Markku Koski FIS Big Air World Champion
At the latest leg of the World Snowboarding Championships in Gangwon (South Korea), Finnish rider and Team Quiksilver member Markku Koski took gold in the Big Air event. He emerged victorious in the final, after a very consistent run that included a cab 1080 and a backside rodeo 900.
It's another award for the trophy cabinet of a rider who already has a strong of achievements to his name, including a bronze medal at the Turin Olympics in 2006 (for the Half Pipe), three podium finishes including two victories in the World Cup, and a double world title in the junior Half Pipe championships in 1997 and 1998.
Frenchman Mathieu Crépel, bronze medallist in the Half Pipe at the worlds in 2009, finished in 7th place in the Big Air event.
More info on http://www.fissnowboardworldcup.com
Freddy Austbo Takes Top Honors at China's 7th Red Bull Nanshan Open
Beijing, CHINA – January 11th, 2008 – As the 12 qualifiers from the previous day's competition took to the Quiksilver Nanshan Mellow Park for day two of the 7th Red Bull Nanshan Open, feelings were mixed as the wind that plagued last year's event threatened to dampen yet another Nanshan Open. However with this year's improved setup and some solid tucking down the in-run by the riders, enough speed was gained in practice to be able to utilize the smaller of the two kicker lines and the competition was on!
Today saw an even larger crowd than yesterday cheering the riders, and proved just how popular this sport is finally becoming in China! With yesterday's field of 24 riders narrowed down to just 12 for the best-of-two-runs Finals, the pressure was definitely on to throw down on the competition's last day.
After the morning session, some radical riding and some heavy deliberation from the judges, the results really were too close to call. Markus Keller and Tyler Chorlton ended up in a dead tie for 4th place, and thus 5 riders would advance through to the Super Finals. Markus and Tyler joined Atsushi Ishikawa, Freddy Austbo and Kalle Ohlson for the afternoon's showdown.
An obvious crowd favourite at the 6th Red Bull Nanshan Open, Freddy Austbo unfortunately failed to place highly in last year's event, unable to gain enough speed against the wind. This year, however, things would be different, and as the winds increased in the afternoon Freddy morphed into the ultimate aerodynamic machine, becoming one of the few competitors to comfortable clear both kickers. "I'm so stoked. This year I didn't use Kalle's wax and bought my own instead, so I was actually able to get some speed! I can't wait to celebrate at karaoke tonight..." Freddy took home first place and 500 TTR points with a winning run consisting of a BS540 off the first hit, a Cab540 off the second, a BS180 up on to the wave box and a Cab540 off. Freddy finished his run with a rock-and-roll to fakie on the wallride and will definitely be rock-and-rolling the mic tonight!
Returning for his third year at this event, Atsushi Ishikawa grabbed 471.15 TTR points with a close second place, ranking one place higher than at last year's Open and only just missing out on a perfect run. "I wanted to get first.. but I will come back and try again next year!" We hope to finally see Atsushi in the center of the podium then!
With the competition side of the trip over, riders will now get to relax and enjoy the rest of what China has to offer – site-seeing at the Great Wall, some delicious local food and of course, the infamous after parties. Zaijian!
7th Red Bull Nanshan Open Results:
1 - Freddy Austbo (Norway), Quiksilver/Nixon/Elm
2 - Atsushi Ishikawa (Japan), Quiksilver/Deeluxe/Flow
3 - Kalle Ohlson (Sweden), Vans/Bataleon/Adidas
4 - Markus Keller (Switzerland), Red Bull/Nitro/Volcom
5 - Tyler Chorlton (Great Britain), Bataleon/Oakley/Vans
6 - Jakob Wilhelmson (Sweden), Quiksilver/Libtech/Level
7 - Yongho Lee (Korea), Salomon/Sugapoint/Electric
8 - Teo Konttinen (Finland), Quiksilver
Credit photo: Lorenz Holder
Marc Lacomare Finishes ASP World Junior No. 3, Huscenot Reaches Quarterfinals
Marc Lacomare (Hossegor, FRA), 18, placed equal 3rd in the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships at North Narabeen, finishing his great run in the Semifinals of the prestigious event where he lost to Kai Barger (HAW). Lacomare, who secured the best result of his Pro Junior career, was the best European surfer in the event and flew the French flag until the final day.
Lacomare, who finished the year ranked No. 2 on the ASP European Junior ratings, showed how strong his surfing was for his second appearance at the ASP World Juniors getting through four rounds and defeating top seeds Owen Wright (AUS) and Jayke Sharp (AUS) respectively in Round 3 and 4 before besting fellow French surfer Maxime Huscenot (REU) in the Quarterfinals.
