The NZ leg of the TTR World Snowboard Tour kicked off with the 4-Star Billabong Slopestyle in Snow Park. Roope Tonteri and Jamie Anderson won – watch what went down…

Our good buddy Roope Tonteri thankfully made it out of Les 2 Alpes alive (where we discovered his and our Photo Ed’s mutual love for l’Avalanche club) and made it down under where he’s kicked ass in the Open Men’s division of the Billabong Slopestyle 4Star TTR World Snowboard Tour event which wrapped up at Snow Park near Lake Wanaka, New Zealand yesterday, coming out top of the pile of the 50-odd riders who entered.

Though Roope left the Cab 1440 he pulled out the bag to win last season’s Burton European Open under wraps, he dominated qualifying on Friday and sent it in his first finals run to ensure the top-spot on the podium ahead of the USA’s Sam Hulbert (USA), 2nd, and fellow Fin, Antti Autti (FIN), 3rd.

Tonteri’s winning run went like this: a frontside boardslide to front 360 tail tap, a back 900, a cab 900 and a backside 540 over the final feature dubbed the ‘Monster Volcano’; a channel-gap nipple jump over a giant inflatable Monster Energy can.

The judge’s score of 89.40 (out of 100) saw Tonteri walk away with 500 valuable TTR World Tour ranking points, $5,000 in prize money and a swag of prizes that included a state-of-the-art Nex5 Sony Camera.

One of our favourite girls to watch ever, two-time TTR World Champion Jamie Anderson flaunted her style and tech in the Open Women’s, bagging yet another first place Slopestyle finish. Isabel Derungs (SUI) finished 2nd with Jordie Karlinski (USA) in 3rd.

For more on the Tour, head to ttrworldtour.com

American rider, Eric Willett, took the first 5Star Big Air title of the 2011/12 TTR World Tour season at the second annual Billabong Ante Up competition held atop Whistler Mountain in Canada. The sun was hidden behind the clouds for most of the day, but riders put on a great performance for the crowd of spectators at the top of the mountain where Sebastien Toutant (CAN) came in a close second behind Willett and Dash Kamp (USA) took home third place.

Eric Willett on his way to first at the Billabong Ante Up. Photos: Matt Forsythe.

The Ante Up started out with a qualifying round of 30 snowboarders in the early afternoon that was whittled down to 10 men for the finals. The start list was packed full of riders who are usually super consistent on big air kickers like Seppe Smits (BEL), Chas Guldemond (USA), Gjermund Braaten (NOR) and Roope Tonteri (FIN) but they just couldn’t seem to put their landing gear down on the 90-foot gap jump. This opened the door for Eric Willett who took numerous podium spots at Big Air and Slopestyle competitions last season and for Sebastien Toutant who won the Ante Up last year. Eric Willett landed a smooth switch backside double cork 1260 to take $20,000 USD for his win today. Sebastien Toutant was awarded $12,500 USD for landing a Cab double cork 1260 and Dash Kamp walked away with a cool $8,000 for his backside double cork 1080.

Seb Toutant.

Willett is already looking forward to the Southern Hemisphere leg of the tour and had this to say about his win: “I’m stoked. It’s always weird to come out here in July and do a competition in the middle of summer, but it’s really fun and crucial to come out for the start of the season and get those points especially with the new ranking system to get the big air points. I’m pumped to head down to New Zealand with this confidence booster.”

All 32 riders who competed at the Ante Up earned ranking points that will count towards the all-new TTR Big Air Tour Ranking list and will also count towards the TTR Overall Tour Ranking list, as well.

Ante Up podium.

With the 5Star Ante Up wrapped up and winter on the rise in the Southern Hemisphere, riders will soon make the trek down to New Zealand for the 5Sar Burton New Zealand Open where the first slopestyle and halfpipe results will be registered for the TTR Slopestyle Tour Ranking list and the TTR Halfpipe Tour Ranking list. Riders will also have the opportunity to hit the 4Star Billabong Bro Down (ss), also taking place in New Zealand, and the 4Star Stylewars (ss) event going down in Australia.

