The first 5Star halfpipe competition of the 2011/12 TTR World Tour season is in the bag and Japanese rider, Ryo Aono, and American, Kelly Clark, took home the victories at the 2011 Burton New Zealand Open. It was another perfect day at Cardrona Alpine Resort and the level of riding was set high from the start by the talented field of international riders. Ryo and Kelly both took home $7,000 NZD for their wins and earned 850 TTR ranking points that will count towards both the Halfpipe World Tour Ranking and the Overall World Tour Ranking lists.

Kelly Clark. Photo: Pablo Azocar

The halfpipe finals ran the same format as slopestyle finals using a best-of-three-run format with men and women alternating runs. Kelly Clark sketched on her first run leaving the door open for the other women including Queralt Castellet (ESP), Hannah Teter (USA) and Gretchen Bleiler (USA) who all have impressive tricks in their repertoire. But, Kelly was able to nail her second run that held up to take the win, which was made up of a frontside 720, Cab 720, backside 540 and finished with a frontside 900. Hannah Teter stomped a smooth run to take second place and Queralt Castellet was going big all day and ended up in third place.

Women's Podium. Photo: Pablo Azocar

The men’s leader board shifted with each run and the Japanese contingent was on fire putting down some impressive tricks. In the end, it was Ryo Aono (JPN) who landed a near-flawless run consisting of a frontside 1080, Cab 1080, frontside 900, backside 900 and ended with a frontside double cork 1080. Louie Vito (USA) was looking good all day taking second place and Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) ended up in third. Louie was happy about taking second place on the podium and was glad to bank the TTR points that he needs to qualify for the upcoming World Snowboarding Championships saying, “I came down to New Zealand especially to get some points for the TTR World Champs and it’s fun, I could be traveling to worse places than New Zealand. And, it was a good day today, the pipe was in really good shape and I was stoked to finish on the podium.”

Men's Podium. Photo: Pablo Azocar

Riders who competed in halfpipe at the Burton New Zealand Open, from pre-qualifiers to finals, have all earned ranking points that will count towards the TTR Overall and the TTR Halfpipe World Tour Ranking lists. After the close of the New Zealand Open, Roope Tonteri (FIN) is leading the men’s Overall Tour Ranking with four results already registered. And, on the women’s side, Silvia Mittermueller (GER) is leading the women’s Overall Tour Rankings with three results in the bag. Check out www.ttrworldtour.com for the complete Slopestyle Tour Ranking, Halfpipe Tour Ranking and Big Air Ranking lists.

With the 5Star New Zealand Open a wrap, the TTR World Tour will take a brief hiatus and be back for the first 6Star event, the Air & Style Beijing, going down this December in China.

I-Pod at the NZO - all photos: Pablo Azocar

With the Southern Hemisphere leg of the 2010/11 Swatch TTR World Tour done and dusted, we have the first tour leaders of this season to announce: Norwegian ripper Gjermund Braaten and Swiss rider Sina Candrian.

The New Zealand Open are traditionally the event to set the pace for the upcoming season, and this year was no exception. Especially with the new judging system, the Snowboard Live Scoring (SLS) system, being tested by both riders and judges and fully approved by all parties. But of course there was also some great riding shown at the NZO, despite challenging riding conditions. The slopestyle day was a foggy one, but Christian Haller (SUI) was able to power through and bag his first major TTR title, and 19-year old Jamie Anderson (USA), who has been building herself a reputation as a slopestyle superstar, took home the top spot for the women. The conditions turned around to sun and slush for the halfpipe competition where Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) and Kelly Clark (USA) took home top honors.

Kelly Clark at the NZO

The rookie scene was also pumping down under with a handful of 3Star events happening in both New Zealand and Australia.  The 3Star Dew Hut Jam took place at the end of July, featuring a very unique team format that the riders loved. Kiwi riders Stef Zeestraten and Jake Koia won the session as a team representing New Zealand. The 3Star Billabong Bro Down at Snow Park NZ featured a big air format and a stacked rider list. Once again, local up-and-comer, Jake Koia (NZL), took the top spot with a huge frontside 1080 melon entering the TTR Top 20 and now sits in 18th position on the World Rankings. Due to a record breaking snowstorm the legendary 4Star Stylewars in Australia had to be canceled though.

