Snowboard halfpipe open group preliminaries unfold
An athlete showcases skills at the Snowboard Halfpipe Open Group Competition of the 14th National Winter Games. [Photo/North News Network]
The preliminary rounds of the Snowboard Halfpipe Open Group Competition of the 14th National Winter Games commenced on Feb 16, marking the beginning of an intense showdown.
The preliminaries consisted of two rounds, with the best score determining the rankings, and the top eight advancing to the finals.
In the women's event, veterans Cai Xuetong and Liu Jiayu from the Heilongjiang team exhibited steady performances, with an impressive showing in the first round, scoring over 80 points and qualifying as the top two athletes.
Apart from these two, the Heilongjiang team demonstrated formidable strength, with two more athletes qualifying for the finals.
An athlete showcases skills at the Snowboard Halfpipe Open Group Competition of the 14th National Winter Games. [Photo/North News Network]
Additionally, Wu Shaotong and Qiu Leng from the Sichuan team, and Zhou Yizhu and Jia Lulu from the Anhui team also secured spots in the finals.
The age range of the female participants in this event spans over 20 years, with the oldest born in 1992 and the youngest in 2013. Among the six athletes from the Shanxi team who participated in the preliminaries, the average age is 11 years old, with 12-year-old Zhou Yizhu emerging as a rising star in this event, attracting considerable attention.
In the men's event, the 20-year-old Wang Ziyang from the Beijing team secured the top position in the preliminary rounds. With unwavering confidence, he effortlessly executed the required technical maneuvers.
Veteran Zhang Yiwei, also from the Beijing team, achieved a high score of 88.75 in the first round, ultimately advancing to the finals in second place.
Returning to the stage of the National Winter Games after 12 years, the 31-year-old Zhang expressed his happiness and nervousness at being able to compete alongside younger athletes, expressing his hope for a better performance in the finals.
An athlete showcases skills at the Snowboard Halfpipe Open Group Competition of the 14th National Winter Games. [Photo/North News Network]
