ANDERSON IS BACK - GULDEMOND QUALIFIES IN FIRST AT SLOPESTYLE SEMIS

The international field of male and female riders at the 5Star Nissan X-Trail Asian Open truly enjoyed the course today for the Parkstyle semi-finals. Silvia Mittermüller (GER) and Chas Guldemond (USA) both threw down amazing runs that impressed judges, fans and companion riders, putting them on top of the qualifying list for Saturday’s finals.

“The course is fun and today brought some nice weather  for the semi-finals. I am pretty stoked on that. It is a beautiful place here in Japan and I am just stoked to be able to come here.”, states Guldemond after his last run that consisted of a FS Boardslide Hardways 270 Out, Cab 900 Melon, BS 1260 Backside Grab and 50/50 Boardslide and earned him respect from all riders. Mittermüller again proved to be one of the currently most consistent Slopestyle riders on the Tour convincing the judges with a Boardslide, huge Switch BS 540, a FS 360 Touch Grab and a 50/50 FS Boardslide.

Today’s competition also saw current Swatch TTR Tour leader Jamie Anderson (USA) making a comeback after 6 weeks of recovery from a broken pelvis. “It feels good to be back. I am still a little bit sore but it’s just good to be back on the snowboard.”, says a smiling Anderson after qualifying in fourth today. The second comeback of the day was celebrated by Janna Meyen-Weatherby (USA) who had vanished from the competition scene for some time and returned to qualify in fifth today. In 2006, Janna made history when winning her fourth consecutive gold medal at the Winter X-Games. “I have just been snowboarding for myself and now just decided to do some contests again and it’s been pretty fun lately.”, tells Janna. “This is only my second competition this year. Just trying to get back into it. I will probably do two or three more this year like the US Open and the Roxy Chicken Jam but if it keeps going in that direction you never know.”

The men’s semis saw the international riders going strong with a large field of Japanese snowboarders on the hunt. Best Japanese of the field was Masaharu Ando who qualified in second in front of Mason Aguirre (USA) in third and Jaakko Ruha (FIN) in fourth. Also the  women’s competition was taken over by the internationals with Chanelle Sladics (CAN) finishing in second and Spencer O’Brien (USA) in third. Due to photo shoots in other remote places, Sarka Pancochova (CZE) and Lisa Wiik (NOR), both possible candidates for the Title as Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour Champion, did not make an appearance in Japan improving Jamie’s chances to extend her Tour lead before the final 6Star events and keep her competitors at stake.  

On Friday 27th, 2009 the field will move to the Halfpipe. Kelly Clark, currently sitting in World No. 12 on the Swatch TTR Tour, who has already taken some runs during training today looks positive to this weekend. “Training was fun although it was quite busy”, comments Clark the warm weather that took its toll on the pipe in the course of the day. ”Tomorrow should be good with less people going through the pipe it will hold up a bit more. Every year at the Asian Open it’s usually some good snowboarding and the level of riding is high in Japan so I am looking forward to the event.”  

After the Halfpipe semi-finals tomorrow, the tension will raise during the Slopestyle final on Saturday and Halfpipe final on Sunday when riders will try to collect some of the last Swatch TTR Ranking points of the season in hope of locking down a spot in the end of season TTR Top 5. The finals will be broadcasted live on www.go211.com. More videos around the Asian Open are also available on ttrworldtour.com.


Qualified riders WOMEN

1 6 Mittermueller Silvia GER ROME 81.60 51.00 81.60
2 14 Sladics Chanelle USA O MATIC 77.60 57.80 77.60
3 9 O`Brien Spencer CAN BURTON 68.40 75.40 75.40
4 13 Anderson Jamie USA BILLABONG 73.40 47.80 73.40
5 8 Meyen-Weatherby Janna USA NITRO 0.00 72.40 72.40
6 37 Kobashi Keiko JPN NOVEMBER 72.20 33.00 72.20
7 45 Rukajärvi Enni FIN ROXY 65.20 43.40 65.20
8 71 Hamazaki Ayumi JPN K2 64.60 19.20 64.60

Qualified riders MEN:

1 137 Guldemond Chas USA DC SHOE CO 86.20 91.00 91.00
2 123 Ando Masaharu JPN BONFIRE 85.20 30.40 85.20
3 151 Aguirre Mason USA BURTON 32.00 83.60 83.60
4 126 Ruha Jaakko FIN KISSMARK 80.20 37.20 80.20
5 258 Manninen Tero FIN ELAN 79.20 22.20 79.20
6 152 Carlson Jonas SWE DC SHOE CO 76.80 56.20 76.80
7 175 Yamaguchi Mutuo JPN 241 74.00 76.00 76.00
8 255 Evensen Fredrik NOR HEAD 50.20 75.60 75.60