In front of 25,000 spectators, Korpi earned a total of 52.1 points thus relegating Austria’s Stefan Falkeis (50.0), who celebrated his career’s first ever podium, to the runner-up position. Jaakko Ruha (FIN, 48) rounded out the podium as third thus edging off Stefan Gimpl (47.4) to the fourth rank. Austria’s snowboard veteran thus clinched his career’s third consecutive World Cup title with 4.300 points. Gian-Luca Cavigelli from Switzerland was the second best freestyler of the season with 3,320 points while Matevz Pristavec (SLO, 1,620) finished as third of the ranking.

The icy conditions of Eastern Canada seem to be good for Janne Korpi who dominated the second floodlight final within two days thus securing his career’s fourth Big Air World Cup win. But that the Finnish ripper was the best rider of the night was due to one good jump in the qualifications. “My practise was really bad. I didn’t land anything. I was thinking if I should do the qualifiers at all” the 2007 Big Air World Championships Bronze medallist said.

But after a quick talk with his coach Pekka Koskela, Korpi entered the competition getting better and better with every trick. In the finals, the Olympic hopeful for a halfpipe medal impressed the judges with “frontside 1080” and “cab 900”. “I didn’t expect this after that training session but the qualifiers were good for my confidence. It’s amazing. It’s been a very good weekend for me.”

Stefan Falkeis might have thought the same after he made it for the first time ever on the podium – and this in his 54th World Cup attempt. “I hardly can believe it and am totally surprised” the 26-years-old said right after the finals. The Tyrolean shredder had been close to make in the top-3 several times, finished fourth once (Moscow 2007) but he messed it up in his last jump too often. “This time I said to myself to stick this final jump (“cab 900” after a “cab 1080”). I was going for this for so long now. So I’m so happy that it finally worked out.” Especially as he had some thoughts of retirement in his mind already. “I was thinking of quitting after this event but now I guess I will be back. I have to talk with my girl friend.”

Gimpl celebrates fourth Crystal Globe

One other rider who will be part of the show next year might be Stefan Gimpl who took home his career’s fourth World Cup title, the third in a row and all this in only five winters. But the Austrian snowboard veteran already doubts that there could be more Crystal Globes to be put to his belt. “I didn’t expect to win this season either as those kids are throwing in some massive tricks (“double corks”) which I don’t do. But this winter just went fine for me” the 30-years-old from the Salzburg area said. In addition, Gimpl, who had placed 17th times on the podium including nine wins in 24 World Cup starts, admitted that “Gian-Luca (Cavigelli) made me sweat a little bit as I had to count on him to be right on top of the podium again.”

But this time, Gimpl was proven wrong as Cavigelli bailed all of his jumps in the finals. No matter if he tried to stick a “double cork backside 1080” or a “cab 900”, he missed it every single time. Thus, the Swiss rider, who was the only one being able to challenge Gimpl for the World Cup title, explained that “today, something was very wrong with it. I was riding like I normally do but it just didn’t work out.” However, the 21-years-old was pretty pleased with his season: “It was great. And to be honest, Stefan (Gimpl) was to far away anyway.”

The BA podium at Quebec

1. Janne Korpi (FIN)

2. Stefan Falkeis (AUT)

3. Jaakko Ruha (FIN)

4. Stefan Gimpl (AUT)

The final Big Air World Cup Standings

1. Stefan Gimpl (AUT)

2. Gian-Luca Cavigelli (SUI)

3. Matevz Pristavec (SLO)

© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: big air, Big Air World Championships, Canada, Crystal Globe, Eastern Canada, FIS, freestyle, Gian-Luca Cavigelli, Jaakko Ruha, LG Snowboard FIS World Cup, Pekka Koskela, Quebec City, Stefan Gimpl, Stoneham, World Cup

The 21-years-old Swiss successfully competed against the strong international field by earning 52.4 points in front of 50,000 spectators on the Gwanghwamum square. Stefan Gimpl (AUT, 51.2) who still sits on the first spot of the World Cup ranking and reigning World Champion Markku Koski from Finland (50.4) rounded out the first big air podium on the Asian continent as second and third respectively.

Right in the training session and also later on during the qualifying heat which all 29 riders coming from ten nations had to undergo Gian-Luca Cavigelli had impressively underlined that it would be his time to celebrate today. “The whole set-up was amazing. The kicker was very good. So everything was served for pedal to the metal!” the currently best ranked rider in the World Cup from Switzerland said. And he definitely pushed it to the limit also reducing the lead of current World Cup leader Stefan Gimpl down to 700 points with only one big air to go in Quebec next January. 26.3 points were equal to the number one spot of the qualification heat.

