The Winter X Games are swapping Aspen for the Alps and heading to Tignes, France – the first time the event has ever been held outside of the USA. With 150 world-class athletes including Travis Rice, Iouri Podladtchikov and Heath Frisby.
David Birri/Red Bull Photofiles
Competing in both the SuperPipe and the Slopestyle, Iouri Podladtchikov has the chance for immediate revenge against Peetu Piiroinen, who clinched his second TTR World Champion title ahead of the Swiss-Russian rider last weekend. It’s been a fairly successful season for I-Pod, who won silver at the 14th Winter X Games before finishing fourth in Canada and collecting two TTR Tour wins. The 21-year-old will have to be at his best to hold off the challenge of Piiroinen and Louie Vito, among others.
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Having told us he was working on something special for the 14th Winter X Games, Eero Ettala, true to his word, promptly went out and landed a backside 1080 late cork and double backside rodeo to take gold in the Slopestyle. He won’t have it all his own way in Tignes however, as both Eric Willett and Chas Guldemond – podium finishers with Ettala at the Winter X Games – as well as Transworld Snowboarding’s Rookie of the Year, Halldor Helgason, will push the Finnish phenom close.
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Another man looking for a good outing in the SlopeStyle will be Marko Grilc. After returning to competitive action in 2008, Grilo really made his mark on the 2009/10 TTR Tour, winning the coveted Ring of Glory to take the tour lead. Unfortunately, the Slovenian wasn’t able to stay on top and has slipped to fourth ahead of the games.
Grilc and Ettala will be joined in the Slopestyle by Travis Rice. The 27-year-old is no stranger to the podium having won the 2009 Big Air title to go with gold in Slopestyle from 2002, as well as bronze in 2008 and best trick showdown silver in 2007. T-Rice wasn’t at his best in Aspen however, as he could only finish 15th.
Christian Pondella/Red Bull Photofiles
Two-time Winter X Games gold medallist, Simon Dumont, will be looking for redemption after missing the podium completely in Aspen, but few will doubt he can do it. After all, Dumont has had to contend with shattered ankles, a broken pelvis, collar bone and ruptured spleen in his illustrious career. If anyone can bounce straight back it’s the 23-year-old American, and word from Tignes is that he’s been pretty impressive during practice.
The Winter X Games Europe will also play host to a Snowmobile demonstration featuring Heath Frisby and Daniel Bodin. Friz has been at the forefront of the freestyle sled movement almost from its inception and he took X Games bronze in 2007 at the first-ever Winter X freestyle snowmobile event after overcoming a serious back injury. He then followed that up with bronze in 2008 and 2009.
Garth Milan/Red Bull Photofiles
After taking first-place at the 2007 Nokia Air & Style in Munich, Germany, Bodin raised the bar even further in April 2008 when he set the world record for the longest backflip on a snowmobile – the Swede propelling his machine a massive 44.8 metres (147 feet). This is definitely one demonstration you won’t want to miss.
The Winter X Games Europe runs from March 10-12. For more information, visit the official website.
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