 1080 tail, cab 1080 nose, backside rodeo alley-oop nose and backside 540 mute. “I wanted to do some better tricks. But I didn’t land my first run and thus had to do some sort of safety run.
“I’m happy about my first title,” he added. “I want to see how the Crystal Globe looks like. I heard it is pretty cool. I will place it somewhere in my house, so I guess I have to think about getting a fireplace.”
The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup in Quebec continues with the season’s last big air event in Quebec City on Saturday.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Snowboard World Cup
Stoneham, QC, Canada – Feb. 23, 2012
Halfpipe
Women:
| Rank | Bib | Name | Year | Nation | Result | Points |
| 1 | 7 | CAI Xuetong | 1993 | CHN | 1000.00 | 1000.00 |
| 2 | 13 | LI Shuang | 1992 | CHN | 800.00 | 800.00 |
| 3 | 18 | MATSUMOTO Haruna | 1993 | JPN | 600.00 | 600.00 |
| 4 | 6 | NICOLL Mercedes | 1983 | CAN | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| 5 | 14 | RODRIGUEZ Sophie | 1988 | FRA | 450.00 | 450.00 |
| 6 | 2 | CASTELLET Queralt | 1989 | SPA | 400.00 | 400.00 |
| 7 | 16 | CONRAD Sarah | 1985 | CAN | 360.00 | 360.00 |
| 8 | 4 | OHE Hikaru | 1995 | JPN | 320.00 | 320.00 |
| 9 | 5 | THOVEX Mirabelle | 1991 | FRA | 290.00 | 290.00 |
| 10 | 11 | TAYLOR Palmer | 1992 | CAN | 260.00 | 260.0 |
Men:
| Rank | Bib | Name | Year | Nation | Result | Points |
| 1 | 24 | JOHNSTONE Nathan | 1990 | AUS | 1000.00 | 1000.00 |
| 2 | 27 | HIRAOKA Taku | 1995 | JPN | 800.00 | 800.00 |
| 3 | 6 | KORPI Janne | 1986 | FIN | 600.00 | 600.00 |
| 4 | 23 | NEDEFUJI Ayumu | 1994 | JPN | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| 5 | 32 | JAMES Scott | 1994 | AUS | 450.00 | 450.00 |
| 6 | 4 | JONG, DE Dimi | 1994 | NED | 400.00 | 400.00 |
| 7 | 28 | LAARI Ilkka-Eemeli | 1989 | FIN | 360.00 | 360.00 |
| 8 | 19 | MENSCH Joseph | 1992 | USA | 320.00 | 320.00 |
| 9 | 5 | MARTIN Brad | 1986 | CAN | 290.00 | 290.00 |
| 10 | 1 | HOSOKAWA Kosuke | 1990 | JPN | 260.00 | 260.00 |