Wimmer, and Gappmayr are Rippers 2008!
Innsbruck, Austria - 21-year-old snowboarder Stefan Wimmer from Salzburg (AUT) and freeskier Sebastian Hannemann from Augsburg (GER) proved to be the best all-round riders at the freeride and freestyle event CHECK THE RIPPER at the SNICKERS NORDPARK SESSIONS 2008 by Atomic & Nike ACG in Innsbruck, Austria. For the second time in a row, Kathrin Gappmayr from Bad Duerrnberg (AUT) won the female snowboarders’ contest.
The weather gods were on their best behaviour during the three days of the SNICKERS NORDPARK SESSIONS: bluebird and springlike temperatures made for good vibes at the Nordpark high over Innsbruck. On Thursday, the event kicked off with a freestyle session at the snowpark, the SKYLINE EXPRESSION SESSION. Just for this contest, the quarter-pipe had been extended to 6.5 metres. Sani Alibabic (AUT) convinced the judges with his one-footed tricks and was crowned the most impressive rider. David Reinthaler (AUT) and Daniel Limmer (AUT) were the winners of the SNICKERS HIGHEST AIR SESSION.
Next stop: the HIT DA PIPE SESSION, a photo-shooting at the floodlit super-pipe on Friday evening. The perfect warm-up for the CHECK THE RIPPER competition! The riders were in high spirits and especially Wolle Beer (AUT) amazed everyone with his high airs: the most impressive rider of the day! Nearly just as fascinating were the difficult spins shown by Xaver Hoffmann (GER) and Patrick Tilg (AUT) as well as Austrian Mone Monsberger’s stylish moves.
At the next day, excitement rose to boiling point when the 14th CHECK THE RIPPER took place. At fantastic weather, all riders were motivated to give everything. As in the previous years, the legendary CHECK THE RIPPER competition offered a unique combination of style and speed: skills in both disciplines were necessary to have a chance to win. The course lead from the Skyline Park to the banks at the Osthang ridge and then to the freeride section at the steep Osthang slope. Directly after the start, the riders dropped from a small cliff into the first bank which was followed by the first kicker where they had to show some technical and stylish trickery. Nice high banks with little jumps in between succeeded: this was the part of the course where the riders had the most fun. At the steep Osthang, the riders had to meet a last challenge before they reached the finish line exhaustedly.
The winners: Good luck for Wimmer, Kroell an unfortunate second
As in the previous year, the “Ästhetiker” Rudi Kroell missed victory narrowly. The Austrian from Zillertal valley had bad luck when a skier disregarded the barriers and constrained his ride. In the end, Kroell was beaten by only 13 hundredths by the happy youngster Stefan Wimmer from Salzburg (AUT). Wimmer proved his unbelievable talent showing perfect 900s and excellent freeride skills at the Osthang.
At the skiers’, the Germans Sebastian Hannemann and Dominik Eham showed last year’s champion Lukas Brucic from Mils (AUT) his limits and celebrated their success extensively. Kathrin Gappmayr (AUT) managed to repeat her 2007 victory and was faster than Regina Lind (GER) and the current leader of the Freeride World Tour, Bibi Pekarek from Innsbruck (AUT).
After the contest, the traditional wild boar BBQ took place before the prize-giving and the party were held at Innsbruck’s Jimmyz bar – just the right conclusion to the SNICKERS NORDPARK SESSIONS 2008!
For more information hit nordparksessions.com
Results:
Check The Ripper:
Men
1. Stefan Wimmer (AUT)
2. Rudi Kroell (AUT)
3. Christoph Weber (GER)
Female
1. Kathrin Gappmayr (AUT)
2. Regina Lind (GER)
3. Bibi Pekarek (AUT)
Skyline Expression Session:
Most Impressive Rider: Sani Alibabic (AUT)
Highest Air: David Reinthaler (AUT) & Daniel Limmer (AUT)
Hit Da Pipe Session:
Most Impressive Rider: Wolle Beer (AUT)
Monday, February 25th 2008 @ 02:28 PM.
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