Li set the tone early, scoring 93 points in her first run before landing a 95.25 in her third. “I played it safe in the first run, then increased the difficulty in the second and third,“ she said.

　　China's Li Fanghui competes in the women's freeski halfpipe event at the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games at the Yabuli Ski Resort, Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Feb 8, 2025. [Photo by Wei Xiaohao/chinadaily.com.cn]

　　Adapting to weather conditions, wind speed and direction, Li made key adjustments to her tricks. “My style is clean and distinct,“ she noted.

　　Li's journey to the top hasn't been without challenges. Ahead of the 2024 National Winter Games, she fractured her collarbone for the third time but still managed to secure silver in the women's freeski halfpipe open category.

　　“I was afraid of getting injured again, and my mindset wasn't great,“ she recalled. “But over the summer and fall, I gradually adjusted my mentality. Injuries aren't that scary - improving my skill level is the key to consistency.“

　　China's Zhang Kexin competes in the women's freeski halfpipe event at the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games at the Yabuli Ski Resort, Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Feb 8, 2025. [Photo by Wei Xiaohao/chinadaily.com.cn]

　　Silver medalist Zhang, born in 2002, is also from Harbin. A national team member since 2016, she competed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, finishing seventh in the women's freeski halfpipe final.

　　Reflecting on the growing success of Chinese female skiers in international freeski halfpipe competitions, Zhang credited their comprehensive technical development.