Big Air in the Big Apple: Red Bull Snowscrapers Crowns Local Snowboard Champion in New York City
In New York City, 16 illustrious snowboarders from around the globe converged at the East River Park to fight for their share of the $100,000 Red Bull Snowscrapers prize purse.
The riders dropped in from a towering nine-story structure that mirrored the dramatic New York skyline. In front of 20,000 fans, athletes such as Olympic gold medalist Shaun White and X Games Champion Travis Rice soared above the cityscape off a specially constructed ramp towards an immense 80-foot long landing area.
NEW JERSEY LOCAL TAKES FIRST AND $50K
New Jersey’s own Shayne Pospisil, who started the contest as an alternate after another competitor was unable to compete due to injury, ended up grabbing first place and $50,000 by landing a backside 900 with a clean grab. “It all came together tonight. I landed all my runs,” said Pospisil after being carried away on the shoulders of the crowd. “Having all of my friends and family here is amazing. It’s a dream come true.” Finland’s Torstein Horgmo stuck a frontside 900 tailgrab to steal second place and third place went to another east coaster, New Hampshire’s own Scotty Lago, as he landed a backside 900. Earlier in the evening, snowboarding icon Terje Haakonsen of Norway dropped into the 90-foot tall ramp with his back foot unstrapped from the binding, pulling off a one-footed method air as he kicked his rear foot out, much to the appreciation of the roaring crowd. For his difficult, throwback-style trick, Haakonsen earned Best Trick honors for the night.
BANG YOUR HEAD
NYC’s own Anthrax, known for being the first group to combine heavy metal with rap music and the thrash metal scene, headlined the music stage. They were joined by Brooklyn’s indie-pop artists Black Gold and self-proclaimed rock n’ roll saviors Valient Thorr, capping off a truly high-voltage evening.
FREE SKIING, SLEDDING AND SNOWBOARDING IN NYC
The fun doesn’t end here, because from February 16th-22nd (New York City’s public school vacation week), New York City residents can have their own opportunity to be a pro and ride the Red Bull Snowscrapers ramp. The ramp will be reconfigured into a 3-story skiing and snowboarding mountain right in the heart of NYC’s East River Park. Residents of all ages are welcome, and experts can bring their own equipment and shred on the freestyle features. An additional 150-foot long snow flume will also be on-site for sledding. Demo snowboards and sleds will be available on-site free of charge for beginners. Both the Red Bull Snowscrapers ramp and the snow flume will be open from 11:00am-4:00pm daily and are free to the public.
SWATCH TTR WORLD SNOWBOARD TOUR
Red Bull Snowscrapers joined the ranks of the most prestigious snowboard events on the planet as a 5-Star stop on the SWATCH TTR World Snowboard Tour. The TTR crowns a World Snowboard Tour Champion at the culmination of each season and pays out an end-of-season prize purse worth $200,000.
For more information please visit www.RedBullSnowscrapers.com.
SWATCH TTR:
Founded by Terje Haakonsen and industry innovators in 2002, the SWATCH TTR World Snowboard Tour is a non-profit, rider-driven organization with the mission to create the highest quality competitive snowboard environment in the world, using authenticity, accessibility and innovation as guiding principles. Since its foundation, the SWATCH TTR Tour has developed into the most exposed snowboard tour worldwide featuring global grass root and key independent freestyle snowboarding events over a ten-month period from Southern to Northern Hemisphere locations. Events are rated via a 1-through-6Star system, with points allocated accordingly, a 6Star event holding the highest (1000 SWATCH TTR points). Any rider participating in these events, from up-and-coming to professional talent, earns ranking points and a position on the SWATCH TTR World Ranking List. The top male and female rider based on an average of their best seven results of the season is crowned SWATCH TTR World Snowboard Tour Champion.
Results
#1 – Shayne Pospisil (bib#7)
#2 – Torstein Horgmo (bib#14)
#3 – Scotty Lago (bib#12)
#4 – Travis Rice (bib#10)
#5 – Daniel Ek (bib#9)
#6 – Shaun White (bib#13)
#7 – Bjorn Leines (bib#11)
#8 – Terje Haakonsen (bib#8)
#9 – Dustin Craven (bib#4)
#10 – Mikkel Bang (bib#15)
#11 – Heikki Sorsa (bib#16)
#12 – Pat Moore (bib#3)
#13 – Eero Ettala (bib#5)
#14 – Andreas Wiig (bib#6)
#15 – Jack Mitrani (bib#1)
#16 – JJ Thomas (bib#2)
Source: Red Bull
Red Bull Announces First Sky-High Urban Snowboard Event to Take Place in New York City
Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White to Compete Against 15 Top Professionals at Red Bull Snowscrapers
On Thursday, February 5, 2009, iconic snowboarders including Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White, freestyle / backcountry legend Travis Rice, ultra-progressive phenomenon Pat Moore along with 13 other pro riders will compete against the majestic backdrop of the New York City skyline in a contest that will prove to be the biggest winter event to come to New York City.
Sixteen of the world’s best snowboarders will compete to own a piece of the $100,000 prize purse as Anthrax and other soon to be announced music acts perform live, giving the crowd a show they’ll never forget. Red Bull Snowscrapers marks the debut of the largest snowboarding contest held in an urban setting in North America, complete with music acts and a spectator village located in East River Park (corner of Houston Street and FDR).
BIG AIR IN THE BIG APPLE
OWNING THE MANHATTAN SKYLINE
For the first-time ever, Red Bull will create a towering 90-foot tall, state-of-the-art structure for top riders to own the iconic Manhattan skyline. The athletes will charge down the nine-story structure before flying off the specially constructed ramp toward an immense 80-foot long hip landing area. The innovative hip, built by world-renowned designers Frank Wells and Mike Bettera of Snow Park Technology, allows riders multiple angles of trajectory, landing on either the right or left side of the massive 45-degree spine. Additionally, the ramp design will allow spectators to get up close and personal, giving fans an opportunity to experience the action first hand as the riders spin roughly four stories into the sky.
A NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
New York spectators may deem them insane, but for the competitors, pushing the limits is a constant frame of mind. Although both their skill and style will be put to the test, the challenge here lies in the Red Bull Snowscrapers unique double-sided pyramid landing that pushes the envelope of big-air competition and rider adaptability.
With so many angles of approach, options, and opportunity, the athlete who ultimately conquers the ramp may be determined by their creative state of mind. And that creativity will be rewarded handsomely with a hefty $50,000 awarded to the winner. With so much on the line, Red Bull left nothing to chance, and will be enlisting a panel of internationally licensed judges to score the event.
For more information please visit www.RedBullSnowscrapers.com.