The Oakley Arctic Challenge 2008: Qualification Results
Oslo, Norway - The third day of the Swatch TTR SIX(6)STAR Oakley Arctic Challenge hosted a step up in the level of Quarterpipe riding from an incredible field of progressive riders. Things got started mid-afternoon, with two heats of twelve riders competing for sixteen spots in the semi-finals taking place on Saturday. Kevin Pearce (USA) took the top qualifying spot, followed by Kim Rune Hansen of Norway, and Peetu Piiroinen of Finland, setting things up for an epic clash of snowboarding titans.
The qualifications provided a fresh approach to judging that focused a rider’s ability to hit a quarterpipe in different ways. Each rider was allowed three runs to stomp their best tricks and earn the best possible score. The top two runs were taken into account, but to spice things up, an additional factor of ‘variety’ was thrown into the mix. This meant that to earn a top a spot for the semi-finals, riders were scored much less for repeated tricks, and were encouraged to change things up dramatically between each run. A total of three scores were added together to determine the total; their best two runs, and their ‘variety’ score.
Sixteen riders qualified for Saturday’s semi-finals, but the top rider of the day was current TTR World No. 2 Kevin Pearce, last year’s Oakley Arctic Challenge winner and recent winner of the FIVE(5)STAR Billabong Air & Style Quarterpipe. Pearce threw down a huge 5.7 m McTwist on his first run, an even bigger 6.2 m Inverted 540 on his second run, and finished things off with a 5.2 m BS 7.
Local boy Kim Rune Hansen of Norway, and winner of the Quarterpipe Title at the SIX(6)STAR O’Neill Evolution 08, took the second qualifying spot. Hansen brought back his stylish Chuck Flip hitting 5.2 m, an even crazier BS 5 Japan on his second attempt, and stomped a sky-high 6.4 m BS Air on his third and final run.
Peetu Piiroinen who is currently TTR World No. 3 once again proved he’s one to look out for, going huge all day with consistent 6 m and higher airs. Piiroinen started things off with a BS 5 Mute, moving into a BS Air Tail Grab on his second run and topping his efforts off with a BS 7.
Current Swatch TTR World No. 1 Risto Mattila took the 8th qualifying spot, securing a much-needed place in the semi-finals if he is to hold on to his Tour lead. Mattila brought his signature McTwist along with a solid BS Air, but will have to step things up if wishes to hold off Kevin Pearce, who looks like the favourite going into tomorrow’s semis. Pearce, Mattila, and Piiroinen all have a chance to take hold of TTR World No. 1 if they place high in the finals. As one of only two SIX(6)STAR competitions left on the tour, The Oakley Arctic Challenge is one of the few chances left for riders to earn a high number of TTR Ranking Points and have a chance at claiming the Swatch TTR World Champion Title.
Stay tuned to ttrworldtour.com for results, blogs, and videos from the Swatch TTR SIX(6)STAR Oakley Arctic Challenge. The competition is also featured on a live webcast on freecaster.tv, so be sure to check out all the action coming to you live from Oslo, Norway.
Results (Top 16 to battle for $17,600):
1. Kevin Pearce, 1129 points
2. Kim Rune Hansen, 1105 points
3. Peetu Piiroinen, 1075 points
4. Ulrik Badertscher, 1044 points
5. Andy Finch, 1025 points
6. Chad Otterstrom, 991 points
7. Fumiyuki Murakami, 958 points
8. Risto Mattila, 952 points
9. Nicolas Müller, 937 points
10. Daniel Josefsen, 921 points
11. Dustin Craven, 916 points
12. Terje Haakonsen, 893 points
13. Takaharu Nakai, 891 points
14. Shayne Pospisil, 881 points
15. Jacob Koia, 858 points
16. Colin Frei, 847 points
17. Fredrik Scuderi, 843 points
18. Arthur Longo, 839 points
19. Stĺle Sandbech, 649 points
19. Takato Taniguchi, 649 points
21. Scotty Lago, 583 points
22. Jody Koenders, 435 points
Thursday, February 21st 2008 @ 01:16 PM.
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