Core Insights - Monster Energy's Ayumu Hirano won first place in Men's Snowboard Halfpipe at The Snow League competition in Chongli, China, earning $50,000 in prize money [1][8] - Brendan Mackay claimed victory in the Men's Freeski Halfpipe event, also receiving $50,000 [2][10] - The Snow League, created by Shaun White, is an invite-only contest series featuring top international snow sports athletes, with the recent event broadcast live to over 175 countries [3] Men's Snowboard Halfpipe - Hirano qualified for the finals with the highest score of 96.00 points, showcasing impressive tricks [4] - In the finals, Hirano faced off against Yuto Totsuka, winning with a score of 81.33 points after a competitive third run [7][8] - This victory marks Hirano's first win at The Snow League, placing him second in World Championship Standings with 177 points [8] Men's Freeski Halfpipe - Mackay won the first Men's Freeski Halfpipe contest of the series, defeating competitors with consistent and technical performances [2][9] - In the final, Mackay executed a perfect run to secure his victory with a score of 89.00 points [11][12] - Gus Kenworthy returned to competition, finishing in third place after an uncontested battle for the position [10][14] Event Details - The Snow League's second event took place from December 4-6, following the series kickoff in Aspen Snowmass in March [3] - The competition format involved head-to-head duels, emphasizing strategy and performance under pressure [12] - Future events are scheduled in Aspen and Switzerland, with rankings determining the first Snow League World Champion at season's end [15]
Monster Energy's Ayumu Hirano and Brendan Mackay Earn Victories at The Snow League Halfpipe Competition in China