And Cavigelli tied up to where he stopped. By throwing in an incredible “Backside 1080 Double Cork” he earned a comfortable lead giving him the chance to train his “Cab 900” in run two just to stomp it perfectly in the decisive third jump. “I knew that I just needed a safety jump. So, I had trained the Cab 900 in run two. It’s amazing that I was able to win today as in the end it’s always getting close” Cavigelli resumed after his career’s first victory in his 24th World Cup start.

It was only 1.2 points which made the tiny difference between Gold and being a runner up. However, Gimpl had to accept the second rank, which seemed to be reserved for Cavigelli this season (London, Barcelona). After having won all three big airs in this season so far, the 30-years-old veteran was pleased with the result as he just made it to the final round as tenth of the qualifier: “Well, you have to have luck sometimes. But I’m very glad that I made it to the finals. And we shouldn’t forget that Gian-Luca (Cavigelli) definitely deserved to win today.”

The Austrian World Cup leader sticked a “Frontside 900” and “Cab 900” to bring home his career’s 17th World Cup podium.

Markku Koski who had clinched the World Championships title in Korea just ten months ago was also happy about his World Cup career’s first ever big air podium which he earned by nailing a “Cab 900” and “Backside 900 Rodeo”. “I’m so stoked about this podium finish especially as I landed my Rodeo. In fact it’s a pity that I bailed my Cab 1080 in the first run but I guess I was a little bit tired.”

The BA-podium in Seoul

1. Gian-Luca Cavigelli (SUI)

2. Stefan Gimpl (AUT)

3. Markku Koski (FIN)

© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Backside 1080 Double cork, barcelona, big air, Cab 900, freestyle, Frontside 900, Gian-Luca Cavigelli, Gwanghwamum square, LG Snowboard FIS World Cup, London, Markku Koski, Quebec, Stefan Gimpl

In front of 20.000 spectators, the Austrian veteran not only extended his winning streak to three but also celebrated his fifth triumph in row – counted over the current and the last season. With a score of 50.8 points he relegated Slovenia’s Marko Grilc, who was his only threat in final, to the second rank (50.5). All other riders struggled with the conditions making several mistakes; one of them was Gjermund Braaten (NOR) who rounded out the podium as third (38.5).

That he would put another victory to his belt was a huge surprise for Stefan Gimpl today who had never jumped on the podium at one of the three events held so far in Stockholm. Until today, his best result was a fourth rank achieved in 2008. Due to this, he also had intimated two weeks ago, after he had won in Barcelona, that he wasn’t expecting much at the season’s third big air. And also today, the 30-years-old could hardly believe his luck: “I don’t understand it. I don’t know why I’m on a roll. Especially as I’m always so nervous on top of the start that I can hardly stand. But when I’m in the in-run everything is blown off.”

A little bit later, after his stylish “Cab 900” and “Frontside 900” had secured his career’s ninth World Cup triumph, the 2009 World Championships Bronze medallist was able to analyse the competition: “I started pretty laidback. I mean, there aren’t that many finals left for me so I try to enjoy all of them. In addition, the conditions proved advantageous. It was how I like it: a steep kicker and a soft landing.”

Grilc just missed victory

Conditions, which were too tough for almost everybody in the final of the best ten riders. The only one besides Gimpl who kept a clean slate was Marko Grilc. And also he underlined that the soft snow played into his hands. “When the conditions are getting rough, it’s challenging. And I like this. This is fun.”

No wonder that the Slovenian rider was pretty pleased with his result, although he just missed his career’s first World Cup victory by four tenth: “It’s not easy for the judges. Therefore, I’m stoked that I landed my tricks (“Backside 1080 Double Cork” and “Frontside 900”).

Maybe his time comes at the season’s fourth big air which will take place for the first time ever on Asian ground. Seoul, Korea, will host the next ramp show on December 13th. Another rider who will give it another go in Korea is Gian-Luca Cavigelli. The young Swiss talent is Gimpl’s strongest pursuer in the World Cup ranking with a deficit of 900 points. Due to mistakes in his first two jumps he had to be content with the fourth rank.

photo by: FIS – Oliver Kraus
The Stockholm podium:

1. Stefan Gimpl (AUT)

2. Marko Grilc (SLO)

3. Gjermund Braaten (NOR)

for more visit fissnowboardworldcup.com

© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: barcelona, big air, Cab 900, freestyle, Frontside 900, Gian-Luca Cavigelli, Gjermund Braaten, Korea, LG Snowboard FIS World Cup, LG Winterjam, London, Marko Grilc, Seoul, Stefan Gimpl, Stockholm, World Championships

Besides the current World Cup leader Gimpl and his strongest pursuer Cavigelli who travels “fully motivated to Sweden” after placing second again at the last event in Barcelona a few weeks ago a strong Finnish squad gets ready to put its stamp on the competition in Stockholm again.

