Impressive tricks at Snowboard Halfpipe World Cup qualifiers

Impressive tricks at the Snowboard Halfpipe World Cup qualifiers

Lake Wanaka, New Zealand (August 24, 2012) – Finland's Janne Korpi had the run of the day at the FIS Snowboard Halfpipe World Cup qualifiers scoring a total of 88.6 points.

In the women's competition both the qualifiers and semi-finals were staged. 2012 X-Games gold medallist Kelly Clark (USA) scored the highest, 84 points, in the qualifying rounds, and Holly Crawford (AUS) took the top spot of the semis with a score of 80 points.

Four heats totalling 74 men, representing 24 nations, competed today with the top two from each heat going straight through to finals and the next three from each heat to the semi-final. The top four men in the semi-finals will progress to the final.

Korpi's run included a frontside alley oop, backside 540 mute, front to tail, cab 72 (grab), front 900 lean. "Janne performed well today with high amplitude on every trick. There were also some strong impressive runs from the younger riders and their confidence grew as the day progressed,” said head judge Brandon Wong.

Making it through to the finals were Japan's Ayumu Nedefuji, Taku Hiraoka (16 years) and Shuhei Sato, Scott Lago (USA), Yiwei Zhang (CHN) and Finnish athletes Markus Malin (15 years) and Peetu Piiroinen.

James Scott (AUS), Kent Callister (AUS), Sergey Tarasov (RUS), Benjamin Farrow (USA), Matthew Ladley (USA) and Ryo Aono (JPN), Nathan Johnstone (AUS), Brennen Swanson (USA), Taylor Gold (USA), Johann Baisamy (FRA), Kim-Rune Hansen (NOR) and Dominic Harington (GBR) will battle it out for the four remaining spots in the men's final.

In the women’s finals field with Clark and Crawford will be Hannah Teter (USA), Haruna Matsumoto (JPN), Queralt Castellet (ESP) and Sophie Rodriguez.

James Hamilton was the best placed New Zealand male in 23rd place and in the female field Rebecca Sinclair was the highest placed Kiwi in 19th.

The FIS Snowboard Halfpipe World Cup qualifiers and the women’s semi-finals were run today, earlier than the original schedule due to adverse weather conditions and high winds predicted for Saturday. The men’s semi-finals and both finals will run on Sunday 26 August, as scheduled.

Off mountain the Winter Games Adventure Film Festival from the 24-26 August is on in Queenstown. There’s an action packed programme of spectacular adventure films to inspire and entertain. Tickets are still available from the cinema or via the web site.

For further information and full results, visit www.wintergamesnz.com

ENDS

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