LIVIGNO, Italy — Japan’s snowboarding dynasty has expanded its Olympic dominance beyond the halfpipe into the high-flying realm of big air competition. At the Winter Games on Saturday night, Kira Kimura and Ryoma Kimata delivered a spectacular performance, securing gold and silver respectively in an event that showcased their nation’s technical mastery and depth of talent.
The victory represents a strategic triumph for Japan’s year-round training system, which leverages advanced air bag technology to enable athletes to practice complex maneuvers with reduced injury risk. This innovative approach has revolutionized training methodologies, allowing riders to perfect dangerous tricks during summer months and extend their practice sessions significantly.
Japan’s snowboarding prowess, previously demonstrated through Ayumu Hirano’s historic halfpipe achievements, now extends across multiple disciplines. The country qualified all four of its riders for the 12-man final—an unprecedented feat in Olympic big air competition since its debut in 2018. While qualifier leader Hiroto Ogiwara finished last and Taiga Hasegawa placed 11th, their presence underscored Japan’s remarkable depth.
Kimura claimed victory with a total score of 179.50, recovering from a second-run fall to execute a breathtaking final attempt: riding backward while completing 5.5 rotations with a precise board grab between bindings. Defending world champion Kimata finished eight points behind his teammate despite having an opportunity to overtake him in the final rounds.
China’s Su Yiming, the defending Olympic champion, earned bronze to complete his medal collection after previously winning slopestyle silver. American rider Ollie Martin, just 17 years old, finished just outside medal contention despite strong performances.
New Zealand’s Lyon Farrell, who placed eighth, observed: ‘They have a ton of heart. They put their heads down and perfect things to the most minute detail.’ The sentiment was echoed by U.S. snowboard director Rick Bower, who noted Japan’s systematic approach to rider development.
With Ogiwara already looking ahead to slopestyle competition, Japan’s snowboarding program demonstrates both immediate success and long-term vision, establishing the nation as the comprehensive force in Olympic snowboard parks.