Birk Irving rallies for World Cup win in Mammoth Mountain freeski halfpipe, captures season Crystal Globe

Nothing was stopping Birk Irving from capturing the coveted Crystal Globe.

An emotional day on the hill and windy conditions met the athletes on Friday (3 February) at the U.S. Grand Prix in Mammoth Mountain, California, the final FIS freestyle skiing halfpipe World Cup of the season.

The 23-year-old Irving, who was fifth in the event at Beijing 2022, soared in his final run, registering a 94.00 to capture his second World Cup gold of the year, vaulting him to the season-long Crystal Globe title. He also won at Copper Mountain in December.

Canadian Brendan Mackay finished second - in the event and Crystal Globe race - throwing down a 93.00 on his final run.

Two-time Olympic champion (2014, 2018) in the event, David Wise (USA) - who just last weekend claimed his fifth career X Games gold in freeski halfpipe at the X Games Aspen 2023 - was third with a 91.75.

In the women's freeski halfpipe, China's Zhang Kexin captured her fourth career World Cup title - and first since 2019 - with a 93.50 score, edging Team GB's Zoe Atkin with a 92.75 and Canadian Rachael Karker, this season's Crystal Globe winner, at 91.75.

Atkin had captured her first X Games gold last weekend in Aspen.

A two-time Olympian, Zhang, 20, won her first World Cup in 2017 at age 15 before tacking on two more golds over the next two years. She finished in third in Calgary at the World Cup last month.

Reigning Olympic champion Eileen (Ailing) Gu of China was sidelined after a heavy crash in training at X Games last week, revealing a knee injury on social media.

The athletes honoured the 2018 winner at this event, Kyle Smaine, who died last month in an avalanche while skiing in Japan. They held a pre-event ceremony, and called out Smaine's name throughout the day as they finished their respective runs.

"It's been a crazy week," Irving told FIS, reflecting on Smaine's memory. "We're all skiing with Kyle in our hearts. We're probably skiing our best because of him."

Results - 2023 U.S. Grand Prix Mammoth Mountain - FIS freeski halfpipe World Cup

Men's

1. Birk Irving (USA) - 94.00

2. Brendan Mackay (CAN) - 93.00

3. David Wise (USA) - 91.25

4. Tristan Feinberg (USA) - 85.00

5. Dylan Marineau (CAN) - 79.25

6. Aaron Blunck (USA) - 73.50

Women's

1. Zhang Kexin (CHN) - 93.50

2. Zoe Atkin (GBR) - 92.75

3. Rachael Karker (CAN) - 91.75

4. Amy Fraser (CAN) - 87.25

5. Hanna Faulhaber (USA) - 85.75

6. Dillan Glennie (CAN) - 81.75