With two major events in the bag for the men and one major for the women for the 2010/11 season, the TTR tour will take a hiatus for a couple of months before returning to the Northern Hemisphere. Oakley Air & Style in Beijing will kick things off with a bang as the first major event for the men. After China, the tour will move on to Europe for the classic run of the O’Neill Evolution, Burton European Open and Billabong Air & Style Innsbruck. For a complete calendar of events and all the latest information on the 2010/11 TTR World Snowboard tour, head over to ttrworldtour.com.

Torstein Horgmo at the NZO 09 - photo: Phil Erickson

While we’re still enjoying beergarding, flip flops, board shorts and girls in little clothing, the TTR is already moving up to the second stop of the next season again!

Because Winter is in full swing down in the Southern Hemisphere already and riders from around the globe are making the journey to Lake Wanaka, New Zealand for the 2010 Burton New Zealand Open, taking place August 10-14, 2010 at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

With a healthy prize purse worth $50,000 NZD and some major TTR Ranking points on the line, riders will be out in full force to get a jump on the 2010/11 season. Norwegian rider, Gjermund Braaten, is currently sitting in World No. 1 in the TTR rankings after a good finish at the first 5Star event of the season, the Billabong Ante Up. Hot on Braaten’s heels in the World Rankings is young Canadian ripper, Mark McMorris, currently in World No.2 and American contest machine, Chas Guldemond, who owns the World No. 3 position. Other top male riders that are scheduled to attend include Seppe Smits (BEL), Marko Grilc (SLO), Charles Reid (CAN), Jack Mitrani (USA), Louie Vito (USA) and Kazuhiro Kokubo (JPN).

The women’s field of competitors is also looking strong for the 2010 NZ Open especially the line-up of slopestyle riders, which should make for some interesting competition. With two previous TTR World Champions, Jamie Anderson (USA), and Enni Rukajärvi (FIN), riding alongside slopestyle specialists Kjersti Buaas (NOR) and Sina Candrian (SUI), the ladies’ field is going to have to bring their A-game for a shot at a podium spot.

In addition to the 5Star New Zealand Open and the popular 4Star Stylewars competition in Australia, there are many rookie-level events happening this season in the Southern Hemisphere giving local riders a chance to compete for TTR ranking points. Among those events are the 3Star Dew Hut Jam on July 31st 2010 in Australia, the 3Star Billabong Bro Down on September 11th 2010 and the Mother Freestyle Series – Smith Session Slopestyle on August 14th 2010 in New Zealand.

All the action from the Burton New Zealand Open will be webcast live at Go211.com on August 13th and 14th (New Zealand time zones) and on August 12th and 13th (North American and European time zones).

Register today on snowboardingresults.com to find the first ever result database that does not refer to one sports organisation only.

Where: Cardrona, New Zealand

Kazuhiro Kokubo at last year's NZO.

All aboard the Burton Global Open Series train, first stop: New Zealand!

The Burton New Zealand Snowboard Open (NZO) is pleased to announce that the 2010 event will again be hosted at Cardrona Alpine Resort in the Cardrona Valley of Wanaka NZ from August 10-14, 2010.

After a hugely successful return to Cardrona in 2009, the Burton NZ Open is set to raise the bar once again while leaving its mark on the global snowboard scene.

“We are stoked to again host the Open at such a great resort,” says event manager Reuben Yeoman. “The team at Cardrona is 100% behind this event, and their commitment to snowboarding was evident last year. The combined effort is providing riders with the facilities and formats they require to perform at their best, and it’s great to be a part of such a progressive event and global series.”

The first stop of the Burton Global Open Series and also a 5 Star event on the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour, the Burton NZ Open will again take Wanaka and the Cardrona Valley by storm. Full event details, including a comprehensive contest and entertainment schedule will be published soon. All updates will be available on www.opensnowboarding.com, where the 2010 New Zealand Open website will launch in the coming weeks.