High level of riding is expected. After the first two big air competitions of this year’s series have brought some riding on very high level it’s pretty likely that the event in Stockholm will also feature some nice tricks. So far, the best jumps have been “Backside 1080 Double Corks” (Gjermund Braaten), “Frontside 1260’s” (Janne Korpi) or “Backside 1260’s” (Ulrik Badertscher). And while there was a lot of pinning, there was also enough time for style as for example Gian-Luca Cavigelli threw in some nice “Backside Rodeo 720’s” while Stefan Gimpl sticked some smooth “Cab 900’s”.

In addition, some other riders earned some big ups by the so far averaged 15.000 to 20.000 spectators for their “Double Frontflips” and Double Backflips”. Check out the venue and a short highlights of last year’s Winter Jam below. More info on the official website.

© bastaa for Ronin Snowboards, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: barcelona, big air Stockholm, Double Backflips, Double Frontflips, freestyle, Frontside 1260, Gian-Luca Cavigelli, Janne Korpi, LG Snowboard FIS World Cup, LG Winterjam, Olympic Stadium of 1912, riders, snowboarding, snowboarding world cup, Stefan Gimpl, Sweden, Winter Jam, World Cup, World Cup leader Gimpl

At the first ever big air on Spanish soil, the Austrian veteran (52.3 points) relegated Switzerland’s Gian-Luca Cavigelli again to the second rank (51.3). In front of 20.000 spectators at Estadio Olimpico of 1992, Gjermund Braaten from Norway rounded out the podium as third (49.5) thus securing his career’s second top-3 finish after more than one and a half years.

But that Gimpl once again clinched another World Cup win was even surprising to the 30-years-old as the best three riders of the day were only divided by two tenths before entering the third and decisive final jump.

Just like last week at Battersea Power Station, Gimpl was in the lead after he had earned 26.8 points for his “Frontside 900”. Right breathing to his neck with only one tenth behind was runner-up Cavigelli who had scored 26.7 points for his “Backside 1080” – and with 26.6 in third was Braaten due to an amazing “Backside 1080 Double Cork”. And after the 2009 World Championships Bronze medallist had showcased a final “Cab 900” – just like his Swiss talented competitor before – the tide turned in Gimpl’s favour who said: “This is amazing. This was so close. Gian-Luca (Cavigelli) and me, we were even. I mean our last jumps were the same level.” Then he added with a smile that his nine year younger opponent from Switzerland “still has some more years to win some contests.”

Maybe it’s time for Cavigelli in two weeks when the World Cup circus heads to Stockholm for this winter’s third big air as today’s winner doesn’t expect a top result there. But the second of the World Cup ranking is more into enjoying the momentum before giving it another try: “I’m really pleased how everything goes at the moment. It’s awesome to place second two times in a row.” But besides all coolness, the 21-years-old heads to Sweden self-assured: “I’m absolutely motivated. It would be nice if I could grab Gold in Stockholm in two weeks.”

However, this won’t be an easy task to fulfil as the beginning of this season shows that even making it to the finals isn’t a sure-fire success what Gjermund Braaten confirms. “The level of riding is getting better every year. It’s very difficult to survive the qualifiers – just like today. Therefore I’m absolutely happy with the result” the 19-years-old said who had earned big ups of the crowd – besides his fellow countryman Ulrik Badertscher (“Double Frontflip”) for his “Backside 1080 Double Cork”.

photo: FIS – Oliver Kraus

The BA podium in Barcelona:

1. Stefan Gimpl (AUT)
2. Gian-Luca Cavigelli (SUI)
3. Gjermund Braaten (NOR)

To check out latest news of the 2010 LG Snowboard FIS World Cup go to: fissnowboardworldcup.com

© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Backside 1080 Double cork, big air, Cab 900, Estadio Olimpico, fissnowboardworldcup.com, freestyle, Frontside 900, Gian-Luca Cavigelli, Gjermund Braaten, Gold, LG Snowboard FIS World Cup, Stefan Gimpl, World Cup

Barcelona Snow Show will offer a first class sporting event with the celebration of the LG FIS Snowboard World Cup Big Air and the International Freeski Big Air. For the occasion, the Big Air will be built 35 feet high, the largest in Europe, and there will be shopping and additional activities to turn the Barcelona Snow Show on the big opening party of the snow season.

