5Star Burton NZ open set to feature halfpie and slopestyle
Scuol, Switzerland – Snowboarders from around the globe are currently making the annual pilgrimage to Cardrona Alpine Resort in Wanaka, New Zealand for the 2011 installment of the Burton New Zealand Open (BNZO). The BNZO is back as a 5Star event on the TTR World Tour and will kick off with open qualifications on Tuesday, August 9th and wrap up with slopestyle finals on Friday, August 12th and halfpipe finals on Saturday, August 13th. The New Zealand Open is the first major event for halfpipe and slopestyle of the 2011/12 TTR season where all competing riders will earn points towards the all-new TTR World Tour Ranking lists.
TTR Slopestyle and Halfpipe World Tour Rankings get a Jump Start at New Zealand Open Riders from around the world will not only be competing for a piece of the generous $50,000 NZD prize purse but will also be going after valuable TTR World Tour ranking points that will count toward the TTR Halfpipe Tour Ranking, the TTR Slopestyle Tour Ranking and the TTR Overall Tour Ranking lists.
On the women’s side, slopestyle competition will be top-notch with reigning two-time TTR World Tour Champion, Jamie Anderson (USA), up against a highly talented field of international riders including Enni Rukajarvi (FIN), Cilka Sadar (SLO), Sarka Pancochova (CZE), Spencer O’Brien (CAN) and Kjersti Buaas (NOR). In the halfpipe, women will continue to play catch-up with Kelly Clark (USA) who won almost every single halfpipe competition she entered last season. Kelly will need to keep an eye out for some ladies who are hot on her heels like Querault Castellet (ESP), Hannah Teter (USA), Gretchen Bleiler (USA), Elena Hight (USA) and Ellery Hollingsworth (USA).