MILAN, Italy – Yu Seung-eun, the surprise bronze medalist in women’s big air at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, is aiming for a second medal this week, qualifying for the slopestyle final on Sunday. The 18-year-old South Korean snowboarder scored 76.80 points at Livigno Snow Park, securing her place among the top 12 competitors who will vie for the slopestyle title on Tuesday, according to reports from Yonhap News Agency and the Korea JoongAng Daily.
Yu’s qualification score places her third, behind defending champion Zoi Sadowski-Synnott of Novel Zealand (88.08 points) and Japan’s Kokomo Murase, the big air gold medalist (84.93 points). This marks a significant opportunity for Yu to become the first South Korean snowboarder to win multiple medals at a single Winter Olympics. The slopestyle event challenges riders to perform a series of tricks across a course featuring rails and jumps, judged on originality, amplitude, and the quality of their execution.
The qualification round saw each athlete complete two runs, with the higher of the two scores determining their final ranking. Yu delivered a strong first run, successfully landing a backside 540 melon grab and a backside 720 mute grab. In her second attempt, she experienced a loss of balance early on and opted for more conservative jumps to conserve energy for the final, as reported by Aju Press.
Judges evaluate slopestyle performances using two scoring components: “section” scores for technical tricks and “composition” scores for the overall flow and artistry of the run. Importantly, the qualification scores will not carry over to the final competition, meaning all riders will start on a level playing field.
Yu’s unexpected success in the big air event on February 9th has already made waves in South Korean snowboarding. Her journey to the slopestyle final underscores a growing trend of success for South Korean athletes in the sport, as highlighted by the Dong-A Ilbo. The qualification results demonstrate the increasing competitiveness of the South Korean snowboarding team on the international stage.
The slopestyle final is scheduled for Tuesday at Livigno Snow Park. Yu will be looking to build on her big air bronze and potentially add another medal to her tally, further solidifying her position as a rising star in the world of snowboarding. The competition promises to be a thrilling showcase of skill and athleticism, with Sadowski-Synnott and Murase also poised to contend for the top spot.
What comes next for Yu Seung-eun is a focused preparation for the slopestyle final, aiming to refine her routine and deliver a performance that can challenge the leading contenders. The eyes of South Korea, and increasingly the snowboarding world, will be watching to see if she can make history.
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