AFP World Ranking Update April 4, 2012:
From the AFP: Slopestyle was the name of the game in the past week as competitors duked it out around the world for slope points at the Grandvalira Total Fight in Andorra, the 7th Annual Showdown Hoedown Throwdown in Canada and the Swiss Freeski Championships in Les Crosets, Switzerland.
7th Annual Showdown Hoedown Throwdown- Silverstar Canada
The North Face rising Canadian superstar Yuki Tsubota takes the Gold, earning 295pts maintaining her impressive ranking at 13th on the AFP Women’s Slopestyle World Ranking. Cassandra Sharpe adds another top five to her season, taking home the Silver and 277.98 pts. She remains steady in the rankings in 15th position. Ashleigh Low cements herself as a force in Canada taking Bronze and moving up one position in the rankings from 22nd to 21st.
For the gentlemen Simon D'Artois, currently ranked 23rd in the AFP Halfpipe World Ranking, claims slopestyle gold and 295 pts. Cameron Smith takes home silver and clings to his rank in 63rd position. Tyler Oland and Hunter Visser round out 3rd and 4th earning big points and climbing the rankings through this important feeder event.
Grandvalira Total Fight- Grandvalira, Andorra
Hailing from Finland, 4FRNT rider Kalle Leinonen wins the day! Primarily a halfpipe skier, Kalle shows he's got the slopestyle skills to match, currently ranked 47th in the highly competitive AFP Men's Slopestyle World Ranking. Elvis Eidsvold grabs the Silver, his first result of the season on the AFP World Tour and earns 400.48 pts to his name. Luka Melloni and Scott Jordan of Andorra round out 3rd and 4th respectively.
Swiss Freeski Championships- Les Crosets, Switzerland
Switzerland showed it's talent as the nations best battled it out for the podium. For the women Eveline Bhend jumps up the AFP Womens Slopestyle World Ranking from 15th to 9th! Camillia Berra takes home Silver and makes a nice move in the ranking from 35th to 32nd, while Fabienne Werder gets the bronze and her first points counting on the AFP World Tour.
For the men, big names came out to represent and in the end Switzerland's own Jonas Hunziker beats out fellow countryman Kai Mahler to take the win. Jonas earns 320 pts and moves up the slopestyle ranking from 42nd to 36th. Mahler gets 2nd place honors with 301 pts, which keeps him in a respectable 24th position. Look forward as these two athletes to duke it out at the upcoming WSI/AFP World Championships in Whistler. Laurent Demartin grabs bronze with his 3rd result of the season along with 288pts.
Up Next
The coming week brings us halfpipe and slopestyle action at the USASA Nationals in Copper Mountain Colorado. Big names are lined up to compete in two of the most respected big air events of the year; Nine Knights and Jon Olsson Invitational. Both events have Gold Level AFP Big Air points up for grabs, and Big Air World Champion is anyone's game leading into the Platinum Level season finale WSI/AFP World Championships, April 18-22 in Whistler British Columbia.
