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Skiers go big on new Big Air jump

Innovative double tricks uncorked in signature WSSF event
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Flying High Newcomer Simon Toutant nearly touches the flag posts in Saturday's Telus Big Air competition. Photo by Ian Robertson, www.coastphoto.com.

Some of the biggest names in the sport may have been injured or still in Europe during this year’s Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival Big Air competition, but all of the biggest tricks showed up — including some combinations that have never been seen before in a big air competition.

The innovation was mostly on the skier side, while the snowboarders had a harder time adjusting to the style of jump. Rather than the usual tombstone step-down jump seen in past years, organizers used the abundance of snow to build a ramp that gapped over to a giant mound of snow. The result was that athletes could fly further and get more airtime, without getting as much air.

In the qualifier, Vernon’s Justin Dorey attempted the first ever double misty flip, Whistler’s Chris Turpin attempted a double barrel roll/kangaroo flip combination, and Ian Cosco pulled out a double corked 1260 (which he landed but still missed making top-three — a mini controversy, depending on where you were standing). The addition of a women’s category to the contest also gave Sarah Burke an opportunity to attempt a pretty stylish 1260 — taking off straight and landing backwards after three and a half spins — which she might have landed if the transition was a little less slushy.

But it was Pemberton’s Austin Ross who got the loudest cheer of the night with his second jump in the qualifier.

“I’m not really sure what they’re calling it, but it’s basically a flatspin 360 to a corked 540,” said Ross. “It’s a bit different than a lot of the doubles that other skiers are doing, most do a flatspin 180 to another 180.”

When asked why so many skiers were pushing the envelope, Ross gave credit to the event crew.

“I’ll tell you what it is, it’s the jump — the size of the jump and the shape of the jump,” he said. “They’ve figured out over the last couple of years that the standard step-down tabletop isn’t good anymore, and that the stepover is lower impact on the landings, and gives everyone more confidence to try more tricks and break out the doubles. I know the snowboarders weren’t as keen, but it was a perfect setup for skiers.

“It’s a little harder at this time of year when the landing is so soft, but you can make a few minor adjustments to your tricks to ride it out. I’m just stoked that the crowd responded, and I’m excited that my family came out to watch.”

Ross went on to the super finals, where athletes did four jumps — 540, 720 and 900 spins, followed by their best trick.

As was the case last year, many athletes and Ross in particular had trouble with the 540. Ross ended his evening in third place with a cheque for $3,000.

Second place and $5,000 went to 17-year-old Ian Williams from Boise, Idaho, who made the finals with a double flair. He was solid through the finals, but had trouble with a few landings.

That left J.F. Houle, who stomped every trick in the finals and finished with a big switch 1080 that landed halfway down the transition. He earned a cheque for $10,000 for his efforts.

“It was pretty cool, better than last year,” said Houle of the new jump. “Snowboarders had a harder time because the ramp is short and it’s pretty quick, but skiers liked the hit for doubles and it set up a bigger and better show for everyone.

“It’s always like this in contests, everyone pushes each other.”

Houle also liked the format for the finals, which he said rewarded consistency as well as skill. “You have to do a 540, and you have to land it,” he said, adding that most skiers already have stock 720 and 900 tricks. “You build up to your biggest trick.”

On the women’s side, Squamish’s Sarah Burke placed second after crashing on both 1260 attempts. Rosalind Groenewoud, who competes with Burke on the World Cup halfpipe circuit, was third after crashing on a switch 1080 attempt. That left the door open for Ashley Battersby of Park City, Utah, who landed a clean switch 720 to win $3,000.

“I’ve never done a jump this big before, or a gap that big before, and it’s the first time I’ve ever hit a jump like this switch so it was a big night for me,” she said. “I just learned the switch 720 a few weeks ago, and I didn’t get my grab in and thought I looked stupid, but my boyfriend concurred with the judges and said it was a lot better than I thought.”

Battersby was excited that organizers decided to add a category for women this year.

“They needed it,” she said. “(Burke) was throwing 1260s. That’s crazy, and it shows that girls can compete with the guys.”

Most of the athletes were already tired after competing in the Orage Masters earlier that day. Burke, who made the finals with Team Dynastar “Pillage the Village”, estimates she made at least a dozen laps of the slopestyle course on Blackcomb. A day of skiing under a hot sun also took its toll.

“Everybody’s beat up and battered, and my legs feel like rubber,” said Burke, hiking up the big air jump during the practice session. “But everybody’s happy, and is having a really good time.”

On the snowboard side, the win went to 15-year-old Simon Toutant, who stomped a clean, double corked 1080 in the finals while other riders struggled with landings in the soft snow.

Norway’s Kim Andre Eliassen was the better jumper for most of the super final but under-rotated his final 1080 by about 90 degrees, caught an edge and went down hard on his head. He walked off with some assistance, but wasn’t there in the finals to pick up a cheque.

Third place went to Matt Belzile, who was defending his title from the previous year. Belzile, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, was happy with the way he jumped.

“My excuse is my shoulder, I didn’t practice as hard as I wanted to but it worked out (when I made the final),” he said. “I liked the jump last year better. I know the skiers were hyped on this jump, but I think the snowboarders like the step-down type of jump better. It was pretty choppy at the end of the night, but it was bearable.”

Two women also competed, with Megan White of Boulder, Colorado finishing first and Diane Rudge of Thornbury, Ontario in second place.

The crowd was as big as ever, with possibly 10,000 spectators crowding Mountain Square to watch the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival’s signature event.

Remaining events include the “If Ullr was a Girl” contest, the Superpipe, and the World Backcountry Freeride Jam.