For those of you who just like the bangers, here they are…

More Snowboarding Videos

Doubles were all the rage on last season’s tour making for a dizzying spectacle in the pipes, slopestyle courses and big airs on the planet. Kelly Clark took her second Tour Crown and Peetu Piiroinen bagged an unprecedented three-in-a-row. As this video shows, it was emotional. Init.

When it comes to well-rounded riders there’s few that are as circular as Finland’s Peetu Piiroinen. The squat li’l shredder immense sack of skills can be guaranteed to have a say whether it’s pipe, big air or slopestyle, and the fact that he’s super consistent mixed with the fact that he seems to excel when the the pressure’s on has seen him deservedly claim the last 3 TTR World Tour titles. Check this sweet spot on the boy wonder…

Kazu flying high to bag another US Open pipe crown.

Last weekend the US Open wrapped up in Stratton, Vermont with Clark and Kokubo taking the pipe titles, plus the TTR and BGOS winners were crowned, too.

Kelly Clark won a record-breaking fifth US Open halfpipe title and her first Burton Global Open Series (BGOS) Championship, a title worth $50,000 and a brand new MINI Countryman. On the men’s side, Kazuhiro Kokubo (JPN) won his second consecutive US Open halfpipe title and Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) earned his second consecutive BGOS Championship title.

“It’s been an incredible season,” said Kelly Clark. “Not only am I happy with the level of my riding, I’ve also had more fun than ever, and my results speak for that. The Open is one of my favorite events, and I feel privileged to have the most halfpipe wins on record. It’s also huge for me to win the Burton Global Open Series title because it’s the one award that’s been elusive for me, so I’m super happy to walk away with it.”

Women's pipe podium.

The day kicked off with the women’s halfpipe finals where hometown hero Kelly Clark stole the show in one of the most exciting women’s finals of the season. All the girls came out swinging from their first run, but Kelly took a healthy lead from the beginning with a score of 91.05. Fellow Vermonter and Olympic gold medalist Hannah Teter tried to catch Kelly and went big and technical in her second run, starting out with a huge method followed by a frontside 900 stalefish, a backside 540 melon grab and a frontside 720 stalefish. But Kelly kept topping her own scores, earning the best result with her victory lap. Kelly’s highest scoring run started out with a huge 900 indy grab, a backside 540 mute grab and the only stomped 1080 in the women’s finals. Kelly has had one of the best seasons in the history of snowboarding, and her win today made this her eighth consecutive victory for the season.

In the men’s finals, the riders delivered what the crowd wanted to see – plenty of huge Cab double corks, a double crippler, a 1260 and large doses of style all around. Reigning US Open halfpipe champion Kazuhiro Kokubo held onto his title for the second year in a row with a run that started off with a super smooth frontside alley oop nosebone, frontside 900 melon grab, Michaelchuck nose grab, frontside double cork 1080 and a Cab 1080 melon grab. Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) had a solid first run that earned him second place in today’s finals. And Kohei Kudo (JPN) joined fellow Japanese rider Kazuhiro Kokubo on the podium with a third place finish. Kazu’s third run turned into a victory lap, so he rode straight down the bottom of the pipe with a huge smile on his face and his arms held high. After the competition, Kazu said his victory lap was his prayer for Japan.

Men's pipe podium

“I’m so stoked and so happy,” said Kazuhiro Kokubo “I want to say thanks to my sponsors, family and friends, and I hope my win brings a little joy and happiness to Japan.”

In addition to the halfpipe and BGOS Championship titles, this year’s Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour Champions Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) and Jamie Anderson (USA) were also officially crowned and awarded $50,000 each.

Right after the awards ceremony, a huge crowd gathered to see a free show by Swedish band, ‘The Sounds’.

Later this month, be sure to head to facebook.com/mini to vote for the MINI Creative Use of Space Award worth a total of $50,000 that will be shared by the best male and female rider who have shown creativity and progression throughout the BGOS series.

If you couldn’t make it to Stratton, check out replays of the event at burton.com.

