Junior Competitions Wrap up at 11th Burton European Open
US riders Chloe Kim and Seamus O’Connor take home Halfpipe Junior titles
Laax, SUI (Jan. 10th, 2010) – Today the juniors wrapped up their competitions with the halfpipe finals up on Crap Sogn Gion. Bluebird skies greeted the groms (up to 14 years old) this morning and the well known superpipe here in LAAX was in perfect condition for the youngest competitors of the BEO. The US riders dominated today with 9-year-old Chloe Kim and 12-year-old Seamus O’Connor taking home the halfpipe junior titles.
The halfpipe finals were thrilling to watch, giving the 52 riders the chance to show their skills in three runs, the best one counted. The riding level was high and proved once again that the snowboarding world doesn’t need to worry about their future stars. Chloe Kim, the youngest rider of this year’s BEO and the youngest winner in Burton European Open history so far, topped her 3rd rank in yesterday’s slopestyle competition by earning the top spot today. Her winning run included a backside 540, a frontside 540, a barrel roll, a frontside 360 finishing up with a cab 360. Chloe had this to say about her win: “I always wanted to win at the BEO and I feel very special today!” The girls’ podium was in the hands of the US riders and was rounded out by Ty Walker, yesterday’s slopestyle girls’ winner, and Kirra Kotsenburg.
Fellow US rider Seamus O’Connor, who was on the BEO junior podium back in 2008 and missed the slopestyle podium yesterday with a 4th place, claimed his first BEO junior title of his young career. His first run in the finals was unbeatable today and included a frontside 540, a backside 540, a frontside 720, a cab 720, a huge crail, and a backside 720 on the last hit. Seamus has been a regular competitor at the BEO and mentioned the following after his win: “It’s great to be here, as LAAX has an amazing halfpipe. I’m super happy that I’ve won, there were a lot of good riders competing today like Tim-Kevin.” Slovenian Tim-Kevin Ravnjak, last year’s Burton AM Tour winner, earned his 2nd podium spot of this weekend after yesterday’s 2nd rank in the junior slopestyle competition. The 3rd spot on the podium was taken by Swiss rider David Hablützel, who was the big winner of the junior slopestyle contest yesterday.
In addition to the junior competition, over 100 men were competing in the slopestyle pre-qualifications today. The best 40 men advanced to the next round, the slopestyle qualifications, which will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 12th. Finnish rider Ville Paumola earned the highest score in today’s slopestyle pre-qualifications.
Tomorrow, Monday, the 11th BEO continues with the men’s halfpipe pre-qualifications, where over 100 men will try to earn one of the 40 spots to advance into the next round.
Junior Halfpipe Boys’ Results
1. Seamus O’Connor (USA) Oakley 90.00
2. Tim-Kevin Ravnjak (SLO) Burton 87.20
3. David Hablützel (SUI) Burton 86.40
Junior Slopestyle Girls’ Results
1. Chloe Kim (USA) 85.80
2. Ty Walker (USA) Roxy 79.00
3. Kirra Kotsenburg (USA) Roxy 45.60
If you can’t make it to Laax, watch the finals live on www.GO211.com. For more information on the Burton European, head to www.opensnowboarding.com.Follow the BEO on Twitter @ opensnowboard