Chinese snowboarder Su Yiming delivered a stellar performance at the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle, and Freeski World Championships in Switzerland, securing a silver medal in the snowboard slopestyle event. Competing in his first-ever world championships, Su showcased his exceptional talent and resilience on the international stage.
Despite challenging conditions that saw many athletes struggle during their first runs, the 19-year-old Olympic gold medalist impressed spectators and judges alike. Su led the pack after his opening run, earning a score of 85.07 points, placing him 13.01 points ahead of Canada’s Liam Brearley.
However, Brearley made a remarkable comeback in his second run, achieving a score of 90.15 points to claim the top spot. Su, who has been largely absent from World Cup events due to injury since his triumph at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, attempted a more challenging trick in his third run. Despite his efforts, it wasn’t enough to elevate him back to the top of the podium.
Reflecting on his performance, Su said, “This is my first time competing at the world championships. I feel like, after the Beijing Winter Olympics, the overall level of snowboard slopestyle across the globe has reached new heights. In fact, my coach and I have been quite frustrated over the past two years. We’ve been trying every possible way to make breakthroughs and to win, but somehow for us, slopestyle is even more challenging than big air.”
He added, “Perhaps just standing on the podium is already a significant breakthrough and a great success for us. Of course, our ultimate goal is always the gold medal, but we are making progress step by step towards a better direction. At least this silver medal shows that all the efforts are not in vain; all the daily practice and analysis over the past year are worth it.”
Brearley’s victory marks his first career world championship title, while Su’s silver medal highlights his continued prominence in the sport and his potential for future success.
