Monster Energy’s Chloe Kim Takes Gold in Women’s Snowboard SuperPipe and Teammate Rene Rinnekangas Claims Silver in Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle at X Games Aspen 2019
ASPEN, Colo. (PRWEB) January 27, 2019 -- Way to end an epic day at X Games Aspen 2019! Monster Energy congratulates team rider Chloe Kim on claiming the gold medal in SoFi Women’s Snowboard SuperPipe. In front of a high-energy crowd on Buttermilk Mountain tonight, the 18-year-old snowboard phenom from Torrance, California, defended last year’s title to take her fifth career X Games gold medal. Her Monster Energy teammate Rene Rinnekangas from Finland barged onto the podium earlier today with a silver medal finish in Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle.
The capacity crowd was on its feet in Aspen tonight as the world’s best female halfpipe snowboarders took on the 22-foot halfpipe with three attempts each. The eight Women’s Snowboard SuperPipe finalists hailed from China, Japan, Spain, and the United States.
Chloe Kim came into the final as the defending gold medalist and crowd favorite. After a throwaway first run, the world’s most competitive snowboarder sealed the deal on her second attempt: Reaching deep into her bag of technical tricks, Kim landed a perfect routine including high-flying Indy nosebone, frontside 1080, Cab 720, frontside 540 and a high-flying McTwist for 84.00 points and the win.
Still the youngest competitor in Women’s Snowboard SuperPipe, Chloe Kim now boasts a podium-perfect record with seven medals in just as many X Games appearances. She also officially ties skateboarder Lyn-z Pastrana for most medals earned by a teenage female athlete at X Games. Tonight’s win starts Chloe Kim’s 2019 season on a high note, after 2018 was already a banner year: She made history as the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics and became the only person in X Games history to collect four gold medals before age 18. And she’s just getting started…
“I’m just gonna keep competing. I look forward to the next one and doing some exciting stuff for you guys!” said Chloe Kim upon winning X Games gold in Aspen. She also thanked her coach and mentor, Women’s Snowboard SuperPipe icon Kelly Clark, who announced her retirement from competition at tonight’s event.
Earlier today, 19-year-old Rene Rinnekangas from Iisalmi, Finland caused a major upset in Jeep Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle by putting down a run for the ages: In his third and final attempt on the stacked obstacle course, Rene covered the rail section with technical tricks including frontside lip slide 270, frontside boardslide 450 and front 270 to lip followed by an air show including Cab 1260 switch tail, frontside 1440 melon and a backside 1620 over the tall ‘Money Booter’ jump to take the lead with a 94.00-point score.
He looked like a shoo-in for the gold medal, until Canada’s Mark McMorris stomped a perfect routine on the final attempt of the entire contest, leaving Rene celebrating silver as his first-ever X Games medal. The Finnish rookie pro also put on a phenomenal 5th place finish in Friday’s Snowboard Big Air final and rocked the crowd on Saturday playing bass in his band, Kätfish. Watch out for this kid in the future!
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Stay tuned on Sunday for the final day of X Games Aspen 2019, as the world’s best snow athletes battle it out for medals in Men’s Ski Slopestyle, Harley-Davidson Snow Hill Climb, Snow Bike Best Trick and Monster Energy Men’s Snowboard SuperPipe.
ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC will televise a combined 15.5 hours of live X Games Aspen 2019 competition, which will also be accessible via the ESPN app and WatchABC to viewers who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider. In addition, all 15.5 hours of live content, plus exclusive competitions, musical performances and X Games Extra shows will be streamed on the @XGames YouTube, Facebook and Twitter pages.
Visit http://www.monsterenergy.com for exclusive updates from X Games Aspen 2019 including photos, videos, and contest results as they happen. Follow Monster Energy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter for exclusive behind-the-scenes looks in Aspen
About Monster Energy
Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer and distributor of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at http://www.monsterenergy.com.
Kim Dresser, Indie Agency Inc., http://www.indiepragency.com, +1 (949) 300-5546, [email protected]
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