Vail, Colorado — February 3rd, 2008: While the tour keeps rockin’ in Europe, there’s still plenty of action taking place overseas in the United States. On February 8th and 9th 2008, an all-star list of progressive freestyle riders, including Top TTR riders Chas Guldemond (USA) and Torstein Horgmo (NOR), will gather in Colorado, USA for the Slopestyle Swatch TTR FIVE(5)STAR Honda Session at Vail. On top of 850 TTR ranking points for the winner, the session also boasts in incredible $134 000 overall prize purse, with $90 000 going to the Slopestyle stomp-fest, and $44 000 to the rail throw-down.
The competition varies greatly from most events on the Tour that usually give a set number of runs for riders to stomp a sick line of epic tricks. Instead, the FIVE(5)STAR event opts for a more relaxed and rider friendly atmosphere that consists of “riders sessions allowing each competitor in the main slopestyle event 1 ½ hours to complete as many runs as they see fit. This gives riders the best opportunity to showcase their most formidable tricks.
Although both men and women are competing in Vail, only the men will be competing for TTR Ranking points, with the Vail Session acting as a crucial catch up before the upcoming legendary SIX(6)STAR Arctic Challenge next week. At the Honda Session however, a three-way battle for Swatch TTR World No. 5 will arise between current No. 5 Chas Guldemond, current World No. 6 Torstein Horgmo and Scotty Lago (USA), who sits back at No. 12, but can boost his position by adding his sixth TTR result in Vail. The battle will be close, as Guldemond needs to place just one spot ahead of Horgmo to keep his current position. Lago will have to win the session and hope Guldemond and Horgmo place 8th or lower so he can move into the TTR Top 5.
At the 2006 Honda Session, the first ever in-competition 1260 was stomped. Recently at the SIX(6)STAR Burton European Open, Chas Guldemond finished second busting out a huge 1260, so be sure to watch out for Chas in Vail as he pulls out all the stops. Scotty Lago however, will be looking to carry his momentum from his second place finish at this past weekend’s FIVE(5)STAR Billabong Air & Style. With such explosive riding ready to hit Colorado, the 2008 Honda Session is set to be one of the biggest FIVE(5)STAR stops on the TTR World Snowboard Tour.
Further down in the rankings, American riders Tim Humphreys and Louie Vito will both be looking for a place in the Top 10 as Jeremy Thompson (USA) and Wyatt Caldwell (USA) fight for a spot in the TTR Top 15. European riders however still have a strong presence in a heavily North American field of riders with Austrian rider Werner Stock able to move into the Top 30 with a podium finish and German rider Alessandro Boyens who could also move into the TTR Top 30 with a Top 2 finish.
Stay tuned to http://www.ttrworldtour.com for updated news, blogs, and in-your-face action from the world’s best snowboard events, only on the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour.
Rider List Men:
Alessandro Boyens GER Oxbow
Andrew Steward USA Oakley
Andreas Wiig NOR VANS
Brandon Reis USA Oakley
Brent Meyers USA BTM
Bryan Daino USA NFC
Chad Otterstrom USA Bonfire
Charles Reid CAN Burton
Chas Guldemond USA DC
Dan Brisse USA Capita
Daniel Ek NOR Forum
Dustin Craven CAN Oakley
Eero Niemela FIN K2
Eiràkur Helgason ICE Rome
Heikki Sorsa FIN Burton
Iikka Backstrom FIN GNU
Jeremy Thompson USA Flow
Jin Saiito JPN Signal
JJ Thomas USA
Jonas Michilot USA Vans
Jonas Carlson SWE DC
Josh Sherman USA Salomon
Juuso Laivisto FIN Ride
Keegan Valaika USA
Kiichiro Kazumi JPN Voelkl
Lonnie Kauck USA DC
Louie Vito USA O-Matic
Lucas Magoon USA
Mark Sollors CAN
Marko Grilc SLO Burton
Mason Aguirre USA Burton
Mike Casanova USA
Pat Milbery USA Forecast
Sam Hulbert USA Oakley
Sani Alababic AUS
Scot Brown CAN Flow
Scotty Arnold USA
Scotty Lago USA Flow
Silas Stannard USA Rossignol
Stephen Laterre USA K2
Tim Humphreys USA Flow
TJ Schneider CAN Capita
Torstein Horgmo NOR DC
Werni Stock AUS Salomon
Wyatt Caldwell USA Rossign
