The weather was ideal with clear and sunny skies allowing stunning views across the Mountains of Grison. The 12 women competing in the finals laid down 2 runs each, all displaying impressive tricks worthy of Europe’s best Superpipe on the Crap Sogn Gion. Driving the world’s best freeskiers to stick killer runs was the prestige of securing one of the precious podium spots as well as a share of the US$50,000 prize purse.
 |  photos C Stadler Laax Rider |
Swiss girl Virginie Faivre (3 times Orage European Freeski Slopestyle Champion) was at her best, faultlessly pulling off tricks such as an air safety grab, a leftside 540, a rightside 540 and a switch alley Oop 540, deservedly earning the title of Freeski Queen of LAAX. „I am so happy, that every time I am at the European Freeski Open, it works out so well for me. I love the Event in LAAX and I am going to be there next year for sure. Tonight I will celebrate and buy Champagne for me and my friends with the prize money.” Brit Emma Lonsdale landed in second place, a repeat performance from her 2007 result here in Laax. Canadian Roz Groenewoud managed to slip into third place after a killer second run which pushed Mirjam Jäger from Switzerland down into fourth place.
Results Halfpipe Finals, 21 March 2009, LAAX:
Women
1. Virginie Fiavre/SUI – O’Neill 92.60
2. Emma Lonsdale/GBR – Movement 83.60
3. Roz Groenewoud/CAN – Rossignol 82.80
The Orage European Open by Swatch will end with a bang tonight with a live concert from Swedish rock band, “The Movements” at the Riders Palace. The last five days have seen 200 riders from 21 different countries performing in the freestyle formats of Slopestyle and Halfpipe. They are looking forward, together with filmers, photographers, journalists and event partners Orage, Swatch, Giro, K2, Calanda, Smith and Salomon to the 5th anniversary of the European Freeski Open in LAAX in March 2010.
