This past weekend the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour was in Davos, Switzerland, for the first European 6* event of the season. The weekend offered up a combination of nailed on podiums and surprise medallists and is a great preview to next weeks Burton European Open, the most prestigious snowboard event in the European calendar.
The weekend started with the halfpipe event, where former TTR no.1 Iouri Podlatchikov was on outstanding form. The recently converted Swiss rider laid down a fantastic run that include the much debated double-cork and threw both his hands into the air at the bottom of the run in celebration. I-Pod clearly thought he had nailed first place only to be pipped to the top by another Swiss rider, Christian Haller. He said: “Of course it hurts a bit. But it’s Christian. If it was someone else I would probably be more p***** right now.”
Davos regular Haller may not have used the double-cork, but his technical run was enough to please both the fans and the judges. The podium was completed with a Swiss hatrick as another local rider, 16 yearly old, Jan Scherrer taking 3rd place. Christian said: "I'm feeling great. I wouldn't have expected it, honestly! I grew up in Davos and I grew up riding this pipe so it makes it even more special than a normal win... It's also a really good feeling to be on top with two of my best buddies."
The women's halfpipe was a little more predictable with Kelly Clark dominating the contest and taking first place. She was joined on the podium by Cilka Sadar and the experienced Kjersti Buass. The 27 year old American was clearly pleased with the result: "I've never been here before. But it's great. Having another first place let alone at a 6* is just great!"
This year the O'Neill Evolution debuted it's first slopestyle event and it got off to a cracking start with the Beijing Air & Style winner Seb Toutant showing his class in the men's competition and the ever present Jamie Anderson taking it in the women's event.
Seb Toots has been on incredible form this year and triumphed in the battle of the double-corks with Mark McMorris and Eric Willet taking second and third place respectively. The Canadian was pleased with the win: "Second 6* win of the season is so amazing today. To ride with my good friends and every run we were stepping it up. On my last run I was outside of the podium and stomped my best Cab 12 ever. I plan to go to BEO [Burton European Open] next and give it my best on the TTR Tour."
Jamie Anderson may have taken the win in the women's slopestyle but the big news was Britain's Aimee Fuller finishing in fifth place. The 19 year old is having a great start to the season and her highest ever 6* finish has pushed her just outside of the tour's top ten and leaves her in 14th place. It looks like Aimee may be eyeing up Jenny Jones' crown as the UK's number 1 snowboarder, even if she has a little further to go yet.
It was a great weekend of riding and the next event on the calendar is the Burton European Open, where all the big guns should be out in force.
Written by Stephen Adam