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4 to Watch: Figure Skating With the ‘Shib Sibs,' World's Fastest Skiers and Local Snowboard Hero Highlight Day 1 of Pyeongchang Olympic Games

Day 1 in Pyeongchang features the first women's snowboarding action, the fastest skiers in the world and more team figure skating competition

ICE DHS in Puerto Rico

Snowboarding superstar Julia Marino, a hometown hero from Westport, Connecticut, looks to qualify for her signature event as the first medals are awarded in men's snowboarding. From the world's fastest skiers vying for gold in Alpine skiing men's downhill to more highly anticipated team figure skating events, there was no shortage of must-see action on Day 1 of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

Without further ado, here are our four to Watch on Day 1:

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Mikaela Shiffrin in action during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Giant Slalom on Dec. 19, 2017 in Courchevel, France. Shiffrin, a winter Olympics contender from the United States, beat out France's Tessa Worley for the World Cup in giant slalom.

1. #ShibSibs Maia and Alex Shibutani, Bradie Tennell, Take to the Ice

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Maia and Alex Shibutani and Olympic first-timer Bradie Tennell took to the ice as team competition resumed. The #ShibSibs, as they’re known, performed in the ice dance, while Tennell appeared in the women’s short program. The team event consisted of a men’s skater, a woman’s skater, a pair of ice dancers and pairs skaters.

The Shibutanis finished in second after Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir from Canada. Canada is leading the rest of the field in the short dance phase with 27 points. Team USA and Russia are in second and third place, earning 23 points and 21 points, respectively. 

The Americans are second behind behind Canada after the pairs and men’s short programs. Team USA’s Nathan Chen had a disappointing night in his debut when he fell on a triple axel attempt during the men’s short program in the figure skating team event.

Must-See: The Shibutani siblings dance to mambo music, finish second in short dance

MORE: 

10 Fast Facts About the 'Shib Sibs': Maia and Alex Shibutani on the Ice

2. World's Fastest Skiers Vie for Gold in Men's Downhill (Postponed)

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Strong wind has forced the Pyeongchang Olympic men's downhill to be postponed. The first race of the 11-event Alpine program was scheduled for Sunday (Saturday night in New York). But three hours before it was supposed to start, race organizers said the downhill would be moved to a different day. When the race is rescheduled, five men from Team USA will vie for gold in the crowded field -- Wiley Maple, Thomas Biesemeyer, Steven Nyman, Jared Goldberg and Bryce Bennett. Bennett is the top-ranked American (18) based on 2017-18 World Cup season. He and his U.S. colleagues will be chasing first-ranked Swede Beat Fuez (World Cup), but no doubt keep an eye on Austria's Matthias Mayer, who took the gold in Sochi. 

How to Watch: The men's downhill has been postponed to Feb. 14 at 9 p.m. EST and the men's super-G will be held Feb. 15 at 9 p.m. EST.

Must-See: Bryce Bennett fastest American in downhill training

3. Team USA Takes First Gold Medal in Men's Snowboard Slopestyle

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Snowboarder Red Gerard on Sunday won the men's slopestyle event in Pyeongchang, giving the United States its first medal at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

Gerard managed to thwart the Canadians and Norwegians who entered the event as the strongest in the field. Canadians Max Parrott and Mark McMorris took silver and bronze, respectively. 

Must-See: Red Gerard's gold medal run in snowboard slopesyle

MORE: Red Gerard's electric qualifying run has all on upset alert 

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4. Julia Marino Hits the Slopes (Postponed)

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The women's snowboard slopestyle event qualifiers were canceled Sunday morning due to wind conditions in Pyeongchang, advancing all 28 athletes to the final round.

Local snowboard star Julia Marino, who hails from Westport, Connecticut, looks to qualify in her signature slopestyle event in Pyeongchang. One of the key names to watch in these Winter Olympic Games, Marino turns heads for her innovative snowboarding techniques, but didn't start out in that sport. According to NBCOlympics.com, Marino initially liked skiing and started that at age 3. When she was 12, she lost one of her skis in the woods and the rest is history.

It's her first Olympics, but she's no stranger to the podium. Marino became the first woman to land a double in the slopestyle competition in the 2016 Corona World Championships of Snowboarding. She was a gold medalist in the 2017 X Games Aspen and Saturday night's qualification round in the slopestyle is her first step to adding an Olympic medal to her trophy case.

How to Watch: The women's slopestyle has been postponed until 8 p.m. EST on Sunday.

Must-See: Julia Marino qualifies for Olympic slopestyle team

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