Jakob Wilhelmson wins Quiksilver SnowJam
Swedish style master Jacob Wilhelmson took home the prize money at the 2009 SnowJam in the Cezch Republic . The TTR 3 star slopestyle event was the climax to the 2009 O2 freestyle tour with prize money of $10 000 on offer . The event had the unusual combination of Big Air , Half Pipe and Rails all in one coarse , challenging the riders to show their all round snowboarding ability .
An international field of 24 contestant battled it out on a sunny Saturday in the resort Spindleruv Mlyn in front of a huge crowd . Quiksilver's Martin Cernik (CZE) traded blow's with Jakob through the rounds and into the final but had to be satisfied with second place after Jakob's Big Air and Rail combintions proved superior . Stefan Karlson (SWE) took third with and outstanding performance in the Pipe but unable to back it up on the rails and Big Air .
Jakob Wilhelmson winning run consisted of a cab 720- frontside air – backside air - frontside 540 lien (half-pipe) - cab180 tailpress (rail) - backside 900 (Big Air).
In true Czech style the afterparty went on into the early hours with plenty of Vodka at hand!
Quiksilver adds Portuguese Super Grom Vasco Ribeiro to its team of champions.
Vasco Ribeiro, who looks set to be the best Portuguese surfer of his generation, now has the support of Quiksilver, Europe’s leading boardsports company. Vasco and his new sponsor Quiksilver will make a formidable team. Vasco from Poça Beach, Estoril has won Under 18 National Titles even though he is just 14 years old, and has also shone at European level. This success brought him to the attention of Quiksilver Europe who will help to provide a platform from which Vasco can leap into the professional ranks.
Quiksilver is proud to sponsor and support the next generation of young Portuguese surfers. The company will provide Vasco with a network of international support: training camps; coaching and the logistical help with competing at international events. Vasco, by signing with Quiksilver, will be in the same team as some of the greatest surfers on the planet. Kelly Slater (9X ASP World Champion), Dane Reynolds and Jeremy Flores (Top 10 ASP World Tour surfers), have all proudly ridden for Quiksilver since their junior days.
Vasco also has the great support of his parents and the guiding light of Jose Gregorio, who is an ambassador to both the sport of surfing and Quiksilver in Portugal. Together Vasco’s future should be in safe hands!
PROFILE:
Birth: 22/11/1994
Local: Poça Beach, Estoril
Best results:
National Champ under-14
National Champ under-18
National Pro Junior 3rd
European Vice-Champion Europe 2008
Sponsor: Quiksilver
Surfboards: Semente
Quiksilver is creating a brand new winter meeting that will bring together the world's very best freestyle snowboarders in France, on Friday 3 April 2009.
The last Super Pipe competition to be held in France before the Winter Olympics in 2010, the Quiksilver Chromatophobia aims to establish itself as one of Europe's major snowboard meetings.
After historic events like the Quik Cup and the Slopestyle Pro, Quiksilver has opted for La Plagne, the European mecca of freestyle, which will this year be hosting the FIS Freestyle Skiing World Cup Final from March 18th to 21st, and Urban Plagne (www.urbanplagne.com), from April 1st to 3rd, sponsored by Quiksilver and preceding Chromatophobia
Jeremy Flores Donates Quiksilver Pro Prize Winnings to the Victorian Appeal
French Professional Surfer Jeremy Flores, rated 9th in the world, has donated his contest earnings from the first ASP World Tour event of 2009, the Quiksilver Gold Coast Pro, to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund. Having watched the devastation, caused by the worst disaster in Australian History, from his home in New Caledonia, Jeremy realised how fortunate he was.
He had to act. He said, “I would like to give a donation to the Victoria Bushfire Appeal Fund. I think it’s important to help in these difficult moments while we can.” Jeremy spent his teenage years living in Newport Beach Sydney and so has very close ties with Australia.
The tragic events around the 7th Feb left more than 200 dead and over 7000 homeless. The day, known as ‘Black Saturday’, marks the deadliest Bushfires in the nation’s history. Australia is still coming to terms with the scale of the tragedy, where a combination of high winds and extreme temperatures and, in some cases, acts of arson proved to be a deadly combination.
Donations to the Victorian Bushfire Appeals Fund can be made via the Australian Red Cross.
www.redcross.org.au
Credit photo: Narbe
Rails, Bails & Large Ales - Good Times...
Quiksilver UK held the season's first 'Rails, Bails & Large Ales' tour - a series of successful open freestyle nights across the UK in Castleford, Milton Keynes and Manchester.
Throughout March, Quiksilver had the privilege of hosting 3 freestyle sessions - an open concept to both skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities. The three contrasting slopes were designed and built by Quiksilver's Shaping crew, headed by Graham McVoy and included Castleford's highly experienced Damien Doyle and MK's Steve Revil. As well as the regular features you would expect from a freestyle session, added extras ensured a more memorable experience for all those envolved. McVoy and his team constructed extravagant features which were both large in size and versatile in design, offering numerous lines and transfers for those creative enough to work them out! Castleford hosted a step up - step down butterbox, integrated with an up rail to street set up, down box and a host of various side-on hip style take offs. Manchester presented what has been quoted as the "biggest and best" indoor kicker in the UK to date where as Milton Keynes offered an entire arena of fun filled with rails, boxes and kickers.
Quiksilver riders including Jamie Nichols, James Thorne, Henry Shackleton and Ollie Jackson set tricks to recreate - similar to the format of the recent Quiksilver 'King Of Snow' contests, with spot prizes thrown out by Jay, the Rails, Bails MC. The freestyle nights were also accompanied by the screening of the epic Travis Rice "That's It That's All" movie. Each event was hugely successful with skiers and snowboarders following the 'Rails, Bails & Large Ales' tour across the UK with many riders asking when the next event will be.
A big thanks to Graham McVoy and his team at GMC, SNO!zones in MK & Castleford and The Chill Factore in Manchester.
Best quotes from the nights:
"This is bar far the most fun event i have been to at an indoor slope."
"I went to Castleford, Manchester and next week i am definately going to Milton Keynes. It's been so much fun, these parks are amazing!"
"I really want that Quiksilver bag. What tricks do i need to land to get it?!"
"It's so good that it's not a contest format, everyone's allowed in and it makes it a lot more fun... especially with the DJ's and Quik Pros doing the sickest tricks."
"This was by far the best indoor kicker i've ever ridden. Thanks for putting this on, it was such a sick night!"
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