With the inaugural World Snowboarding Championships about to get underway in Oslo, the organisers have just announced the rider list for the showpiece quarterpipe event. So here it is:
Risto Mattila FIN
Broc Waring USA
Matt Ladley USA
Kim Rune Hansen NOR
Shayne Pospisil USA
Benji Farrow USA
Arthur Longo FRA
Olivier Gittler FRA
Jack Mitrani USA
Brennen Swanson USA
Manuel Pietropoli ITA
Terje Haakonsen NOR
Daisuke Murakami JPN
Ruiki Masuda JPN
Obviously the biggest news here is that Terje Haakonsen is stepping out of competitive retirement to compete in the event he has masterminded. Friday’s event will see an overall quarterpipe contest followed by a highest air comp, during which Tezza will be hoping to top the 9.8 metre world record he set at the Arctic Challenge five years ago.
Designed as an alternative, rider-led event to the Olympics and X Games, it seems as though these first TTR-backed World Snowboarding Champs have flown under the radar a little so far. Come this weekend though that will certainly change, as nearly 200 riders from 24 nations arrive in Norway to compete across an epic-looking slopestyle course, halfpipe and quarterpipe. And should anyone hit the fabled 10 metre mark on Friday night, you can be sure the hype will go into overdrive.
