Major movements in the WSC qualification, as the Burton New Zealand Open had record attendance from top riders. All frequent visitors on our website know you gotta be among top 30 women and top 50 men on the TTR points list to qualify directly to the WSC. If you are outside top 30 or 50 after Burton European Open 2012, your only hope is a nations quota, a TTR 6 star win (or a wildcard – which will be virtually impossible to get). So let’s take a look on all the major movements after the NZ Open.
Who’s in, who’s out after the Burton New Zealand Open Major movements in the WSC qualification, as the Burton New Zealand Open had record attendance from top riders.All frequent visitors on our website know you gotta be among top 30 women and top 50 men on the TTR points list to qualify directly to the WSC. If you are outside top 30 or 50 after Burton European Open 2012, your only hope is a nations quota, a TTR 6 star win (or a wildcard – which will be virtually impossible to get). So let’s take a look on all the major movements after the NZ Open:
SLOPESTYLE MEN
First and second means straight to semi-finals.
Mark McMorris takes the numero uno position and sails on to a secure WSC spot. By keeping his pole position he will also be seeded directly to the semifinals of the WSC together with number two on this list, currently held by WAS founder Chas Guldemond. For some strange reason, Chas has climbed on the ranking list without even attending the NZ Open. Whats up with that? Well, it´s because this is a 52 week rollover ranking, which basically means that some of Chas` competitors has had great results at last years NZ Open, results that was now pushed out of the 52 week cycle. Same situation actually for Seppe Smits, when last years New Zealand Open-results where pushed out of the ranking.
Top 20 means no Pre-Qual.
Volcom riders Zak Stone and Tyler Flanagan took the time to travel around the world to secure WSC-points, and it paid off. Both of them are big climbers on this week’s ranking update; Tyler is heading towards a top 20 spot and Zak is only one spot away. So now, all of a sudden, top 20 is important too? Yes, it is, it´s very important: Secure your Top 20 spot at the European Open, and you don’t have to do the pre-qualification at the WSC. You can spend some time with grandma, wag the dog or simply do the Dew Tour.
Extra effort.
Looking at the edge of the cut, all time good-guy Marco Grilc barely hangs on to a WSC spot on 49th place while Tore Holvik is sitting outside looking in on 59th place. You only need to work a wee bit on your slopestyle results, Tore, and I assume we will see you in both halfpipe and slopestyle. Almost all big slopestyle names are inside top 50 already, but some are missing. Great riders as Brandon Reis (103), Charles Reid (152) and Sage Kotsenburg (195), claiming one of the biggest ranking descents this week – plummeting from 75th spot to 195th, have a long way to go, but knowing their skill set we expect them to put in the extra effort and step it up, we´ll be surprised if we don´t get to see them in Oslo.
HALFPIPE MEN
Who´s on second?
Ipod sits firm on the throne, and it will take a lot to push him out of his semi-final spot at the WSC. He keeps delivering podium results wherever he go and our insider-sources say his motivation is peaking. Christian Haller is challenging Peetu for that desirable second position that will send him straight to the semis. Peetu, who already has at least 5 tickets to the WSC by winning the TTR-title three times in a row and claiming both the BEO Halfpipe and the Munich Air&Style, stayed in Finland during the NZ Open.
Louie Vito, a man for the big occasions, told TTR at the NZ Open that he went to this event to improve his WSC ranking and made it clear to the world that it´s about time we got a world championships run by snowboarders. His statements where obviously popular here in Oslo, so we’re all stoked when he took home the silver medal in the halfpipe contest and climbed to a safe and sound 5th place on the TTR points list, halfpipe men.
Other good news.
US rider Benji Farrow jumps into top 10 with his solid 6th place in the NZ Open halfpipe. Benji is one of these up and coming riders that can make the podium if he keeps progressing, and he is highly motivated for the WSC.
The Japanese flew to New Zealand with basically their full national team, and man, did they rip!? They tore the halfpipe finals apart and have now four guys in top 20 halfpipe – including young prodigy Ayumu Hiramo. Can anybody remember seeing a 12 year old that good? We don’t wanna put pressure on his young shoulders, but can we hope for the young Japanese to make it to the WSC finals?
