CONGRATULATIONS ERIC WILLETT!!!!!!!!
O'Neill team rider Eric Willett has won Gold at the inaugural Winter X Games Europe Slopestyle, taking victory ahead of a host of international talent.
The 22-year-old American from Breckenridge, Colorado won gold with 91 points ahead of American Sage Kotsenburg and Slovenian Marko Grilc.
"It was crazy because I had the worst practice ever," said Eric. "The run I ended up doing I only thought about as I dropped into the course."
Despite the lack of planning it was an awesome run consisting of a Cab 9, Backside 7, Frontside 10 Double Cork, Backside Rodeo 5 to Switchback 9, and a double backside Rodeo.
"All the riders had runs that could knock me down. It was just cool to be up there competing with those guys like Marco Grilc and Chas Guldemond and Travis Rice.
It's been an incredible 2010 so far for the O'Neill team rider.
Eric finished second at the Winter X Games Slopestyle in Colorado at the beginning of February behind Eero Ettala.
He then followed it up with a first place finish at the 5 Star TTR event at the end of February in Livigno Italy.
However it is this first place at the Winter X Games Europe that has really stood out for the talented snowboarder.
"I got second place at the Winter X Games back home in Colorado," he said. "That was special because it was at home and it's so popular there. But this Gold at these first Europe Winter X Games is up there with that result – and probably the highlight of my season."