At the World Cup debut of Barcelona, all eyes will focus on a snowboard veteran who was able to successfully compete against all the young guns and rising stars at the season’s first big air. Right at his 30th birthday, Stefan Gimpl (AUT) celebrated his career’s seventh World Cup triumph in London. And it seems that the WCS third of 2009 could have started a winning streak with it as his “Frontside 1080’s” and “Cab 900’s” were of an impressive style.

However, there are a few talents out there who might have the chance to spoil the victory for Gimpl. Norway’s riders Sondre Tiller, Gjermund Braaten, Morten Kleivdal and Ulrik Badertscher will give it another try after they had all come off second best in the London finals. The same is true for Roope Tonteri from Finland. With Gian-Luca Cavigelli (SUI) and Slovenia’s Domen Bizjak and Matevz Pristavec the second to fourth ranked riders of the London event will also start again – just like Sweden’s Christian Soerman and Kevin Backstroem.

But the Spanish fans in Barcelona will cross fingers for their fellow countrymen getting ready to fight for their spot in the finals: Ruben and Isaac Verges as well as Regino Hernandez seem to have the best chances to break into the phalanx of Central and Northern European riders who dominate this discipline.

© bastaa for Ronin Snowboards, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Barcelona Snow Show, big air, Europe, freestyle skiing, Gian-Luca Cavigelli, Gjermund Braaten, Kevin Backstroem, LG FIS Snowboard World Cup Big, Lluis Companys, London, Morten Kleivdal, Norway, Olimpic Stadium, Regino Hernandez, riders, Roope Tonteri, Ruben and Isaac Verges, snowboarding, Sondre Tiller, Stefan Gimpl, Sweden, Ulrik Badertscher

Aged 30 now and in front of 15,000 spectators at Battersea Power Station in London, the World Cup title defender relegated Switzerland’s Gian-Luca Cavigelli and Domen Bizjak from Slovenia to the second and third rank respectively. Matevz Pristavec (SLO) had tosettle for fourth

That this day turned out like written in a storybook was due to the great experience of several years being on tour as a snowboard pro. Not the young guns with their “Backside 1260’s” (Ulrik Badertscher, NOR) or “Frontside 1260’s” (Janne Korpi, FIN) took all the credit but Gimpl with his matchless style of making the tricks look so easy and stick them smoothly on the landing hill – although the 30-years-old had to struggle with his shaky legs right before the final attempt. “I was very nervous up there although actually nothing could have gone wrong as I was lucky over the last years living on the sunny side of life. It seems that someone is meaning well for me.”

Namely that good, that the World Cup leader was able to stomp a “Frontside 1080” at first, his “so far best in my whole life” and later on a “Cab 900” after the spectator crowd had serenaded him “Happy birthday”. “This was an amazing experience. Although I still can’t believe the result as I wasn’t expecting to win today.”

With this statement Gimpl was driving at the fact that the whole starter field answered expectations with a high level riding including some of the more than 50 riders from 12 countries showcasing even more difficult tricks than the later on winner – however, not as smooth and stylish like Gimpl did. One of them was Gian-Luca Cavigelli. The Swiss talent who never had finished a World Cup in the top-10 before jumped on the podium for the first time ever after he had thrown in a massive “Backside 1080 Double Cork” and a “Backside Rodeo 720”. “I’m pretty stoked with the result as I have been on the snowboard for only two months so far” the 21-years-old who tore his left ACL a year ago said after his comeback.

And also third-ranked Domen Bizjak was more than happy after his “Switch Backside 900” and “Frontside 900” earned him his career’s first podium finish. The 24-years-old who had have three fourth ranks so far stated: “I never expected this. But today, everything went fine.”

The podium in London:

1. Stefan Gimpl (AUT)

2. Gian-Luca Cavigelli (SUI)

3. Domen Bizjak (SLO)

photo by: FIS – Oliver Kraus

more info at fissnowboardworldcup.com and londonfreeze.com

© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Battersea Power Station, big air, Domen Bizjak, FIN, Frontside 1260, Gian-Luca Cavigelli, Janne Korpi, LG Snowboard FIS World Cup, London, Matevz Pristavec, Salzburg, Slovenia, Ulrik Badertscher, World Cup