American snowboarder Maddie Mastro, a podium regular, claimed her first Dew Tour win on Saturday at Copper Mountain in the 2024 Women’s Snowboard Superpipe Final.
After posting a Run 1 safety run with a frontside crippler on her last wall that teased the double crippler she had in mind, Mastro washed out on it in Run 2, then stomped it in Run 3. That bumped Mitsuki Ono down to 2nd place with a chance to answer in Run 3, but On fell on the Cab 900 at the end of her run, sealing the deal.
Mastro’s coaches –– Mammoth Mountain Ski & Snowboard Team director Ben Wisner and U.S. Snowboard coach Danny Kass –– came racing down from the top of the halfpipe to hug her afterwards: It’s not just Mastro’s first Dew Tour win, it’s her first win in any contest since her 2019 U.S. Open win. She was ecstatic.
“It’s been a very long five long years, what feels like the longest five years of my life since I’ve stood on top of a podium, so to get another win is really nice,” Mastro says. “I’ve been that 2nd and 3rd place girl for a while. Nothing beats standing on top: I’m just really grateful that all of my hard work paid off today.”
Her winning run, for a score of 92.66: Frontside 540 stalefish, backside 540 Weddle, frontside 720 tuck-knee Indy, Cab 720 stalefish, double crippler frontside grab.
Mastro has been candid on social media recently about some of her struggles to keep her mental game strong when things start to fall apart. Perfect days like today when the sun is out, the pipe is running fast, and everything goes right in the end provide a nice contrast.
“I’m so open and honest on social media because as I was growing up snowboarding and competing from a young age I started to realize that this is a shared experience and that a lot of younger riders watch what we share about this journey,” Mastro says. “Not everyone has their best day all the time, even though that’s what’s portrayed a lot of the time, so I want to show that side, too. Yes, this is the best job in the world, but I’m still human and I have really bad days and really good days, like anyone else. I think it’s important to show that in order to get to these really good days like today, you’re going to have to live through some of the really bad days along the way.”
Mastro is currently the only active woman throwing doubles in Superpipe competition, and she remains committed to the risky double crippler that has become her signature because she’s hopes to inspire others to follow.
“I’ve always been really inspired by watching the boys do doubles and watching Torah Bright and Elena Hight do doubles as I was coming up,” Mastro says. “I started doing them and learned that they really are fun! There’s no feeling like doing doubles in a halfpipe. You do it and it’s the biggest endorphin rush ever, so it’s kept me hooked! I really hope that women’s snowboarding keeps progressing in that direction.”
Mitsuki Ono’s 2nd place finish caps a breakthrough season for the Japanese rider, who also took 2nd at X Games Aspen 2024 and won all three FIS World Cup events this season to take the overall Crystal Globe for the second consecutive year. Her Run 1 pass was her best: Backside Indy air, frontside 900 tailgrab, backside 540 Weddle, frontside 720 frontside grab, Cab 720 switch frontside grab.
“I feel so happy to get a bunch of trophies and titles this year,” Ono says. “I think it’s because I’ve spent a lot of practice days in the summer and fall, more than ever before. Everyone rode so well all season. Chloe Kim came back for some events this season, Sena Tomita came back, and Jiayu Liu came back, so getting these wins and podiums hasn’t been easy! It’s pushed me a lot and it made this season special.”
It was a special season for 3rd place finisher Jiayu Liu, too, coming back from breaking her L5 vertebrae. Run 2 was her best: Switch backside 540 switch Weddle grab, Cab 720 Weddle, frontside 540 stalefish, backside 540 Weddle, frontside 720 stalefish.
“I’m feeling really stoked and I’m really proud of myself at this event because this season I’m coming back from a back injury, and now to be able to compete at the top level feels really great. It’s a happy day and a happy end to the season.”
Liu, the second oldest in the field at 31, says she’s also proud to still be holding her own against the rising tide of young riders, including 12-year-old competitor Patti Zhou, who she helps mentor on the Chinese snowboarding team.
“Looking at the start list, I’m one of the oldest! The reason I continue snowboarding is because I just really love it. I love riding the pipe, and I love riding with all the kids who are coming up. In China we have a lot of young riders coming up and I love to be that role model inspiring them to keep improving themselves, keep enjoying it. I’m really honored to play that role and I hope to show the way: If I can do it, they can do better.”
Dew Tour 2024 Women’s Snowboard Streetstyle Final Results
- Maddie Mastro (USA) Run 3: 92.66
- Mitsuki Ono (JPN) Run 1: 90.33
- Jiayu Liu (CHN) Run 2: 88.00
- Sonny Alba (USA) Run 3: 79.00
- Queralt Castellet (ESP) Run 2: 77.00
- Kinsley White (USA) Run 3: 71.66
- Patti Zhou (CHN) Run 1: 70.33
- Zoe Kalapos (USA) Run 2: 58.33
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