At 18 years old only, Lacomare stands as one of Europe's best competitors and confirms his few stellar performances including his equal 9th place at the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime Rip Curl Pro Hossegor/Seignosse in 2007. Lacomare's equal 3rd place finish at Narrabeen still earns him the preferred seeding into several ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) events in 2009, an opportunity to cut his teeth against the world's best surfers chasing a qualification for the coveted ASP World Tour.
"I'm going to stay in Australia for one month and do a few Pro Juniors in Queensland and then maybe some ASP WQS here as well," Lacomare said. "I may be able to get the wildcard because I think Jadson (Andre) and Tanner (Gudauskas) may not need it so it is handed down to me. So I'm not exactly sure what is going on for me this year."
Maxime Huscenot (REU), 16, was stopped by Lacomare in the Quarterfinals of the event but still placed equal 5th, a very promissing result for the Reunion Island born surfer competing for the first time against the world's best Under-21 surfers. Huscenot, reigning ASP European Junior Champion and one of the youngest surfers in the event, expressed his talent during the 3-day event getting through tricky heats against Brazil's Alex Ribeiro and Hawaiian surf phenomenon Dusty Payne (HAW), a contender in this year's Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
"I knew it would be hard to beat Dusty (Payne) because he is one of the best guys in the event," Huscenot said. "I was very nervous during the heat but I got a bomb and it helped me stay calm. I was stoked to win that heat and I am happy with the overall result."
More info on www.aspeurope.com
BILLABONG ASP WORLD JUNIORS Results:
ASP WORLD JUNIORS (MEN) FINAL:
1 – Kai Barger (HAW) 15.34
2 – Jadson Andre (BRA) 13.67
ASP WORLD JUNIORS (MEN) SEMIFINALS:
SF 1: Jadson Andre (BRA) 18.00 def. Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 14.34
SF 2: Kai Barger (HAW) 16.73 def. Marc Lacomare (FRA) 8.84
ASP WORLD JUNIORS (MEN) QUARTERFINALS:
QF 1: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 17.23 def. Tamaroa McComb (PYF) 14.50
QF 2: Jadson Andre (BRA) 18.30 def. Kiron Jabour (HAW) 12.60
QF 3: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 14.00 def. Maxime Huscenot (REU) 13.77
QF 4: Kai Barger (HAW) 17.60 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.16
ASP WORLD JUNIORS (MEN) ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Tamaroa McComb (PYF) 13.17 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 8.57
Heat 2: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 14.60 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.33
Heat 3: Kiron Jabour (HAW) 13.16 def. Lincoln Taylor (AUS) 12.16
Heat 4: Jadson Andre (BRA) 16.50 def. Granger Larsen (HAW) 14.17
Heat 5: Maxime Huscenot (REU) 13.00 def. Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 9.53
Heat 6: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 12.83 def. Jayke Sharp (AUS) 10.50
Heat 7: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 17.83 def. Nat Young (USA) 10.17
Heat 8: Kai Barger (HAW) 14.46 def. Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 14.00
ASP REGIONAL POINTS BREAKDOWN:
1 – Hawaii 2,752 points
2 – Australasia 2,664 points
3 – South America 2,642 points
4 – Europe 2,428 points
5 – North America 2,296 points
6 – Africa 1,455 points
7 – Japan 900 points
Kelly Slater claims the 2008 Billabong Pipeline Masters
Nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) has won the Billabong Pipeline Masters a record sixth time today. The victory is Slater's sixth of the 11 event 2008 ASP World Tour season.
"It's inexplicable," Slater said of his win and banner season. "I'm just stoked. I wasn't even worried about surfing the event, so to surf it and win and get that board (a Gerry Lopez designed surfboard trophy). I'll cherish that for sure." Slater has made the Pipeline Masters final 10 out of the 17 times he has entered the event winning in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999 and again today. His 2008 win comes nine years after he last clinched the Pipeline crown in ‘99.
"My season is all about nines," Slater said. "Winning this event nine years later, I needed a 9th in the ninth event of the year to win my 9th ASP World title, it's crazy."
Slater paddled out in eight to 10 foot waves at Pipeline four times today, beating Chris Ward (USA) 14.00 to 7.23 in the in the first man-on-man final* held at the venue in eight years. Slater's heat totals in the three heats prior to the final were 19.00, 18.63 and 19.40 – all out of a possible 20 points.
"It was disappointing that the waves didn't really turn on for us in the final," Slater said. "That's what we are here for, to put on a show for people – at least give them some big wipeouts or something. In the final there weren't too many waves, but I picked the right ones. It's about time Wardo had a result like this though. He is one of the best barrel riders in the world."
http://www.aspworldtour.com
http://www.surfersvillage.com
Quiksilver launches its first women's blog
When women blog...
Fashion tips, cheeky gossips, travels around the world, mood notes, artistic windows, cooking corner... women's minds are now online!
Punchy, Spicy and Smart, the QSW blog is an open web space to let all the women talk free.
TOP VIDEOS
