The organisation crew at the Crans-Montana CHAMPS Open by Rip Curl really had a hard time handling the ever changing weather conditions during the whole week.
First it was windy during the qualifications which at the end had to be held on the Superpipe only and then on saturday heavy snowfalls and poor visibility obliged them to postpone the finals.
But on sunday when the clouds finally let the sun through to reveal ideal riding conditions just long enough for the CHAMPS Open finals to be held! The shaping crew did a great job to prepare a slightly modified Slopestyle run featuring a line of 3 massive kickers and the signature of the CHAMPS: a Superpipe!
All the 24 riders - qualified and invited - went for it really hard and delivered an epic show on the spectacular slopestyle course. Arthur Longo owned the day - and 15000$ - with his killer runs and smooth style, his winning run consisting of a Switch Backside 9, Fronside 7 to Backside 7 on the kicker line, followed by a Frontside 9, Backside 5, Frontside 7 to Haakon flip in the Halfpipe. Watch his run at the bottom of this post.Risto Mattila and the most smiling rider out there, Elias Elhardt, were on the podium as well.
We have to mention the 6th place of local swiss rider Patrick Burgener. This kid is only 14 years old and already backing huge tricks! On the other extremity of the age spectrum Gian Simmens, Tonton Holland and Pascal Imhof, more than twice is age, still showed impressive runs and heaps of motivation!
Like always the CHAMPS turned out to be a super smooth event with lots of good vibes. It’s a 5 star TTR but the spirit was really good with all the riders pushing each other at the start of the Slopestyle and cheering on every stomped tricks. That’s probably why the oldest snowboard contest in Europe - turned 18 this year - is still rockin’!
Check out our photo report of this day before we hit you with a video in a few days.
A lot of things are happening this week-end on the contest agenda on the European continent!
The major event is the 5 Star TTR in Crans-Montana: The Champs Open by Rip Curl! We are stoked to be partners of this event for the second consecutive year so we will be reporting live from Crans-Montana for the finals over the week-end.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter for live feeds during the finals!
Of course it will also be possible to follow the event live on SnowBroader via Freecaster! The broadcast should start Saturday morning at 10:30 am if the weather permits. But sadly the forecasts are looking bad…
Just make sure to check back and look at the countdown on the player lower down in this post.
The Champs Open by Rip Curl will take place in Crans Montana from 4 to 8 february 2009. Before this 5 star TTR event begins, the Champs Open crew will organize 2 qualification sessions. The Rip Curl rail session by Renault in Modena (Italy) - last week-end - and the Rip Curl Flon City rail session in Lausanne (Switzerland) the 13th of december.
So last week-end during the big freestyle meeting at Skipass Modena the first event went off. Amongst the 80 participating riders there was a strong Italian presence but also some good international riders. The French snowboarder Victor Delerue charmed the judges and won a place in the Semi Finals at the Crans-Montana CHAMPS Open that will take place in Switzerland next February.
While the French scene and half of the rest of Europe will be focusing on Les 2 Alpes this week-end, our Italian Bros will have their eyes on the Skipass Freestyle Meeting that will take place in Modena. The most important urban contest in Italy, SFM’s new structures built in the external areas and designed by Roberto Moresi and Doors rail, will be the ring for riders to fight in. The main event of the week-end will be the 3* TTR invitational Burton STOMP IT hip contest.
Next to this TTR event, the Rip Curl Rail Sessions by Renault will be held. This event is a qualification contest for the 5*TTR CHAMPS OPEN that will be held in Crans-Montana in February. It will be followed by a second rail session in December in Lausanne, (that’s Switzerland dude).
Make sure to check back next week for awesome videos, coz your bro Pull Up is reporting live from Modena for us this week-end. The bastard will get to see Strung Out in concert…ok ciao bella for now!
The Crans-Montana CHAMPS Open by Rip Curl is preparing for an exceptional 2008-2009 winter season. Two qualifiers are scheduled with the now traditional Rails Session in Lausanne and similar competitions in Modena, Italy. But it doesn’t stop there - the oldest competition on the European circuit will celebrate its 18th anniversary in style next February.
The resort of Crans-Montana will welcome the worldwide freestyle elite from 4 to 8 February 2009. Snowboarders will have the place of honour in French-speaking Switzerland at a 5-star Swatch Ticket to Ride event.
After 15 years in Leysin, the Crans-Montana CHAMPS Open by Rip Curl has become a classic meeting on the snowboard scene, and has now been held in Crans-Montana for 3 seasons.
2009 will mark the 18th edition of the oldest competition in Europe and we are expecting to see some thrills.
The CHAMPS Open’s famous Slopestyle, with an over 700m long course, including all freestyle obstacles with tables, a spine and a half pipe, will be remodelled for the event. After celebrations on the slopes, The “Place to Be” – event village after the competition on the slopes - will also be completely reviewed and will be located closer to Homebase in Montana. Read the rest of this entry »