Women’s Halfpipe Finals Results

1. Kelly Clark (USA) BURTON 94.95 $20,000
2. Hannah Teter (USA) BURTON 88.10 $10,000
3. Gretchen Bleiler (USA) K2 86.30 $5,000

Men’s Halfpipe Finals Results

1. Kazuhiro Kokubo (JPN) BURTON 90.10 $20,000
2. Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) TSG 88.60 $10,000
3. Kohei Kudo (JPN) OAKLEY 87.90 $5,000

Burton Global Open Series Men’s Final Results

1. Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) BURTON $50,000 and a MINI Countryman
2. Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) TSG $30,000
3. Christian Haller (SUI) BURTON $20,000

Burton Global Open Series Women’s Final Results

1. Kelly Clark (USA) BURTON $50,000 and a MINI Countryman
2. Jamie Anderson (USA) BILLABONG $30,000
3. Kjersti Buaas (NOR) ROXY $20,000

Men’s TTR World Tour Champion

Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) BURTON $50,000

Women’s TTR World Tour Champion
Jamie Anderson (USA) BILLABONG $50,000

Kelly Clark

Men’s and women’s halfpipe semi-finals was on the cards yesterday at the 29th annual Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships presented by MINI.

The women kicked things off under snowy skies, and 21 ladies competed for the six spots in the finals. The ladies pulled together solid runs led by Vermont locals Kelly Clark (USA) and Hannah Teter (USA), who easily qualified for finals in first and second place respectively.

In the men’s semi-finals, 39 men had two runs to secure one of the 10 spots in finals. Last year’s US Open champion Kazuhiro Kokubo (JPN) showed that he has what it takes to defend his title, scoring a 96.67. Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) topped Kazu’s score with a 98.00 and will also be a strong contender in Saturday’s halfpipe finals.

Tomorrow is another big day at the US Open, kicking off with men’s and women’s slopestyle finals during the day in the Sun Bowl base area. Top riders like Mark McMorris (CAN), Eric Willet (USA), Chas Guldemond (USA), Jamie Anderson (USA) and Enni Rukajärvi (FIN) will all compete for a coveted US Open slopestyle title. Then in the evening, the action moves over to the main base area of Stratton Mountain for ‘The Jam’ followed by a free Flosstradamus show.

If you can’t make it to Stratton, check out replays of the semi-finals and live webcasts of slopestyle and halfpipe finals at burton.com.

2011 US Open Competition & Entertainment Schedule

Friday, March 11 – Slopestyle Finals; The Jam Finals & FREE ‘Flosstradamus’ show
Saturday, March 12 – Halfpipe Finals & FREE performance by ‘The Sounds’
Sunday, March 13 – Junior Jam

Men’s Halfpipe Semi-Finals Results

1. Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI)
2. Kazuhiro Kokubo (JPN)
3. Ryo Aono (JPN)
4. Kohei Kudo (JPN)
5. Eiju Hirano (JPN)
6. Markus Malin (FIN)
7. Zack Black (USA)
8. Jan Scherrer (SUI)
9. Louie Vito (USA)
10. Matt Ladley (USA)

Women’s Halfpipe Semi-Finals Results

1. Kelly Clark (USA)
2. Hannah Teter (USA)
3. Soko Yamaoka (JPN)
4. Rebecca Sinclair (NZL)
5. Kjersti Buaas (NOR)
6. Gretchen Bleiler (USA)

Jamie Anderson at the 2011 Burton European Open. Photo: Marcel Lämmerhirt

American snowboarder, Jamie Anderson, clinched her second Swatch TTR World Tour Champion title today at the 6Star Burton US Open. Jamie qualified first in today’s slopestyle semi-finals and will move on the slopestyle finals as a favorite to win on Friday, March 11, 2011. Jamie was in contention for the TTR Tour title with fellow American, Kelly Clark, who has dominated every halfpipe competition she entered this season, but Kelly did not compete in slopestyle today and no longer has the opportunity to take the World No. 1 position from Jamie.