Danny Davis is back!
Danny Davis, the last rider to beat Shaun White in a halfpipe contest, is back. He’s been out of the contest scene for a while due to an unfortunate accident, but is slowly getting back to where he used to be: On the podium. He currently sits outside top 50, but is only 10 spots away from qualifying position. We feel confident that Danny keeps progressing and brings his great personality to Oslo!
HALFPIPE WOMEN
Is Kelly Clark unbeatable?
Kelly Clark won the NZ Open – her 10th consecutive major title. She got an unbeatable 1000 points on the TTR points-list, and only divine intervention can take away her WSC semifinals spot. In the second spot is Kjersti Buaas, not so safe, with Cilka Sader and Queralt Castellet breathing down her neck. Jordi Karlinski is only 6 points from the magical top 30 spot; currently held by Poland’s Paulina Ligocka-Andrzejewska. For the women, top 12 after Burton European Open is seeded to the qualification, and basically everyone within top 30 can boost their way up there.
Desperately seeking Torah.
Basically all the big names have entered the top 30, and we are thrilled to see Gretchen Bleiler busting into top 10 with a 4th place at the NZ Open halfpipe. But where is Torah Bright? We don’t know. Information is appreciated.
As young Hiramo is killing it in the men’s pipe, another early teenager is testing out her pipe skills before the WSC. 14 year old Ty Walker impressed everyone making it to The Arctic Challenge finals in slopestyle. Is she going for both halfpipe and slopestyle in the WSC? She placed 17th in the NZ Open halfpipe and stepped up to 41st place on the TTR points list – only 11 spots from a WSC halfpipe qualification.
Watch out for the Chinese! They have not dominated the TTR tour by any means, but their halfpipe girls have been doing good in other International contest – not to forget the Olympics! Xuetong Cai entered the top 100 with her excellent 5th place in the NZ Open. She is good enough for the WSC for sure . The question is if her national team shoots for it? We leave the question and answer open.
Its also worth noting that Ellery Hollingsworth, Hannah Teter and Katarzyna Rusin has climbed significantly on the ranking.
SLOPESTYLE WOMEN
Is Jamie Anderson unbeatable?
Jamie Anderson VS the world. Checking her career titles on the TTR website is like looking at the tour calendar: She have won them all – on all star levels. It will give extreme high odds if she is not in the no 1 position after European Open. We bet she is seeded directly to the WSC semifinals. But the fight for the second spot to the semis is much tougher with basically all top 10 women in challenging position.
Will we see the first female double cork stomped before or at the WSC?Shelly Gotlieb, who almost stomped the first double cork in a women’s slopestyle contest, enters the top 10 with her solid NZ Open result. If she sticks the double she could be a serious contender for Jamie’s favorite gold at the WSC. Cheryl Maas, who instead of going to the NZ Open decided to become a mother this summer, will for sure join the challengers’ party. It’s a stretch up from her 46th spot, but, knowing Cheryl, that will change as soon as she straps in. She tells us on e-mail that she will do whatever it takes to qualify cause she really wanna take home the gold-medal. That’s the spirit
Other noteworthy qualification details.
Another star absence from NZ Open was Sarka Pancochova who did not feel ready to compete yet, but she is for sure a top 10 candidate when she gets back in the ciruit. Sarka is also outside the crucial top 30 limit, but she will bust in there when the Northern Hemisphere season is up and running. Enni Rukajarvi has dropped on the rankings, but she already has two tickes to ride WSC in the bag.The youngest in the heat, Ty Walker, defends her top 10 position with her 9th place in NZ Open. If she keeps progressing, we might see two rookie Jedi´s on the podiums in Oslo – Ty and young Mirano from Japan.
Jessika Jensen from USA currently occupies the top 30 position, but lots of riders, like Sarka and Cheryl, has enough points to challenge her, and the other current top 30 women, already at the next contest. You better keep working on your slopestyle skills, Jessika!
