The Burton European is one of the highlights of the European season and is generally seen as the TTR's premier competition outside of North America. The only event which gains more hype and media coverage in the European Winter X-Games, due to take place in March. So with this in mind the top riders were all in attendance, with the men's and women's world number one spots up for grabs.
With Jenny Jones not competing and Gary Greenshields announcing his retirement the British flag was being waved by two of Britain's most exciting teenage talents, Jamie Nicholls and Aimee Fuller. With some of the top world's snowboarders and top ranked TTR riders competing throughout the weekend they both had incredible results and proved they are improving year on year.
Aimee Fuller has had a good start to the season and she added to last week's 5th place with another top 10 finish at the BEO. She placed 10th in the Slopestyle, which was eventually won by America's Jamie Anderson. Anderson's win also took her to the top of the TTR leader board, while Aimee maintained a top 15 position, leaving herself the opportunity to break into the top ten as the season progresses.
The women's Halfpipe was won by another American rider, Kelly Clark, who has been in fantastic form in the disciple, with the win taking her up to 6th in the TTR ratings. The women's competition is really hotting up this season and each event is throwing up some great results and consistent riding from the world's top girls.
The men's competition was a little more of a formality with Peetu Piiroinen dominating proceedings. The Finn finished with two podiums, including a win in the Halfpipe thanks to the new scoring system (with more emphasis on style taken into account). Japan's Kazu and Swiss Rider I-Pod had laid down superbly technical runs in the final, but even after two falls Peetu's less technical, but bigger, more stylish tricks netted him the win.
The Slopestyle on the previous day offered the crowd a real treat. Again Peetu was on incredible form and his style that has kept him in and around the top TTR spot over the past couple of years was on show, though he could only manage 2nd place after Finnish teenage sensation Roope Tonteri lived up to his recent hype and treated the judges and the crowd to a perfectly executed backside double cork 1260 and an even bigger cab 1440. “I was just pushing it today trying to do my best,” Roope said after the finals, “I still can’t quite believe it, it all feels pretty unreal. I’m going to head to the rest of the 6 Star TTR events and try to stay in the Top 10, so I can get invites to the events next year.”
Britain's Jamie Nicholls had a pretty big crowd to compete with including the in-form for Seppe Smits, Seb Toutant and Mark McMorris and finished the slopestyle with a very respectful 13th place, and leaving himself with plenty of opportunity to progress up the standings. The boy from Halifax is one of the few teenagers regularly in the men's top 15, which shows how well he is doing in an incredibly competitive season.
Next up is the Sister Sessions in Mayrhofen, where we will be wishing Aimee luck and hoping Jenny Jones can make an appearance. For a sport that has had its funding dropped by UK Sport in recent weeks things are looking pretty good.
Written by Stephen Adam
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