Orage European Freeski Open by Swatch 2009
(LAAX, SUI – March 20, 2009) – The first decisions at the 4th Orage European Freeski Open by Swatch in LAAX are made: Kaya Turski from Canada are the 2009 Slopestyle Champions after showing amazing performances at the 2200 m high Crap Sogn Gion mountain in LAAX.
Winter is back: Freezing temperatures and cold winds were the difficult conditions for the semifinals taking place in the morning with a mix of invited seeded riders and amateurs from the qualification. For the finals of the best 12 male and 12 female riders the sun came out and the wind calmed down. The innovative slopestyle-course presented itself perfectly consisting of 7 obstacles: The guitar-jib right at the start followed by two quarterpipes, 3 huge kickers and a c-rail at the end.
The women started off showing amazing tricks like Switch 720, 540 and cork 3-6. Winner got Kaya Turski, who came to LAAX for the first time. After her 3rd place at the X-Games 2009 she took away the title at this 50.000 US Dollar event. Keri Herman from the USA came in 2nd. She and the 3rd placed Eva-Maria Patscheider from Austria are „open-riders“, who had to go through the qualifications making it to the podium.
Tomorrow will going to be exciting again when the super-stars like 3-time winner in Laax, swiss girl Virginie Faivre, X-Games Winner 2009 will drop in the superpipe.
Results Slopestyle Finals, March 20, 2009, LAAX:
Women
1. Kaya Turski/CAN – Salomon 81.40
2. Keri Herman/USA – Spyder 72
3. Eva- Maria Patscheider- Atomic 70.20