Elizabeth Hosking made history as the first Canadian snowboarder to claim victory in a women’s World Cup halfpipe event on home soil in Calgary. The 24-year-old athlete from Longueuil, Que., secured her maiden World Cup win with an impressive score of 82.5 points on her initial run at WinSport’s superpipe.
Expressing her excitement, Hosking described the achievement as “so, so crazy,” emphasizing the significance of winning on her home turf. Despite a fall on her second attempt, Hosking maintained her composure and celebrated her accomplishment after securing the top spot following the completion of the competition.
Reflecting on her journey, Hosking highlighted the challenges she faced, including a concussion that sidelined her for an entire season in 2023. Determined to build her confidence for the upcoming Olympics in Milan and Turin, Italy, she acknowledged the importance of continuous improvement in her performance.
Shaotong Wu of China clinched the second spot with a score of 77.25, while Isabelle Loetscher of Switzerland secured third place with 76 points. Hosking solidified her win with an impressive front-side 900 maneuver during her final run down the 160-meter long pipe.
In the men’s competition, Australia’s Valentino Guseli emerged victorious, followed by David Habluetzel of Switzerland in second place and Patrick Burgener of Brazil in third. Despite the absence of Canadian men in the final, Calgary’s Liam Gill led the Canadian contingent with a 17th place finish.
The event marked the end of Japan’s streak of 30 consecutive men’s World Cup halfpipe podium finishes. As Hosking prepares for the next World Cup event in Aspen, Colo., she aims to enhance her skills further ahead of the highly anticipated Olympic Games. Reflecting on the competitive nature of snowboarding, she emphasized the importance of staying true to herself and focusing on her strengths to achieve peak performance.