Snowboarding: Hirano, Ono win 3rd straight WC halfpipe events, season

Japan's Ruka Hirano and Mitsuki Ono both won their third straight snowboarding halfpipe World Cup events Friday, wrapping up the season by respectively claiming their maiden men's and women's overall titles.The two Beijing Winter Olympians finished the season strongly. The 20-year-old Hirano scored 88.50 points for his fifth career World Cup win. The 18-year-old Ono tallied 89.75 for her third victory.After taking the lead by scoring 84.50 on his first run, Hirano bettered it in his third and final try by landing a double cork 1440.Australia's Valentino Guseli was runner-up to Hirano with 8…READ FULL ARTICLE