The 28th annual US Open Snowboarding Championships will once again host thousands of fans and many of the world’s top snowboarders for a weekend of slopestyle, rail jam and halfpipe competitions. Taking place at Stratton Mountain Resort from March 15-21, the Open is the first US event since the 2010 Olympics where snowboard medalists Shaun White, Peetu Piiroinen, Scotty Lago, Hannah Teter and Kelly Clark will compete.
This 6Star Oakley Arctic Challenge (TAC) saw 32 of snowboarding’s best slopestyle riders whittled down to the three best slopestyle riders worthy enough to step on the podium.
One of the most impressive snowboard athletes in the world today, Peetu Piiroinen, reconfirmed his reputation with a first place finish at the coveted 6Star Oakley Arctic Challenge. The thousands of fans at Tryvann Vinterpark in Oslo, Norway witnessed a piece of snowboarding history as 21-year old Peetu Piiroinen took first place in today’s slopestyle competition, and with an additional 1000 TTR ranking points on his account, he took an unassailable lead in the TTR World Rankings.
Today, we saw the semi finals of the 6Star Oakley Arctic Challenge on the Tryvann Vinterpark slopestyle course on the scenic outskirts of Oslo, Norway. Peetu Piiroinen was in form and qualified in the top spot of his heat leaving Seppe Smits in second and Torstein Horgmo (NOR) in third place. The second heat was dominated by the two Norwegian warriors Mikkel Bang and Tore Holvik leaving Eric Willett in third. In the final tomorrow, ten qualified snowboarders including Mark McMorris, Ville Uotila, Roope Tonteri and Sage Kotsenburg will ride it out for the coveted TAC Title and of course a maximum 1000 Swatch TTR Ranking points.
Yesterday, the 6Star Oakley Arctic Challenge (TAC) saw 32 of snowboarding’s best slopestyle riders battling for one of twenty spots in the semi finals that are today. One of Norway’s most famous riders Torstein Horgmo, used his home country advantage and qualified in first. The slopestyle course in Tryvann Vinterpark, Olso, served as a brand new location for this elite Swatch TTR competition.
Winter X Games 14 are over. Four days in Aspen and not a feature was spared. An X-plosion of awesome-ness in Aspen. Full action breakdown and results, right here!
Finnish riders Peetu Piiroinen (21 years old) and Enni Rukajärvi (19 years old) were the big winners of an exciting slopestyle finals up on Crap Sogn Gion today. Peetu claimed his 3rd BEO title today; while Enni secured her first win at the BEO. Both earned US$ 15.000 prize-money, 8.000 BGOS points as well as 1.000 TTR points. Mikkel Bang (NOR) and local rider Sina Candrian (SUI) took second and Gerjmund Braaten (NOR) and Sarka Pancochova (CZE) rounded out the podium.
Two days ago Marko Grilc invited me to the premiere new Burton’s movie “The B“. Party and premiere took place in K4 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. So many people came that a lot of them couldn’t get the tickects, because it was sold out in less than an hour.
From Oslo, Norway, MikkelBang first proved he meant business to the world when he won the Rookie Challenge at the Air & Style in 2006, gaining a wild card spot in the main event. The following year he powered through the knock out big air competition, beating many of the world’s best riders to take second place overall with an incredibly slick switch backside 1080. King of jibs and jumps, Mikkel rules in both slopestyle and big air competitions, in 2009 alone he racked up four podium spots at major events including the X Games, the Canadian Open and the Dew Tour. Famous for his endlessly positive attitude and enthusiasm for pretty much everything, Nike 6.0 are stoked to have him on board the footwear team and are looking forward to working with him in the 2010 season.
So hot right now after winning Horsefeathers Pleasure Jam and 7th place at Billabong Air & Style. Elias Elhardt will be riding in the International Team of Nitro Snowboards and Raiden Bindings for the upcoming season. Elias is not just only a sick rider, he has an amazing personality! Therefore they are all really happy go get a new member of the Nitro family!
Maybe it’s just us but we are always slightly stunned to read something about the Australian snowboard scene. They had the Australian Open alright and they still have the Stylewars, but are they REALLY riding down there? NitroSnowboards just signed young Ozzie chap Nate Johnstone.
The rumors are true. As winter has arrived, so has Norwegian phenom Andreas Wiig to Forum’s pro team. Joining Peter Line,Eddie Wall, Pat Moore, Jake Welch, Stevie Bell, John Jackson, Nic Sauvé and Daniel Ek, Andreas is set to give it 110% this season. Whether riding the park, at a slopestyle event or filming in the backcountry, Wiig continually pushes his limits. And he is also the latest join Foursquare’s talented pro team.
Bluetomato is proud to announce their two new Snowboard Teamriders – The brothers from Iceland: Eiki and Halldor Helgason.
UPDATE: Marko Grilc wins the Air & Style. Marko chipped in for the injured Seb Toutant and made the most out of it! He now stands on top of TTR rankings! Congrats.
The starting field of the Billabong Air & Style is complete and the action is ON!
16 pros from seven countries build a Riders-Line up at its best. Worldchampion Peetu Piiroinen and the winner of the straight jump contest in 2006, Travis Rice, will fight on the highest level.
After a couple of years of quarterpipe action, the Air & Style is back on the big air program and will feature the head-to-head knockout format:
Mikkel Bang vs. Elias Elhardt
Pat Moore vs. Iouri Podladtchikov
Chas Guldemond vs. Werner Stock
Antti Autti vs. ?????
Peetu Piiroinen vs. Gigi Ruf
Risto Mattila vs. Eero Ettala
Travis Rice vs. Andreas Wiig
Torstein Horgmo vs. Tim Humphreys
WATCH IT NOW! And ask yourself why chicks don’t get to ride The A&S too…support Anne-Flore Marxer, Sarka Pancochova, Cheryl Maas, Tanja Detomas, Lisa Filzmoser, Jenny Jones, Jamie Anderson, Kimmy Fasani, Hana Beaman, Leanne Pelosi, Bev Vuilleumier, Marie-France Roy by signing this petition.
Tomorrow the action is going to start! Billabong Air & StyleRIDERS will be able to do some warm-up runs and check the last tricks in order to start with even more self-confidence into the contest. Eero Ettala, Andreas Wigg, Peetu Piiroinen, Mikkel Bang, Seppe Smiths and Co. have already confirmed and do not want to miss this chance. Only here on Stubai Zoo!
For Europe’s most important snowboard event the Stubai Zoo is going to present the Billabong Air & Style kicker at Stubai Glacier from 01. to 02.12.09. Within these two days PROS from all over the world are going to practice for their performance at the Bergisel Stadium on 05.12.09.
