The 6Star Billabong Air & Style saw the Bergisel Stadium in Innsbruck, Austria, jam-packed with screaming fans as Colin Frei (SUI) flew sky high and launched himself to victory. Peetu Piiroinen’s (FIN) consistent amplitude placed him in second place which shot him into Swatch TTR World No.1, overtaking Chas Guldemond (USA). Throughout the night riders attacked the 12.2m Quarterpipe and put their bodies on the line for the chance to earn 1000 ranking points and a piece of the €75 000 EUR. The Air & Style 09 saw the Swatch TTR Title race heat up and the aftershocks are still reverberating through Innsbruck.
NEW SWATCH TTR WORLD NO.1 AFTER AIR & STYLE
Innsbruck, Austria – January 31st, 2009: The 6Star Billabong Air & Style saw the Bergisel Stadium in Innsbruck, Austria, jam-packed with screaming fans as Colin Frei (SUI) flew sky high and launched himself to victory. Peetu Piiroinen’s (FIN) consistent amplitude placed him in second place which shot him into Swatch TTR World No.1, overtaking Chas Guldemond (USA). Throughout the night riders attacked the 12.2m Quarterpipe and put their bodies on the line for the chance to earn 1000 ranking points and a piece of the €75 000 EUR. The Air & Style 09 saw the Swatch TTR Title race heat up and the aftershocks are still reverberating through Innsbruck.
Colin Frei was beyond stoked after his unexpected win: “Before the last run I just thought – just shoot it all the way! And I did it. I still cannot believe that I won this contest. Crazy!”
The fierce competition, electric atmosphere and vocal crowd combined together to psych the riders to the limit. Frei stomped a massive Mctwist Indy, rising to just over 6.5m, earning him the prestigious ‘Ring Of Glory”. Peetu grabbed second with consistent BS 5s and also took out the ‘Nokia Highest Air’, rising to 8.8m. After his efforts he is now amped to be in Swatch TTR World No.1 “I have never been World No 1 so it feels really good. It was my goal. But with more 6Star events coming up it may change.” Olivier Gittler (FRA) rounded out the top 3 with a massive Mctwist that saw him step into Swatch TTR World No 15.
Other key movers and shakers in the Swatch TTR ranking included Chas Guldemond (USA) dropping down to World No. 2 as crowd favourite Antti Autti (FIN) moved into World No.6. Kim Rune Hansen (NOR) climbed in the TTR Top 20 at World No.17 with Arthur Longo sitting on the cusp in World No. 21. Norwegian Rookie, Staale Sandbech also continued his good form and cruised into World No.29, nipping at the heels of Jack Mitrani (USA) in World No. 27 and Seppe Smits (BEL) in World No.24.
With the 6Star Billabong Air & Style now over, the Tour seriously goes into hyper drive. It is 5Star action galore in the coming days with the 5Star Burton Canadian Open taking place February 2nd – 8th , 2009, the 5Star Crans-Montana Champs Open presented by Rip Curl going down February 4th – 8th, 2009 and the 5Star Red Bull Snowscrapers rocking New York on February 5th ,2009.
