Norwegian,Stale Sandbech powers into finals with strong showing from Canadians, MarkMcMorris and Antoine Truchon while compatriot and defending champion, SebastienToutant bows out in bizarre circumstances. Semi Final Friday here at the TTR 6Star O'Neill Evolution will go down in snowboarding history as one of the mostunique on record.
Continued record heavy snowfall in Davos hit the contest for thesixth straight day, as a massive storm credited with breaking records acrossCentral Europe continued to pound the area. The resort was closed Fridaymorning as controlled avalanche blasting attempted to dislodge the approximated50cm of fresh overnight snow while the shaping crew once again undertook themonumental task of digging out the course. Organizers pushed Women'sQualification to Saturday morning with the hope of finishing Men'sQualification in the afternoon.
Riders took the opportunity to head up as soon as lifts opened,all whom eventually returned claiming the best powder day ever. Continued snowand gusty periods saw training curtailed and a subsequent riders' vote thatresulted in Qualifications merging directly into a single 46 rider Semi Finalstarting at 18:00 when event lighting would take effect and improve visibility.
While by no means perfect and with heavy snow continuing to fall,conditions eased somewhat and wind died sufficiently for the Semi Finals tocommence on time. Making the 16-man cut in a two run, best run counts formatwas the single goal for competitors – waxing and speed as critical as trickselection. With the optional line to rails the only feasible option; ridersattacked it with vigor, chasing major TTR Ranking points and a share of the$125,000 prize purse.
An almost perfect first run from defending champion Seb Toots(CAN)including a Double Cork 1080 Mute to cab 270 on the wall ride would have beenenough to claim the run of the day were it not for his legs inexplicablyletting him down on landing. Meanwhile solid first runs from MarcMcMorris(CAN), and Charles Reid(CAN) put them into solid Top 5 territory whileStale Sandbech(NOR) stormed into the lead with a stomped frontside 1080 tofrontside 270 to lipslide out. Current TTR Big Air leader, Roope Tonteri(FIN),posted solid points leaving him within striking distance of the top 10, whilepowder rookies, Jamie Nicholls(BGR) and Seppe Smits(BEL) continued the formthat has been turning heads.
With everything to play for in the second round, Werni Stock(AUT)powered into the Top 5 while the shock of the night arrived when pre-eventfavorite, Seb Toots, seemed to hang up on the coping of the kicker. Fortunateto avoid injury, the incident nevertheless resulted in Toots bowing out of thecontest. Christian 'Hitch' Haller(SUI) made it inside the 16-man cut, only forEric Willet(USA) to edge him back out in the 2nd last run of the night with a frontside Double Cork 1080 mute tobackside lipslide on the down rail, enough to propel himself into 4th.
For the complete list of the Top 16 qualified riders in the Men'sFinals and for tomorrow's schedule for the Woman's and Men's Finals, and forall the details for the live webcast, check: http://www.oneill.com/evolution/