Men's Podium: l-r: Matt Margetts, David Wise, Byron Wells. p. Stadler / Laax
Laax, Switzerland – March 5, 2011 — The Crap Sogn Gion above Laax was the place to celebrate an outstanding freestyle–contest today. A sunny blue sky and amazing performances could guarantee a big enthusiastic audience. Swiss girl Virginie Faivre from St-Legier and David Wise from the USA won the exciting finals showing a very high-level freeskiing and took home a big amount of the 50.000 US Dollar prize money.
David Wise. p. Stadler / Laax
At the 4th and final day of the European Freeski Open in Laax the highlight took place at Crap Sogn Gion mountain representing great men`s and women`s halfpipe finals with perfect conditions and amazing skiing. 20-year old David Wise from the US, who went through the open qualifications into the final, had the best run of the day: “I gave all in my 2nd run and I am happy that it worked out so well, the conditions today were so great, so I could show all my big tricks.” Winner of the Semi-Finals, Matt Margetts from Canada got 2nd, followed by Byron Wells from New Zealand. Best European rider was 15-year old Swiss Kai Mahler from Fischenthal ranked in 4th position. He was going big in his first big international event.
Top-rider and 2009 Halfpipe winner Virginie Faivre from Switzerland, defended her title successful. No one else was able to beat her perfect performance in combination of amplitude, style and technique. After the contest she was shining brighter than the sun:“ It`s so great to compete here today in a perfectly shaped pipe and perfect weather-conditions. To win again makes me super-happy!” She is continuing a magnificent career in Laax: Whenever she competes here, slopestyle or halfpipe, she ends up being on the top of the podium. Today is her 5th victory in a row on the Crap Sogn Gion. This time it was really close, young French girl Anais Caradeux was only 3 points behind her, Katrien Aerts from Belgium completed the women`s podium as 3rd.
L-R: Anais Caradeux, Virginie Faivre, Katrien Aerts. p. Stadler / Laax
A very sucessful week at the European Freeski Open 2011 in LAAX is coming to an end. 150 riders from 18 countries were representing a great performance and showed their spirit for freeskiing. Especially the young riders are the future of this up-coming sport. They perfectly showed how much fun freeskiing is- for pros as well as for amateurs and newcomers, in the superpipe, on the slope or in the various snowparks with big and small rails and kickers. Everybody can enjoy skiing in the leading European freestyle-destination Laax.
Halfpipe Men's Podium:
1. David Wise — 88.00
2. Matt Margetts — 86.67
3. Byron Wells — 85.67
Halfpipe Women's Podium:
1. Virginie Faivre — 90.17
2. Anais Caradeux — 87.67
3. Katrien Aerts — 73.33
For all the information on what this does to the AFP World Rankings in Halfpipe, head over here.
