Japan claimed both snowboard big air titles at the FIS World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland, on Friday, March 28. Murase Kokomo, the 2022 Olympic bronze medalist, and Kimata Ryoma, the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic champion, triumphed in the women’s and men’s events, respectively.
In the women’s competition, Murase scored 162.50, holding off her teammate Iwabuchi Reira, who finished with 156.00. Japan completed a podium sweep, with Fukada Mari earning the bronze medal with a score of 153.25.
This marks Murase’s first world title, though she had previously secured a silver medal in slopestyle at Engadin. The 20-year-old was the top scorer in the first round, earning 85.75 for a forward-spinning 1260 Indy grab. Her second run scored 76.75, featuring a backside 1080 with a nose grab. Going into the final round, Murase led Iwabuchi by six and a half points. Iwabuchi was unable to improve in the final run, allowing Murase to secure the win and take her victory lap.
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, the Beijing 2022 slopestyle champion from New Zealand, qualified for the finals but did not compete.
In the men’s event, Kimata led the field with a score of 176.75. Hasegawa Taiga, another Japanese competitor, followed closely with 174.50, while American Oliver Martin claimed third with 171.75.
France’s Romain Allemand, the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic slopestyle bronze medalist, led after the first two runs with a nearly 10-point advantage. His best score of 85.50 came from a forward 1800 blunt grab in his first run. However, Hasegawa surged in the final round with a score of 87.50, moving into the lead temporarily. Kimata then produced a massive 95.00 score to secure the win.
With Martin’s run completed, Allemand, who had dropped to fourth place, needed a big final performance to regain the top spot but failed to improve on his earlier scores. He finished just off the podium in fourth place.