The comeback of the legendary Straight Jump format to the Bergisel Stadium was a full success. 11.500 fans witnessed their snowboard heroes at the Billabong Air & Style Innsbruck. On the perfectly working kicker, that replaced the quarterpipe of last year, Marko Grilc ruled the final of four with a Switch Backside 1080 Double Corked Mute Grab and 281 points. He only recently entered the starting the field of 16 riders after the Canadian Sebastien Toutant had to cancel because of an unfortunate injury. Peetu Piroiinen (21 years/FIN/268 Pts.) placed second and Andreas Wiig (28 years/NOR/251 Pts.) came in third.
After a couple of years of quarterpipe action, the Air & Style is back on the big air program for 2009 and feature the head-to-head knockout format. Similar to an NCAA March Madness bracket system, the head-to-head format pits two riders against each other with three runs to outdo their opponent. The rider with the best score after three runs moves on to the next round and the other rider gets knocked out of the competition. The head-to-head knock out format for the big air competition made the contest quite the nail biter for the large crowd in attendance.
The long in-run, poppy jump and steep landing was a perfect combination for Grilc to throw down a switch backside double corked 1080 in the super finals to take the Air & Style 2009 title. “This is the best day of my life by far. I never even thought that this could happen. I am just very stoked” says an overwhelmed Grilc after the prize giving. “I went to Australia and New Zealand and then today I am Number one. I don’t even know what to say. It came out of fun and pleasure and now I am here and I am stoked.” He was up against Peetu Piiroinen in the final round who was able to stomp a backside double corked 1080 for the second place finish. Andreas Wiig laid down a clean fronside 1080 double flip in the final for the third place spot on the podium.
Local rider Werner Stock from the Zillertal finished the event successfully in sixth place, closely follwoed by Elias Elhardt from Germany. The three times winner of the Air & Style, Stefan Gimpl from Leogang and the Austrian Gigi Ruf were kicked out of the contest by Peetu Piroiinen and Elias Elhardt in the first round. In the Rookie competition that consisted of 12 riders, it was the 18 years old Seppe Smits from Belgium who went home with the win. His reward: a spot in next year’s starting field of 16 riders at the Billlabong Air & Style 2010.
As the first 6Star Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour event of the season, the Billabong Air & Style gives out the first stack of 1000 TTR ranking points and as such causes significant changes on the world ranking list. Marko Grilc not only won his first 6Star title but is also new Swatch TTR Tour leader after today.
Billabong Air & Style Innsbruck-Tirol 09/II Top 3
- Marko Grilc SLO 281 Pts. Switch Backside 1080 Double Cork Mute Grab
- Peetu Piroiinen FIN 268 Pts. Backside 1080 Double Cork Mute Grab
- Andreas Wiig NOR 251 Pts. Frontside 1080 Double Flip
Billabong Air & Style Innsbruck-Tirol 09/II: Top 3 Rookie Challenge
- Seppe Smits BEL 254 Pts. Backside 1260 Mute
- Tom Klocker AUT 244 Pts. Frontside 1080 Indy
- Niki Korpela FIN 239 Pts. Frontside 1440 Melon
Again, the Air & Style Innsbruck fascinated the crowds with its unique atmosphere, sportive highlights and popular music live acts with K.I.Z. and The Hives.
