Day 1 is done at the Nescafe Champs in Leysin, and it was a mix of American and Finnish riders that were making the most of the unique slopestyle/halfpipe hybrid course. Check the highlights video and qualification results…

Sun, snow, blue skies and clouds. Leysin provide the perfect natural backdrop for the Qualification Day here at the NESCAFÉ CHAMPS, as 14 Women and 24 Men put on an intense show of freestyle snowboarding looking to land the 6 and 10 open places respectively for Friday’s Semi Finals. Some small fine tuning overnight resulted in the perfect riding infrastructure for the Qualification session at the 22nd Edition of the NESCAFÉ CHAMPS.

MEN

1. Martin Kalliola (FIN)
2. Roni Rintala (FIN)
3. Codey Ellison (USA)
4. Quinton Jones (USA)
5. Scott Moline (USA)
6. Markus Mathis (SUI)
7. Clemens Schattschneider (AUT)
8. Spencer Link (USA)
9. Max Buri (SUI)
10. Marco Grigis (ITA)

WOMEN

1. Phoebe Novello (USA)
2. Haille Soderholm (USA)
3. Christine Szumovski (AUT)
4. Michelle Zeller (USA)
5. Atti Holst (SWE)
6. Tina Ramholt (SUI)
7. Serena Shaw (USA)
8. Kirra Kotsenburg (USA)

On Saturday, 12 February 2011, a piece of snowboard history went into the books as the 20th anniversary of the NESCAFÉ CHAMPS Leysin, the oldest snowboard event in Europe, once again featured a nail biting final. Under sunny skies that made for warm spring-like conditions, the Swiss crowds gathered to relax and watch the high level of riding as both men and women took to the progressive slopestyle course. Slovenian shredder, Cilka Sadar, took a hefty lead early on and won the women’s title, which improved her ranking points to defend her World No. 2 position, while Swiss young gun, Lucien Koch, took home the men’s title. Both winners took home a share of the $ 50 000 USD prize purse and 850 Swatch TTR World Ranking points.

Risto Mattila in the pipe. Photo: Pierre Cailloux

Rookie Lucien Koch takes First in the Men’s Slopestyle
Even though the snow was melting at the speed of light all around the Swiss mountains, the slopestyle course at the NESCAFÉ CHAMPS Leysin was in impeccable shape featuring a mix of kickers, a halfpipe and a wallride. The men’s winner, Lucien Koch, a Swiss rider of only 15-years, impressed the crowds and judges with a stylish frontside 720 on the top kicker, he then smoothly dropped into the pipe and stomped a backside 900 and a frontside 900 then tossed in a huge backside 900 on the bottom kicker that flowed into a tail blunt on the wallride. Lucien, who made his way through the open qualifications, was stoked on his victory and had this to say, “Today was great for me, I won this competition and I can’t believe it! It was perfect for me, because I always ride kicker and pipe, and here you have kicker and pipe in one run”. Earlier in the season, he took third place at the 4Star Nissan Stomp-it and this was his first major Swatch TTR event title, which moved him into the TTR Top 50. In second place was experienced slopestyle rider, Risto Mattila (FIN), and in third Niklas Mattson (SWE).

Cilka Sadar. Photo: Marion Landon

Cilka Sadar Sits Comfortably in World No. 2
On the women’s side, the riding was truly impressive and current Swatch TTR World No. 2 Cilka Sadar (SLO) took the lead with her first run. On her victory lap, Cilka managed to improve on her first run with a solid performance landing a backside 360, then stomping back to back 540’s in the halfpipe and topping it off with a sweet frontside 540 on the last jump. Cilka is motivated to push through to secure a place on the final TTR Top 3 saying, “ Right now I’m World No. 2 on the TTR tour, it feels great, but I know I can’t really win because of Jamie and Kelly. But, I’m going to try my best to get second or third in the end of the season.” In second place was halfpipe specialist and another Swiss favourite, Ursina Haller, who with this result moved into World No. 8. In third Isabel Derungs, an up-and coming Swiss rider, who last weekend nailed the 4Star Stimorol Engadinsnow title, now sits in World No. 20.

Men's prizegiving. Photo: Pierre Cailloux

TTR Tour Moving on to The Oakley Arctic Challenge
The heat is on in the Swatch TTR Tour Champion title race and both men and women will be heading up to The Oakley Arctic Challenge in Oslo, Norway for a 6Star slopestyle competition running on 14th-19th February 2011. Check for the live webcast times on freecaster.com and ttrworldtour.com. The end of February will also see the men compete at the 5Star Burn River Jump in Italy on the 22nd to the 25th of Febraury 2011, as well as the 4Star Sony Ericsson Snowboard Fest on the 18th and 19th of February 2011. To keep up to date on the exciting moments before the TTR Tour Champions are crowned at the 6Star Burton US head to ttrworldtour.com.

Women's prizegiving. Photo: Pierre Cailloux

Gian Simmen

The resort of Leysin is preparing to host a major event for the sport and the freestyle scene. From February 8th to 13th, 2011, the NESCAFÉ CHAMPS will celebrate its 20th anniversary in the resort of the Swiss French region. The champions of the CHAMPS will participate in the contest as well as the biggest names and rising stars of today. Amongst the invited riders already confirmed, will be Switzerland’s Jan Scherrer and Finland’s Sami Luthanen who have each just won a TTR event. A plethora of past winners and VIPs from the snowboarding scene will also make the trip especially for the festivities programmed for this 20th edition. Excitement, ambiance and emotions are guaranteed!

