Laax Open 2024: Ono Mitsuki claims women's title as Chloe Kim crashes twice on competitive return
The Japanese 19-year-old took home the top prize after the reigning Olympic champion was unable to string together a complete run in two attempts.
Snowboard
Ono Mitsuki capitalised on a reduced field and rare errors from Chloe Kim to win the women’s snowboard halfpipe event at the 2024 Laax Open in Switzerland on Saturday (20 January) night.
The 19-year-old Japanese rider took the lead with an opening run score of 81.75 and held on at the halfway stage after reigning Beijing 2022 Olympic champion and top qualifier Kim fell on her first run attempt.
When Ono - still in first - then fell on her second run, she assumed it was all over with Kim still left to drop in for her second run.
However, another uncharacteristic fall from the American, competing in her first event in almost two years, meant there would be no challenge, handing the young rider the win.
16-year-old Kim Bea of the United States finished in second (77.50) while Japan's Rukita Tomita joined her compatriot Ono to round off the podium in third (60.50).
Maddie Mastro (USA), as well as second and third-place finishers from the semi-finals, Choi Gaon (KOR) and Tomita Sena (JPN), did not start.