March 2, 2026

Kaishu Hirano Makes History at Snow League Stop In Aspen – Full Results

Kaishu Hirano lands a 25-foot, 2-inch (7.68 meters) halfpipe air at Buttermilk at Aspen Snowmass.

words: Mark Clavin

Breaking news: Kaishu is still Kaishu. Kaishu breaks another world record while Ryusei Yamada and Sara Shimizu take the top spots in Aspen for the third event of the Snow League season. USA’s Jake Pates rode away with an impressive third place finish after his recent Olympic final showing and Yuto Totsuka claims the number two. The event was stacked with talent, as always, and on the women’s side, following Sara Shimizu’s impressive dismantling of the bracket throughout the day was Sena Tomita and Maddie Mastro. A full replay of the action is coming soon on Peacock, so check out our social channels for more info!

From Snow League:

Aspen, CO (March 2, 2026)  – Snow League athlete Kaishu Hirano of Murakami, Japan, made world-record history at The Snow League Event Three in the halfpipe at Buttermilk at Aspen Snowmass this weekend. During qualifications on Friday, February 27, Hirano set a new world record for the highest halfpipe air, soaring 25 feet, 2 inches (7.68 meters) above the lip of the 22-foot halfpipe while holding a backside method grab at the peak of his jump. Hirano’s new record is currently pending Guinness World Record verification.

In a nod to the camaraderie and friendships at play behind-the-scenes of competitive snowboarding, Hirano received a pull in at the top of the halfpipe from fellow Snow League competitors including two Olympic gold medalists—his older brother and Beijing 2022 champion Ayumu Hirano (JPN) and Milano Cortina 2026 champion Yuto Totsuka (JPN)—along with Jake Pates (USA) and Joey Okesson (USA), launching him into the speed needed for his record-breaking air.

The inspiration for his success can be attributed to the Jeep® Brand, Official Global Automotive Partner of The Snow League, who announced the launch of the Jeep® Biggest Air Badge in Aspen this weekend. The all-new, performance-based award recognizes athletes who achieve the Biggest Air at every league halfpipe finals event in both women’s and men’s fields. Although the Jeep® Biggest Air Badges are reserved for Finals Day competitors, Jeep made an exception, acknowledging Kaishu’s incredible achievement during qualifiers. 

The inaugural Jeep® Biggest Air Badges were awarded to Totsuka and Brooke D’Hondt (CAN).

K. Hirano is currently ranked 20th in the Snow League World Championship Standings with his best result of fifth-place earned at Event Two in China.