Teen snowboarder credits recent success to mental growth
Choi Gaon of Korea competes in the women's halfpipe final at the International Ski Federation Snowboard World Cup in Copper Mountain, Colorado, Friday. AFP-Yonhap
Having captured two straight World Cup titles in the leadup to her first Winter Olympics, teenage snowboarder Choi Gaon says her mental development has been the big key to her success.
Choi won the women's halfpipe gold medal at the latest International Ski Federation Snowboard World Cup stop in Copper Mountain, Colorado, on Friday (local time), with 94.50 points. A week earlier, Choi had also come out on top in the World Cup event in China.
The 17-year-old had one career World Cup title to her credit entering this season.
"I've never won two titles in the same season before, so it hasn't hit me yet," Choi told Yonhap News Agency over the phone Sunday. "I am pleased that my hard work is paying off and that I've been able to stay healthy."
Korean American star Chloe Kim has won each of the past two Olympic gold medals in the women's halfpipe, in which boarders perform acrobatic spins, flips and board grabs on a 22-foot, U-shaped structure. They are judged on degrees of difficulty, height and execution of their moves.
Kim is still regarded as the athlete to beat at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, but Choi has quickly emerged as the potential threat to Kim's throne.
Choi burst onto the scene by becoming the youngest X Games champion at 14 years and three months in January 2023, and added her first World Cup title in December of the same year.
Choi then suffered a devastating back injury during the World Cup stop in early 2024, and it required a year of rehab and recovery.
And with the Olympics less than two months away, Choi said she is in great form.
"I feel like I've made particularly big strides on the mental side of things," Choi added. "I don't get as nervous before competitions as before, and I have the strength to maintain my own pace. When I do get nervous, I try to stay locked in on my techniques, and then the nerves go away."
Reflecting on her extended rehab, Choi said it was the most serious injury she'd suffered in her life.
"After my second surgery, I was spending all that time in Korea, and I grew bored," she said. "That's when I realized my life would only be complete if I go back to snowboard. And that helped me get back on my feet."
Choi has won both World Cup titles this month in tough weather conditions, and she said her new mental approach helped her not get distracted by her surroundings.
Choi Gaon of Korea poses with the winner's belt after winning the women's halfpipe title at the International Ski Federation Snowboard World Cup in Copper Mountain, Colorado, Friday. Yonhap
"I wanted to stay focused on things that I could control and not worry about things that I couldn't," she said. "I tried to remind myself of things I hadn't done well in the past and tried to stay composed."
In Copper Mountain, Choi and Kim led their respective qualification groups to set up an intriguing showdown in the final. However, Kim suffered an undisclosed injury during training and did not compete in the final.
All three of Choi's World Cup titles have now come without Kim in the final.
"I felt really bad when Chloe got hurt," Choi said. "I can't say I wasn't disappointed that we didn't get to meet in the final, but I would love to go up against her when we are both healthy and in top form. I think it will happen eventually."
Korea has had just one Olympic medal in snowboarding so far, with Lee Sang-ho's silver in the men's parallel giant slalom at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, and Choi is now considered the country's top snowboard medal contender in Italy.
"I can feel that the Olympic Games are indeed just around the corner. I feel like I am getting more attention than usual," she said. "Obviously, I am looking forward to my first Olympics, and just competing there will be significant in and of itself. I will try not to do too much."
Choi has recently executed a switch backside 900, which involves taking off while riding in an opposite stance and completing 2 1/2 spins with a backside rotation. She is also working on a more difficult switch backside 1080, which requires three full spins.
"I am concentrating on strengthening my fundamentals and on executing steady moves without injuries," she said. "I am working on the switch backside 1080, but first and foremost, I am trying to avoid getting hurt."
After continuing her training in the United States, Choi plans to come home early next month before heading out to Switzerland for her last World Cup event before the Olympics in February.
"I want to show the very best version of myself at the Olympics," Choi said. "I will give my 100 percent."