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PEETU PIIROINEN CROWNED SWATCH TTR WORLD CHAMPION AFTER BURTON US OPEN HALFPIPE

Saturday, 20 March 2010

Stratton, Vermont – March 20th, 2010:  It was another superb day in Stratton, Vermont for the 6Star Burton US Open halfpipe finals.  The pipe was in perfect shape, the rider list was full of talent and the riding level was high making for some intense competition.  Kazuhiro “Kazu” Kokubo (JPN) was the men’s halfpipe victor of the day and Kelly Clark (USA) took the win in the women’s competition.  After today’s pipe finals wrapped up, Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) was officially crowned Swatch TTR World Champion and the men’s 2009/2010 TTR Top 5 is now set in stone.

The Last Major Pipe Event For The Men, One More To Go For The Women
It was a heated battle in the halfpipe today with some amazing riding by both the men and the women.  The women dropped into the pipe first and Kelly Clark was the definite standout with her signature smooth style and high amplitude.  She was able to seal her fourth US Open halfpipe victory with a run that included a huge frontside air, backside 540 mute, frontside 720, Cab 720 mute and ended with a frontside corked 900.  It was a close call for the second and third place finishers with Kaitlyn Farrington (USA) taking the second position and Ellery Hollingsworth (USA) in third.

The men’s competition was jam packed full of action with Japanese style master, Kazu Kokubo, putting together an amazing winning run consisting of a frontside 900 melon, chicken wing McTwist, frontside 1080, Cab 1080 and a frontside double cork 1080.  Louie Vito (USA) came in a very close second place throwing three consecutive double corks in his first run.  And, Iouri Podladtchikov (SUI) also put on quite the display with a run that included a Cab 1080 double cork and a 1260 double cork.   

The Swatch TTR World Tour Top 5 Finalists
Peetu Piiroinen took the top spot on the Swatch TTR Tour for the 2009/2010 season and today he officially walked away with his second consecutive TTR World Champion trophy.  “This is special.  I am the first guy who won the TTR twice” said Piiroinen.  “Next year maybe for the third time.  It is just incredible.”  Not only does he get to bask in the glory of this prestigious title, but he also was awarded with $50,000 USD for his amazing effort throughout the super busy season.  

The rest of the TTR Top 5 finalists also walked away with some major cash and incentives.  After his third place finish today, Iouri Podladtchikov, secured the World No. 2 position taking $25,000.  Markus Malin (FIN) took fourth place in the pipe today which was good enough to bump him into World No. 3 earning him $15,000, young Norwegian rookie Gjermund Braaten didn’t make it to finals in today’s event but, with his arsenal of great results throughout the season, he ended up in World No. 4 and was awarded $11,000.  Janne Korpi finished in fifth place today which gave him the World No. 5 spot and is now $9,000 richer.  All of these athletes will also receive automatic invites to all major TTR events for the 2010/2011 TTR World Tour Season.

One More Major Tour Stop Forthe Women
With the Burton US Open wrapped up, the women will travel across the U.S. to Mammoth Lakes, California for the 6Star Roxy Chicken Jam, the final major women’s event of the season.  Even though she didn’t make it to halfpipe finals today, Finnish newcomer of the season Enni Rukajärvi was able to move into the tour lead overtaking Sina Candrian (SUI) who was bumped down to current World No. 2.  Lisa Wiik (NOR) remains in World No. 3, Sarka Pancochova (CZE) stays in World No. 4 and Cilka Sadar (SLO) is sitting in World No. 5.  The women’s TTR World Champion title is still wide open for all the ladies mentioned above as they get ready for the final major event of the season.  

Point your web browser to ttrworldtour.com for all the latest news and updates from the tour and for some new videos from the US Open.  Register today for the TTR Newsletter on ttrworldtour.com and on www.snowboardingresults.com to find the first ever result database that does not refer to one sports organisation only.

Swatch TTR Top 10 as of 20. March 2010-03-20
MEN
Rank
Name
Nation
Results
Points
1
Piiroinen, Peetu
FIN
6
963.81
2
Podladtchikov, Iouri
SUI
6
880.24
3
Malin, Markus
FIN
6
779.38
4
Braaten, Gjermund
NOR
6
760.37
5
Korpi, Janne
FIN
6
756.57
6
Sandbech, Stale
NOR
6
746.56
7
Grilc, Marko
SLO
6
746.27
8
Tonteri, Roope
FIN
6
737.69
9
Haller, Christian
SUI
6
734.52
10
Bang, Mikkel
NOR
6
732.55

WOMEN
Rank
Name
Nation
Results
Points
1
Rukajärvi, Enni
FIN
6
841.39
2
Candrian, Sina
SUI
6
840.58
3
Wiik, Lisa
NOR
6
819.97
4
Pancochova, Sarka
CZE
6
813.63
5
Sadar, Cilka
SLO
6
741.5
6
Maas, Cheryl
NED
6
706.53
7
Haller, Ursina
SUI
6
688.68
8
Karlinski, Jordie
USA
6
680.09
9
Gotlieb, Shelly
NZL
6
674.73
10
Buaas, Kjersti Ostgaard
NOR
5
654.09



ABOUT SWATCH TTR:
Founded by Terje Haakonsen and industry innovators in 2002, the Swatch Ticket To Ride (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, innovation as guiding principles”. Since its foundation, the Swatch TTR Tour has been developing 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 holds the highest (1000 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 six results of the season (5+1 system) is crowned Swatch TTR World Snowboard Champion. For more information visit www.ttrworldtour.com