Snowboarding
Air & Style 2013
The most impressive riders list ever celebrates the 20th jubilee edition of the most iconic contest
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A second overview of the A&S arena in Innsbruck
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44 top riders (including 12 past Air & Style winners) spread across four generations have never been seen in the Bergisel Stadium of Tyrol capital, Innsbruck, Austria. On 1st and 2nd February they will show up all together to battle it out for the Ring of Glory once again, for the 20th time in the history of the Air & Style.
These epic and exceptional field of riders - who will cross their paths in the Style Session and the 6 Star World Snowboard Tour contest - from A to Z is composed of: Jorn Simen AABOE, Sani ALIBABIC, Fredrik AUSTBO, Ingemar BACKMAN, Iikka BACKSTROM, Ulrik BADERTSCHER, Mike BASICH, Eric BEAUCHEMIN, David BENEDEK, Torgeir BERGREM, Gjermund BRAATEN, Pat BURGENER, Victor DE LA RUE, Danny DAVIS, Fredrik EVENSEN, Stefan GIMPL, Marko GRILC, Terje HAAKONSEN, Bryan IGUCHI, Yuki KADONO, Sage KOTSENBURG, Reto LAMM, Arthur LONGO, Jamie LYNN, Niklas MATTSSON, Mark MCMORRIS, Ethan MORGAN, Marius OTTERSTAD, Kevin PEARCE, Peetu PIIROINEN, Petja PIIROINEN, Jim RIPPEY, Fabien ROHRER, Gigi RÜF, Ståle SANDBECH, Clemens SCHATTSCHNEIDER, Christophe SCHMIDT, Seppe SMITS, Sven THORGREN, Roope TONTERI, Sebastien TOUTANT, Antoine TRUCHON, Devun WALSH, Mathias WEIßENBACHER and Eric WILLETT.
As you see, from the young up-and-coming riders like the Norwegian rookie Jorn Simen Aaboe (who stomped the first Front Triple Cork 1440 from the toes last season) or 16-year-young Japanese sensation Yuki Kadono who won the last Air & Style in Beijing with an amazing Backside Triple 14, up to TTR/World Snowboard Tour big bosses like Reto Lamm and Terje Haakonsenm, plus other living legends like Mike Basich, Ingemar Backman, Jim Rippey and Jamie Lynn. Kevin Pearce will be joining this iconic field of myths as well! Everybody is in, only for this time around. All Air & Style winners of the contest's early days will also be honoured in a very special ceremony in the stadium where it all started, the iconic itself Bergisel Stadium in Innsbruck.
Up-and-coming Niklas Mattson at 2012 Air&Style
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Air & Style founder Andrew Hourmont commented:
The history of snowboarding has never seen such a crazy line-up, and one that won’t be repeated any time soon, if ever. The fact that the legends of the sport are still turning up to battle is a testament to our reputation among riders. The fans can look forward to two days of snowboard history in the best of Air & Style tradition, topped off with music, shows and parties – it’s our way to say thanks for 20 years of enthusiasm and loyalty.
On Friday 1, contemporary top-ranking riders like Piiroinen, Smits, Toutant, McMorris will also compete in the Style Session up against all-time heroes like Terje, Lynn, Iguchi, Benedek, Basich, Ruf and 3-time Air & Style winner Stefan Gimpl.
On Saturday 2, it's time for the 6Star World Snowboard Tour contest: 1000 WST points, a total of 75'000€ prize money and the most famous Ring of Glory are at stake for all the 24 riders from the elite field of nowadays, like last year's winner Peetu Piiroinen, Air & Style Beijing winner Yuki Kadono and Canada favourites Mark McMorris and Sebastien Toutant. With such big names, the first ever triple cork to be stomped at the Bergisel Stadium in Innsbruck is just around the corner this time around!
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