World Cup Halfpipe Champions Xuetong Cai and Janne Korpi pose with the Crystal Globe on Thursday in Stoneham, Quebec, Canada. (photo: FIS/Oliver Kraus)

Cai and Korpi Crowned 2012 Halfpipe Snowboard World Cup Champions in Stoneham

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.

World Cup Halfpipe Champions Xuetong Cai and Janne Korpi pose with the Crystal Globe on Thursday in Stoneham, Quebec, Canada. (photo: FIS/Oliver Kraus)
World Cup Halfpipe Champions Xuetong Cai and Janne Korpi pose with the Crystal Globe on Thursday in Stoneham, Quebec, Canada. (photo: FIS/Oliver Kraus)

“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


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