TWSNOW is in Bejing to cover all the action, be sure to check back for a recap and photos of the event—
Ready, steady …. take off
Riders already going big in the first practice session for Saturday’s 3rd edition of the
Oakley and Shaun White present Air & Style Beijing 2012
Beijing/Innsbruck, 6th December 2012
The world’s best snowboarders gathered in Beijing’s Bird´s Nest Olympic stadium today. With most of them returning to this 6Star World Snowboard Tour contest it did not take long for them to get accustomed to the further improved megaramp, dropping in at 50 meters above stadium ground. Perfect snow and good weather allowed top riders such as Peetu Piroiinen, Seb Toutant, Seppe Smits, and last year´s winner Ulrik Badertscher to go big already in this initial practice session, showing huge backside 1080s. Giving their feedback to the ramp and snow crew will make for even better conditions in the second practice tomorrow and of course for the contest on Saturday, where for the third time the Oakley and Shaun White present Air & Style Beijing 2012 Champion will be crowned.
Scaffolding jumps are insane. Would you?
Last year´s champion Ulrik Badertscher had a good day of practice. Here are his impressions: “First day of practice was really good. The setup is great, a special thanks to the construction crew for making it possible. I am stoked to be back and I’ll try to go for a back to back win this year even though my competitors are really pushing it.”
For the first time all 24 riders will start in a head-to-head competition from round 1 on. 12 winners and 4 lucky losers will advance to round 2 and battle their way through to the Super Final of 4 riders. 1,000 World Snowboard Tour points, the dragon share of the 100,000 US-Dollar prize purse and the Ring of Glory are waiting for the winner.
Party time. Excellent.
Starting field (Top 24)
| 1 | Ulrik Badertscher | NOR |
| 2 | Peetu Piiroinen | FIN |
| 3 | Seppe Smits | BEL |
| 4 | Ståle Sandbech | NOR |
| 5 | Mark McMorris | CAN |
| 6 | Sebastien Toutant | CAN |
| 7 | Antoine Truchon | CAN |
| 8 | Roope Tonteri | FIN |
| 9 | Werner Stock | AUT |
| 10 | Torgeir Bergrem | NOR |
| 11 | Clemens Schattschneider | AUT |
| 12 | Sage Kotsenburg | USA |
| 13 | Yuki Kadono | JPN |
| 14 | Pat Burgener | SUI |
| 15 | Petja Piiroinen | FIN |
| 16 | Mathias Weissenbacher | AUT |
| 17 | Victor De Le Rue | FRA |
| 18 | Eric Beauchemin | USA |
| 19 | Chas Guldemond | USA |
| 20 | Emil Ulsletten | NOR |
| 21 | Maxence Parrot | CAN |
| 22 | Marko Grilc | SLO |
| 23 | Sven Thorgren | SWE
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