Sheehan and Kuzma on Halfpipe Podium at The North Face Freeski Open of NZ
Snow Park, New Zealand (September 3, 2011) - Riders were treated to another crystal clear day today at Snow Park for the halpipe competition of The North Face Freeski Open, presented by Volkl where New Zealand's Amy Sheehan and Janina Kuzma placed second and third respectively.
Women's Podium (left to right): Janina Kuzma (NZL), Devin Logan (USA), Amy Sheehan (NZL) Credit: Camilla Stoddart
"Sheehan and Kuzma were within one point of each other. "Amy was riding really strongly and really clean," said head judge, Rafael Regazzoni. "Her right t60 to switch right 360 was a technical combo to put high in her pipe run. The technicality of Janina's run was right up there but her amplitude and execution were just a bit shy of Amy's."
Amy Sheehan takes second at The North Face Freeski Open Credit: Camilla Stoddart
Sheehan's run which featured a Left 540 - Right 360 - Switch Alley Oop 360 - Straight Air and Left 720 scored her 70.5 points.
She was out with a knee injury during the Northern Hemisphere season but has shown us she's back in action. She came back with her rightside cork 700 today, the same trick that led to her injury. Today it was a success.
"I'm stoked that the wind died down for us," said Sheehan. "It was great to ride with all my friends again. It's nice to be back up there, back into it and doing well."
Multi-talented Janina Kuzma not only goes big in big mountain, she also goes big in the pipe Credit: Camilla Stoddart
Kuzma, who rides for both The North Face and Volkl, showed today that she can throw it down in the pipe, she's also the world's third ranked big mountain skier and recently took top honours as the overall woman's skier at the World Heli Challenge. Kuzma's run today featured a Straight Air - Right 540 - Left 540 - Safety Air - Left 720 and Switch Alley Oop
Coming off back-to-back wins at the Winter Games NZ in slopestyle, halfpipe and big air, current overall woman's freeskiing champion Devin Logan was the woman on top today with a winning run that scored 85.25 points and included a Japan Air - Left 540 Tail Grab - Right Flair - Mute Air - Alley Oop Rodeo 540 - Left 540.
"This has been a great start to my season," said Logan. "I've podiumed in the past five competitions." After a great Southern Hemisphere season Logan is happy to be heading home. "It will be good to get home and spend time with the family before hitting the slopes again for the Northern Hemisphere season. Coming down to New Zealand has worked out really well over the past two seasons. I definitely plan to be back again. In fact, I may even be back this October for the Cardrona pipe camps."
"Devin threw down one of the best runs I've ever seen in the pipe," said Regazzoni. "She brought new tricks in including an alley oop rodeo 540 with amazing amplitude. There are only two girls in the world pulling down that trick."
With wind early in the morning the decision was made to move straight to a men's semifinal where 20 competitors competed for the 12 spots in the finals. As the morning progressed the winds died down and the tricks got progressively bigger
America's David Wise was the top qualifier out of the semifinals scoring 82.75. Also making the cut were Nils Lauper (SUI), Gus Kenworthy (USA), Peter Crook (VBR), Cyrill Hunziker (SUI_, Wing Tai Barrymore, Taylor Seaton, Yannic Lerjen, Klaus Finne, Kentaro Tsuda, Kalle Hilden and Geoff Straight. Just missing the cut were kiwis Beau-James Wells and Taylor King.
After winning yesterday's slopestyle, NZ's Jossi Wells pulled the pin on today's competition saying, "My knee is a bit sore today. I decided to be proactive and prevent possible injury so that I can keep charging hard for the rest of the season."
When it came to the finals, Wise had to settle for second with Seaton stepping it up and defending his title. Seaton is no newcomer to the podium here in New Zealand, he won the event last year and took second the year before.
Taylor Seaton scores the winning run of the day at The North Face Freeski Open Credit: Camilla Stoddart
"Amplitude and execution stood out for Seaton today," said head judge Rafael Regazzoni. "He hit everything perfectly building height as he went down the pipe. He rode really well given the wind and pipe conditions."
Seaton was thrilled with his win saying, "It's amazing, I couldn't ask for anything more. It was a challenge throughout the day for sure with the winds picking up in the qualifying rounds. Also, I broke my boot."
Seaton, who borrowed a boot for his second run in the semifinals, was able to make the necessary adjustments and go on to win with a run that included a 270 On - Switch 720 Truck Driver - Right 900 Mute Grab - Left 900 Tail Grab - Alley Oop 540 Blunt - Right Alley Oop 540 Tail Grab and scored 84.25 points.
"This is my sixth season down here and it just keeps getting better and better. I'm having more fun every year."
"My goal today was to make it to the podium so I'd could secure my spot in the X-Games. Hopefully my win today will also be a big push to making it to the USA Halfpipe A team. I'm next in line for a spot." Today's second and third place winners Kenworthy and Wise are both currently on the US team.
Wise's second place run included a Left 900 Nose Grab - Alley Oop Rodeo 360 Mute Grab - Switch Left 720 Double Japan - Right 900 Tail Grab and Left 1080 Mute Grab and scored him 81.25 points.
After placing first in slopestyle and halfpipe at the Winter Games, world overall number one, Gus Kenworthy had to settle for third today. His run, which featured a Left Cork 900 Tail Grab - Right 720 Tail Grab - Switch 720 Japan - Alley Oop 540 - Left 1080 Tail Grab and Switch Alley Oop 720, scored him 77.5 points.
"The top three men all skied at a really high level," said Regazzoni. "It was great to see lots of the others pushing themselves to reach the level of the top riders."
With the slopestyle and halfpipe wrapped, event director Cam Craighead expressed his gratitude to the host resort, Snow Park. "This is a transitional time for the sport and the event in New Zealand," said Craighead. "Snow Park has played a huge part in getting behind the event and helping to make it happen."
The event today was an AFP silver event earning the top competitors valuable points in the first major competition of the 2011/12 season.
"We're happy to once again host this event in New Zealand," said Snow Sports NZ's acting general manager, Ross McRobie. "It's amazing to have athletes of this caliber competing here on our soil and even more exciting to think that many of the competitors will be our future Olympians when ski halfpipe and slopestyle debut at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi."
"We're very thankful for the support we received from The North Face and Volkl, our two major sponsors as well as from supporting sponsors New Zealand Community Trust, Bolle, and Racer's Edge. We also want to recognize the extraordinary effort that Cam and his team put in to make the event a success."
Today's spectators were treated to a first with the appearance of the famous banana bar, a tradition that was started at the European Freeski Open in Laax.
Full results and video highlight from today's competition are available at www.nzfreeskiopen.com.
The North Face Freeski Open, presented by Volkl continues September 14 with the big mountain qualifiers.
