11.02.2007
By: TTR press office
Cranking up the drama on the Ticket To Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour, FIVE(5)STAR Crans-Montana Champs Open by Rip Curl delivers overall Slopestyle victory to local hero Markus Keller (SUI) whilst Iouri Podladtchikov (RUS) moves up the TTR Ranking List to replace Scotty Lago (USA) as current TTR World Nr 1.
To a local Swiss crowd in mixed weather, the Crans-Montana Champs Open by Rip Curl snowboard event, 9th-11th February 2007, blended Big Air, Quarterpipe & Jib Line to give a selection of Europe's best male riders an interesting slopestyle set-up. It was Markus Keller (SUI) who claimed the event title having the highest accumulated overall score based on each slopestyle section. Keller (SUI), consistent throughout the contest, pulled out strong tricks including a switch backside 720 off the Big Air kicker and, with 850 TTR Ranking Points, now moves up the TTR Ranking List presented by Swatch to the respectable TTR World Nr 15 position.
Second place overall went to quarterpipe killer Henning Marthinsen (NOR). Fresh from his recent 2nd place quarterpipe win at TTR FIVE(5)STAR event O'Neill Pro Freestyle, in Avoriaz, France, Marthinsen (NOR) stormed the quarter with a solid McTwist - on a broken binding - allowing him to take the highest points in this section and edge him into 2nd place overall. Marthinsen's (NOR) podium result significantly moves him up the TTR Ranking List - from TTR World Nr 12 to Nr 5 - his highest ranking of the season so far, and only his fifth result.
The quarterpipe section ended up as the most decisive part of the slopestyle for Nils Arvidsson (SWE). Despite winning the most points in Big Air & Jib Line, Arvidsson (SWE) had to settle for third place overall having dropped his score level in the quarter. As only his second result of the TTR season, Arvidsson (SWE) lies at TTR World Nr 70.
TTR Tour drama developed outside the Crans-Montana Champs Open by Rip Curl podium results as even with an overall 17th position, Iouri 'Ipod' Podladtchikov (RUS) collected enough TTR Ranking Points to oust out Scotty Lago (USA) and sit, for the first time in his TTR career, in the TTR World Nr 1 spot. 'I feel pretty special to be at the Nr 1 spot! I never thought I would make it but now I'm there I want to stay there so will make sure I do well at the Nippon and US Opens,' quotes uber-thrilled Podladtchikov.
Changing with the wind, the men's TTR Top 10 also welcomes young-gun and only Top 10 Swiss representative rider, Christian Haller (SUI), back to the TTR World Nr 9 spot after an honourable 7th overall contest finish. Finally making his inaugural entry into the TTR Top 10, Janne Korpi's (FIN) event-ending 19th position gives Korpi (FIN) his fifth result on the Tour to claim the current TTR World Nr 10 position.
The TTR World Snowboard Tour continues with TTR THREE(3)STAR action from Rip Curl Seafun Invitational in Kungsberget, Sweden, 16th-18th February 2007 & TTR FIVE(5)STAR Nissan X-Trail Nippon Open, held in Japan, 20th-25th February, 2007.
Crans-Montana Champs Open by Rip Curl TOP 3
(Click to watch winning runs)
1/ Markus KELLER (SUI) NITRO
2/ Henning MARTHINSEN (NOR) NIKEACG
3/ Nils ARVIDSSON (SWE) RIPCURL www.ttrworldtour.com