Jamie Anderson will be awarded the TTR World Tour Champion trophy and $50,000 USD at the close of the Burton US Open on Saturday, March 12, 2011 following halfpipe finals. Kelly Clark still has the opportunity to finish in the TTR Top 3 if she places well in Saturday’s halfpipe finals, in which case, she will be awarded with a sizable portion of the $200,000 USD TTR prize purse.

The 6Star Burton US Open is well under way and can be viewed live via webcast at metacafe.com. A more detailed look at Jamie’s amazing season will be released at the end of the US Open.

Live webcast on ttrworldtour.com and metacafe.com.

10.03.2011 Halfpipe Semifinals 14.30- 21.30 (CET)
11.03.2011 Slopestyle Finals 15.45- 21.15 (CET)
12.03.2011Halfpipe Finals 15.45- 21.15 (CET)

The TTR crew have offered up some fine goodness from their partners to give away, so by answering an easy question you could win the TSG helmet, Swatch watch and Zimtstern beanie. There’s also 5 watch/beanie combo packages to be won for runners up. Get involved…

Another epic contest season on the Swatch TTR World Tour will come to a close this weekend, as the US Open wraps up the succession of 6Star events that have been trotting the globe all winter. We all know that Peetu Piiroinen has already claimed his third TTR crown in as many years – an unprecedented achievement that will take some beating – but it’s still all to play for in the women’s division as Jamie Anderson and Kelly Clark face each other down to see who’ll blink first.

So, in celebration of another season of awesome contest shredding coming to a close, we have some TTR love to spread. There’s a full package of TTR/TSG helmet, TTR/Swatch watch and TTR/Zimtstern beanie that one of you will be lucky enough to win, plus 5 runners up packages of a watch and a beanie. All you need to do is answer the question below…

[competition_40]

Petr Horak, a 19-year-old Czech rider from Kladno won the Quiksilver Snowjam 2011. Petr is the first Czech winner in the history of the contest. He scored most points of all the finalists for his first excellent ride in the pipe then on rail and finished with a perfect backside double cork 1260 on the big air jump. This success has bettered his chances to participate in the World Snowboarding Championships in Oslo 2012. “The World Championships is the most important event to me and that is why I train so hard now. Winning the Quiksilver Snowjam showed that also I can win an international competition, which I did not expect. The atmosphere throughout the day was great, the audience cheered, I really enjoyed it.” commented Peter on his success.

Czech rider Roman Dlauhy.

The second place went to another Czech rider: Tomas Tuzar’s score was only 0,6 less than the winner. Finn Nuutti Niemela took third place and was most successful rider from numerous Scandinavian teams who took part in the Quiksilver Snowjam this year.

Marius Otterstadt.

Nice sunny weather attracted over 3,000 people for the finals. “The contest turned out fantastic, I am glad that the young generation of riders were on the winning league throughout the contest. The evening show Nutcase Best Trick was seen by the largest audience in the history of Quiksilver Snowjam.” said organizer and rider Martin Cernik.

The crowd.

A live concert of the band Sunshine was followed by the popular Nutcase Best Trick session. The slopes in Spindleruv Mlyn were lit up and riders gave their best on a big air jump. Finnish rider Tero Poikajarui took home the best style trick for his amazing backside 540 shifty. The most technical trick of the night was the back double cork 1260 by overall winner Petr Horak.

Czech winner Petr Horak.

After the Nutcase Best Trick session, riders and audience enjoyed a live concert of the and Bug’n'Dub. The Snowjam Party then continued in the music club Dolska till early morning hours where Bounce Bounce, DJs Friky & DJ Flux, Robot and Ladida performed.

Quiksilver Snowjam is a three star event of the Swatch TTR Worldtour.

Results of Quiksilver Snowjam 2011

1. Petr Horak, CZE
2. Tomas Tuzar, CZE
3. Nuutti Niemela, FIN
4. Filip Gutwirth, CZE
5. Pepe Samek, CZE
6. Jan Necas, CZE
7. Dan Paulicek, CZE
8. Roman Dlauhy, CZE
9. Thomas Franc, SUI
10. Marius Otterstad, NOR

Results of Nutcase Best Trick 2011

Style: Tero Poikajarui, FIN
Technical: Petr Horák, CZE