Note: The final round of voting for the slopestyle category continues online. The voting and viewing window for slopestyle is open to the public until Thursday, March 10. Every vote counts towards the selection of finalists and the Viewer’s Choice award.
Statement via TNF PPOS:
Judging is closed and winners have been selected for the big air portion of The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series Virtual Competition (PPOS). After careful review and much debate, Alex Beaulieu-Marchand of Mont-Sainte-Anne and Caroline Claire of Mt. Snow are the chosen winners of the open/pro category, each taking home $1,500 cash and a year’s supply of Clif Bars. Winners were also selected in amateur and junior categories (full results below).
Big air is one of three disciplines included in PPOS 2016, in addition to halfpipe and slopestyle; the halfpipe winners were announced on March 2. Slopestyle winners are expected to be announced on March 15.
“Big Air is a new category for PPOS this year. It showcased the wide range of competitors from up-and-coming pros to juniors,” said PPOS head judge, Jason Arens. “The content ranged from straight air jumps to triple corks. PPOS allows people who otherwise wouldn’t participate in contests an opportunity to show their skills.” In addition to working with PPOS, Arens serves as a judge for AFP Platinum level contests as well as FIS A level events; he’s also the director of marketing for Windells Camp.
Competitors submitted footage of two big air tricks, one showcasing their style and one demonstrating their technical ability. The public had one week to view and vote on the videos. The judges met in Salt Lake City to analyze athlete submissions on an overall impression score of 100.
“The men’s open category was super close,” said Chris Laker, PPOS judge, athlete for The North Face and former PPOS competitor. “Beaulieu-Marchand was pretty much perfect. His clip was what we were looking for. The perfect style trick-a double seven blunt-combined with a massive switch triple. He was one of the cleaner ones to throw down a triple.”
“Claire had one of the best switch fives in the whole contest, potentially in the game,” says Jonah Williams, USSA and PPOS judge and former competitor. “I think she had the best trick, it was sick.”
The men’s open/pro category followed the technical and stylish trick requirements closely. The competition was fierce with less than two points separating the top three finishers. John Brown, second place finisher in the men’s open/pro category executed an impressive switch seven. “His style was unique, unlike anything I have seen. He landed a perfect double 12 blunt,” said Khai Krepela, PPOS judge and freeski athlete. “Cody Cirillo’s hand touch double 12 was one of the only to be done in the contest and he finished his segment off with a proper switch 14 mute.”
Sammy Schuiling of Vail Mountain finished first in the men’s amateur category. Judges were blown away by Ashton Glass of Park City Mountain Resort who took home first in the women’s amateur category.
“Glass is stepping up the game with her edge control,” says Williams. “Not many amateur level competitors are showing such solid edge control and air awareness. To combine both of those really set her apart.”
The junior category gives up-and-coming talent, ages 14 and under, an outlet to showcase their abilities. With submissions from around the country, the virtual platform connects young skiers with a much larger community of those passionate about the spirit of competition. Whether from a world class resort, or a local ski hill, skiers can participate from their home jumps and compete on a global scale.
Official Results
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Related: And the winners of the ’16 TNF Park and Pipe Open virtual pipe comp are…
