ST. MORITZ, Switzerland (AP) — American snowboarder Chloe Kim and Australia's Scotty James won the halfpipe gold medals at the world championships on Saturday.
Kim scored 93.50 in her first run during the women’s final for her third world title after wins in 2019 and 2021. She did not compete at the last edition.
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From left, silver medalist Sarah Hoefflin of Switzerland, gold medalist Flora Tabanelli of Italy and bronze medalist Anni Karava of Finland pose during the Freeski Big Air competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in St. Moritz, Switzerland. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
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Gold medalist Luca Harrington of New Zealand reacts in the finish are during the freeski big air competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
From left, silver medalist Elias Syrja of Finland, gold medalist Luca Harrington of New Zealand and bronze medalist Birk Ruud of Norway pose after the Freeski Big Air competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in St. Moritz, Switzerland. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Luca Harrington of New Zealand in action during the Freeski Big Air competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Gold medalists Flora Tabanelli of Italy and Luca Harrington of New Zealand pose after the Freeski Big Air competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in St. Moritz, Switzerland. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
From left, silver medalist Sarah Hoefflin of Switzerland, gold medalist Flora Tabanelli of Italy and bronze medalist Anni Karava of Finland pose during the Freeski Big Air competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in St. Moritz, Switzerland. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Flora Tabanelli of Italy competes in the freeski big air competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in St. Moritz, Switzerland. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Silver medalist Sara Shimizu of Japan, gold medalist Chloe Kim of USA and bronze medalist Mitsuki Ono of Japan, from left, pose on the podium after the Women's Snowboard Halfpipe competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Gold medalist Chloe Kim of USA in action during the Snowboard Halfpipe competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Geonhui Kim of South Korea in action during the Snowboard Halfpipe competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Gold medalist Chloe Kim of USA reacts on the podium after the Women's Snowboard Halfpipe competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Gold medalist Chloe Kim of USA reacts on the podium after the Women's Snowboard Halfpipe competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Gold medalist Chloe Kim of USA reacts in the finish area after the Snowboard Halfpipe competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
The 15-year-old Sara Shimizu from Japan claimed silver with 90.75, while compatriot Mitsuki Ono took bronze with 88.50.
James claimed his fourth title in the men’s final after a second run score of 95.00. Japanese snowboarders again completed the podium with Ruka Hirano winning silver and Yuto Totsuka taking bronze.
James previously won back-to-back titles in 2015, 2017 and 2019 before finishing fifth at the last worlds.
“I wanted to come back and finish it on top. To have won four world titles, I’m pinching myself,” James said.
In freestyle big air, Italian teenager Flora Tabanelli rebounded from a fall in her second run to beat Swiss favorite Sarah Hoefflin to the gold medal by six points.
Finland's Anni Karava was third.
The 17-year-old Tabanelli capped a remarkable season in which she won the World Cup season titles in big air and park and pipe.
Luca Harrington of New Zealand won the men's title. He'd already clinched the gold after the first two runs scored in the 90s, then outdid them in a third run worth 95.25.
Like Tabanelli, Harrington was the World Cup season big air champion.
Elias Syrja of Finland was second and Birk Ruud of Norway, the slopestyle world champion, was third.
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Gold medalist Luca Harrington of New Zealand reacts in the finish are during the freeski big air competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
From left, silver medalist Elias Syrja of Finland, gold medalist Luca Harrington of New Zealand and bronze medalist Birk Ruud of Norway pose after the Freeski Big Air competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in St. Moritz, Switzerland. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Luca Harrington of New Zealand in action during the Freeski Big Air competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Gold medalists Flora Tabanelli of Italy and Luca Harrington of New Zealand pose after the Freeski Big Air competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in St. Moritz, Switzerland. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
From left, silver medalist Sarah Hoefflin of Switzerland, gold medalist Flora Tabanelli of Italy and bronze medalist Anni Karava of Finland pose during the Freeski Big Air competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in St. Moritz, Switzerland. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Flora Tabanelli of Italy competes in the freeski big air competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in St. Moritz, Switzerland. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Silver medalist Sara Shimizu of Japan, gold medalist Chloe Kim of USA and bronze medalist Mitsuki Ono of Japan, from left, pose on the podium after the Women's Snowboard Halfpipe competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Gold medalist Chloe Kim of USA in action during the Snowboard Halfpipe competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Geonhui Kim of South Korea in action during the Snowboard Halfpipe competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Gold medalist Chloe Kim of USA reacts on the podium after the Women's Snowboard Halfpipe competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Gold medalist Chloe Kim of USA reacts on the podium after the Women's Snowboard Halfpipe competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
Gold medalist Chloe Kim of USA reacts in the finish area after the Snowboard Halfpipe competition at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
