Park City, UT — The Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) has released its updated world wide rankings for men’s and women’s halfpipe and slopestyle. With about one month left in the competition season, many of the category leaders are familiar names, but there are also strong results by newcomers.
The AFP ranking system was developed to track men’s and women’s competition results of more than 18 events held on four continents in Slopestyle, Halfpipe and Big Air in order to name true global world champions. The AFP has developed an event ranking system that creates balance between the different formats and levels of events held throughout the world, separating them into four categories, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Events are ranked based on course construction, prize money, media exposure and level of athlete participation and receive maximum point values based on the respective levels. Go to www.afpworldtour.com for a complete calendar, event and rider rankings.
In men’s halfpipe, Tanner Hall remains atop the rankings with 3,150 pointes driven by three podium finishes at Dew Tour including two and a 2nd at X-Games. Hall
is followed by Canadian Justin Dorey with a win at the US Open and two 2nd place finishes at the Dew Tour with 2,640 points. Simon Dumont is directly on Dorey’s heels at 2,625 points and with a Dew tour win, a second and a podium finish at X-Games. The upcoming gold level European Open could be the difference. The top four results in halfpipe are considered for the AFP rankings list.
The leaderboard remains tight at the top in men’s slopestyle with a who’s who of riders a new leader in Sammy Carlson with 1,700 points. Strong finishes at Dew Tour and a second at X-Games puts him just ahead of previous leader Bobby Brown who has 1,630 points. Brown captured first place at the December Dew Tour followed by three top ten finishes at X & Dew Tour. A powerful international group of heavy hitters is Hunder close behind Carlson and Brown including PK Hunder with 1,530 points, Alexis Godbout with 1,521 points, Henrik Harlaut, 1,495 points, Jossi Wells with 1,460 points, TJ Schiller at 1,279 point and JF Houle with 1,260 points. The results from the European Open at Laax next week has the potential to shake up the close standings.
In men’s Big Air, PK Hunder is out front with wins at the King of Style and London Freeze and a strong finish at Freestyle CH with 1,710 points. Following Hunder is Jacob Wester with 1,300 points, paced by his win at Freestyle CH. Simon Dumot is third with 1,095 points, but his points don’t include his X Games win due to fan voting.
For complete event and rider rankings, go to www.afpworldtour.com.
In women’s halfpipe, Jen Hudak has jumped out to a comfortable lead with 3,120 points with wins at the Dew Tour and US Open. In second is Sarah 2,440 points. Hudaks lead is due to Burke only having three qualifying pipe scores compared to Hudaks four. Roz Groenewoud is third with 2,075 points. In women’s slopestyle, Kaya Turski is out front with 2,700 points that include a sweep of the Dew Tour and an X-Games bronze. She is followed by Anna Segal, the X-Games champion with 2,200 points.
The AFP will announce the 2008 – 09 World Champions in all disciplines on May 5, 2009.
The Association of Freeskiing Professionals is a non-profit organization responsible for implementing a balanced global rider ranking system and to serve as a unified voice for athletes and for Freeskiing to the world. Made up of top athletes and key influencers within the sport of freeskiing, the AFP will be proactive in the future direction for events, judging, growth and evolution of the sport as well as fostering opportunities for emerging riders to climb a clear ladder to higher levels of competition. Additionally, the AFP will assist domestic and international promoters and governing bodies to ensure consistent on hill competition organization and judging. For additional information on the AFP, please e-mail [email protected].