In 20 years the NESCAFÉ CHAMPS in Leysin has become a not to be missed contest for the riders of the TTR World Snowboard Tour, but also for the young snowboarders from the local region. Thanks to the competition format that is open to everyone, the CHAMPS offer the possibility to move up the ranks of pro snowboarding. For the 20th anniversary, the CHAMPS will once again be open to anyone who wants to enter the qualifications. On top of that, the Slopestyle course planned for this year offers as much chance to Halfpipe specialists as it does to riders who just like to hit big jumps. It is a question of being able to do it all to stand on the podium of the NESCAFÉ CHAMPS. To top it off, for this 20th anniversary, the contest is open to women and men.

Helen Nadig

A few big names already confirmed

The qualified riders will be able to measure their talent against the invited riders who are part of the world elite. The crowd in Leysin will have the pleasure of seeing past winners perform once again, and whose objective will be to take home the title of this 20th edition. Amongst the men, there will be the young Swiss talent Jan Scherrer who has just finished 3rd at the Halfpipe in Davos. The winner in 2010, Johann Baisamy, who has already secured some solid results this season, will be flying the flag for France. The Nordic riders will also be accounted for with the presence of Risto Mattila, winner of the CHAMPS in 2004. Further Siwss Riders are Gian Simmen and the local Anthony Holland who was given a Wild Card. Pat Burgener will also be among the invited riders. His appearance is much anticipated after his second place in 2010 and 4th place finish in 2008. The young Swiss Frenchman has the talent to take the top spot on the podium.

Amongst the women, will be Swiss riders Ursina Haller, who won the CHAMPS in 2008 and is currently 14th in the TTR rankings, Sina Candrian who is currently 6th on the TTR tour, and young Nadja Purtschert who finished 6th in Davos. Two other riders who are also confirmed on the list of invited riders are Cilka Sadar from Slovenia (4th TTR World Ranking and 2nd in Davos) and one of the revelations of the start of the season, Mirabelle Thovex from France (7th in Davos). The points on offer in Leysin will be key for their TTR world ranking.

You can also watch the Nescafe Champs Live on the event site.

Where: Leysin, Switzerland

The snow and the fog didn’t get the better of the very motivated snowboarders in the finals of the NESCAFE CHAMPS 2010 in Leysin. The Frenchman, Johann Baisamy wins this edition and Patrick Burgener finishes in second place, only a point away from the top spot on the podium. Maxence Tevelle (FRA), takes 3rd place. Jan Scherrer, surprisingly strong in the qualifications, finishes a respectable 4th place.

Read our lengthy event report here!

Jan Scherrer. Photo: Messikommer

Where: Leysin, Switzerland

Johann Baisamy. Photo: Messikommer

I have to start this event wrap-up with some personal ramblings: On Saturday, 6 March 2010, I drove all the way back from the southernmost mountains of Piemont (Italy) to our lovely office in Munich, Germany. Just when I had made it over the San Bernadino pass into Switzerland I entered a heavy snowstorm, which basically would not stop until I arrived in Munich in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Now I know that Leysin, the venue of the Nescafé Champs, is a good 160 kilometer away from where I made my profound meteorologic observations, but I figured these guys would run into some weather troubles nonetheless. Therefore I was utterly impressed when I learnt that they still managed to pull off a great event. Alright then, here’s the straight dope from the TTR (note the frequent mentioning of the weather):

Despite difficult weather condition at the 4Star Nescafé Champs 2010 in Leysin, French snowboarder Johann Baisamy stepped up his game and took the win together with 500 Swatch TTR points. Patrick Burgener finishes in second place, only a point away from the top spot on the podium and now sits in World No. 40 on the TTR World Snowboard Tour. The second Frenchman on the podium was Maxence Tevelle in 3^rd place.

Baisamy Shines Despite Difficult Weather Conditions

Due to difficult weather conditions, the decision was made to run one super final instead of semi finals and finals which then saw 18 athletes, 10 qualified and 8 invited riders, competing for the Nescafe Champs title.  After the first run, the young Swiss prodigy, Patrick Burgener, occupied the top spot, but was soon to be unseated by the audacious riding of Johann Baisamy, who would go on to win the 2010 edition in his first appearance at the event.

“It’s the first time that I’ve competed in this contest. When I saw that I was 2^nd after the first run, I really let loose in my 2^nd run. I had nothing to lose!”, said an ecstatic Johann Baisamy. Patrick Burgener, who had slightly injured one of his knees during training the day before, didn’t want to take too many risks, which ended up costing him the top spot. Maxence Tevelle, another French rider, secured the last place on the podium, finishing 3^rd.

Hailing from Bern, another rising star of Swiss snowboarding, Jan Scherrer, finished 4^th. Only 15 years old, he was awarded the “Dani Lötscher Award” that recognizes the accomplishments of the best young rider in the competition.

Jan Scherrer. Photo: Messikommer

Final results NESCAFÉ CHAMPS Leysin 2010

1. Johann Baisamy (FRA), 2. Patrick Burgener (SUI), 3. Maxence Tevelle (FRA), 4. Jan Scherrer (SUI), 5. Sergio Berger (SUI), 6. David Djité (SUI), 7. Anthony Holland (AUS), 8. Rafael Imhof (SUI), 9. Dan Wakeham (GBR), 10. Matthias Meyer (SUI), 11. Levi Luggen (SUI), 12. Jonas Zbinden (SUI), 13. Thomas Ruegg (SUI), 14. Daniel Premand (SUI), 15. Darius Heristchian (SUI), 16. Petja Piiroinen (FIN), 17. Aurel Anthamatten (SUI), 18. Thomas Delfino (FRA)