Eric Willett wins Billabong Air & Style
In one of the most thrilling events of this season, exciting down to the very last run of the day; Eric Willett (USA) won the Billabong Air&Style 2013. Beating favorites like X Games Big Air Champion Mark McMorris in the superfinal, Eric can take home the Ring of Glory, and a special edition Air&Style Nixon watch on top of his first prize. ‘’More important to me was the fun we had here today and yesterday, riding with these legendary guys in the Jam session and some of my closest friends today.’’
Sebastien Toutant came second and took home the World Snowboard Tour Big Air Trophy. ‘’I won the Slopestyle Tour Trophy last year and was very happy to collect this one too. It’s an amazing feeling to be rewarded for your accomplishments over a season.’’ Sebastien commented. It was a very close call for the Big Air championship this year; Sebastien only beat Norwegian Stale Sandbech by 1.01 point in the Big Air final ranking.
Click play to watch all four video from the Superfinal
Round 1 of the classic Air&Style head-to-head format eliminated Maxence Parrot, who mathematically had the best chance of winning the World Snowboard Tour Big Air championship tonight. His best run, a Backside Double Cork 1080 Mute with a frontboard 270 on the rails wasn’t enough though, to beat local favorite Clemens Schattschneider (AUT) and advance to round 2.
Things heated up in the following runs, when at the same time conditions were hardening as the snowfall got more dense. Stale Sandbech brought on the highlight run, a Backside Triple Cork 1440 Mute and Frontside Lip slide earning 93.33 points.
Eric Willett eliminated Seppe Smits, last season’s Big Air Champion.
In the Super Final, Mark McMorris was sadly discouraged; as he wasn’t able to land his runs clean after his two beautiful triple corks in round 3. His Backside Triple Cork 1440 Mute and Cab 270 Frontboard to Fakie on the rails, was the highest scored trick of the night, earning a striking 96 points.
Mark obviously had a hard time recovering and couldn’t make it to the podium. Aleksander Ostreng (NOR) beat him with a Backside 1260 Mute 180 on 180 out.
With the Big Air chapter for the 2012-2013 season closed, the riders on the World Snowboard Tour are preparing for the next leg; the 6Star Burton European Open starting in Laax from Monday February 4th on. Women and Men will start qualification rounds on Monday for Halfpipe and Slopestyle disciplines. After that, the Women will see their World Snowboard Tour Champions crowned in Vail, at the final day of the Burton US Open on March 2nd. The last 6Star event for the men this season will be the Arctic Challenge held in Norway from March 7-9, where the Halfpipe Tour Champion and Overall champion will be decided.
