2007-2008 International Volcom PBRJ: Latvia Results
Highest mountain in Latvia is 312 m high and the resort of Zagarkalns is located in a small hilly area but the fun fact about this resort is that you actually park at the top of the hill and then go down the slopes... This year winter in Latvia has been particulary cruel to all snowboarders by having a total of only 10 days below zero degrees. Almost no snow days! Despite that Tele 2 snowpark built a decent park for PBRJ...I still don’t know were they found the snow but they did a good job!
We started the registration at 9:30 am and there was a huge line of riders waiting to get a free tee shirt and of course waiting to hit the rails. At the end 94 participants signed up to compete for fun, prizes and also to qualify to Grindelwald this year!
After registration, everyone started to test the setup and warm up, because of the lack of “winter” this year and they wanted to show the best they can do with the least amount of practice. The set up this year consisted of one flat box, a big double kink box, and one brand new 14m long down rail! The contest started under the rain with the youngsters and girls. At the beginning of the qualification heats it seemed that everyone was going about their business with caution because of icy snow, but soon the girls and young guns were going for it and the kinked box was assaulted every second with no fear in mind. They paved the way for the older divisions... they were also ripping hard, fuelled by sandwiches and grilled cheese sausages. They fought so hard that pieces of flesh and body parts were lying all over the snow...or maybe was it Mr Krueger himself that did the carnage...?
During the finals the battlefield was red with blood, and the most popular spot was the double kink box that everyone was trying to conquer in many different variations. Huge gaps, fronsides, backsides, 180, 270, 360, 450 and so on. Competitors were pushing the limits between each other, so it started getting better every minute! Kaspars Groza was simply amazing with full speed 270fs to 540 out on the box and Voldemars Silins made a huge 270fs to gap to 270 out on the double kink! Plus lots of crazy crashes and hail mary flights over the boxes and rails (luckily not too many serious injuries).
The level was pretty good for guys that snowboard only a few times a year -and it will be good to see what they will do at the European championships in Grindelwald... Everyone went home with something and the winners couldn’t even carry all the stuff they won!
That was a really good rainy and muddy day on the hill and we need to thank Janis Jansons with his crew for helping us with the park. Our judges Kristaps Danevics, Martins Danevics & Verners Jonats, our chiefs Ervins Birmanis & Martins Eihe. Bigs up to Electric, Nixon, DVS shoes and Boards.lv for helping out with prizes!! And of course everyone that came to ride or to watch, hope it will snow soon guys!
Results:
16 & over
1. Kaspars Groza
2. Voldemars Silins
3. Juris Strangots
15 & under
1. Arturs Cukunde
2. Emils Smits
3 Arturs Karanzejs
Girls
1. Brit Kask
2. Karina Vitina
3. Bettija Ligere
Click HERE to see all the pics!
Wednesday, March 05th 2008 @ 08:02 AM.
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