The Fins finish the Junior World Champs in style

The Fins finish the Junior World Champs in style
Photo: Bel Jones

Tue 31 August 10

Peetu Piiroinen and Enni Rukajarvi win the Big Air, the final event in the 2010 FIS Junior World Championships in New Zealand

Enni Rukajarvi and Peetu Piiroinen (19), both of Finland took out the women’s and men’s Junior World Champion titles in today’s snowboard big air at Cardrona at the final day of the 2010 FIS Snowboard & Freestyle Junior World Championships.

The girls really showed their metal with many choosing the massive 20m jump over the smaller 17m option. Rukajarvi got the top score of 26.0 with a massive backside 540 with indy grab off the big kicker. Urska Pribosic (SLO) took silver and Klaudia Medlova bronze.

Enni Rukajarvi wins the 2010 Big Air at the Junior World Champs
Enni Rukajarvi wins the 2010 Big Air at the Junior World Champs
Photo: Bel Jones

“It was very exciting to ride such a good jump, even though the weather didn’t allow us much practise time,” said Rukajarvi. “I’m so happy to have won!”

Men’s winner Piiroinen took out the title for the second year with a backside 1080 toppo cork and a score of 27.3. He was a clear 1.5 points ahead of Belgian Seppe Smits and Ville Paumola, also of Finland took bronze.

“It’s so nice to win for a second time,” said Piiroinen. “The other guys were all riding really strongly so it’s great to be world champion.”

Peetu Piiroinen wins the 2010 Big Air at the Junior World Champs
Peetu Piiroinen wins the 2010 Big Air at the Junior World Champs
Photo: Bel Jones

Juliane Bray, Championships Patron and New Zealand Olympic snowboarder said the level of riding was outstanding.

“All the riders really wanted to hit the jump because it was a fantastic jump with great set up,” she said. “In between the clouds the riders who wanted it the most put on an amazing show with at least five of the riders doing double cork tricks (1080 spin with a double somersault), the most progressive trick currently in snowboarding. The women’s big air was a massive challenge as they were so young and the jump was so big – I’ve got big respect for all them.”

At the end of the closing ceremony, Russia was announced as the recipients of the Marc Hodler trophy for the most successful snowboard nation at the championships.

For further information and full results, visit www.juniorwordsnz.co.nz.

Related Pages

  • Torgeir Bergrem wins the 2011 Winter Games NZ Mens Snowboard Slopestyle Winter Games NZ snowboard slopestyle results
    The ninth day of competition at the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games saw some of the world's top ranked freestyle snowboarders battle it out under picture perfect blue skies at Snow Park -21Aug11
  • Burton NZ 2011 open slopestyle winner Mark McMorris NZ Burton 2011 Results
    The first 5*TTR competition of the new season, the Burton New Zealand Open, was held at the weekend. Mark McMorris and Jamie Anderson win the slopestyle and Kelly Clark and Ryo Aono win the halfpipe -15Aug11
  • 2010 Junior WorldChamps Halfpipe finals Rebecca Sinclair (NZE) Junior Snowboard Halfpipe World Champions Crowned
    Cilka Sadar of Slovenia and Taku Hiraoka of Japan were today crowned Junior Snowboard Halfpipe World Champions in an exciting day of competition at Cardrona that also saw New Zealand earn its first medal of the Championships. -25Aug10
  • 2010 Junior world champs halfpipe qualification - Rana Okada Halfpipe qualifiers at the Junior World Champs
    Over 80 young snowboarders today took on the massive 22ft halfpipe at Cardrona in a bid to earn a prized spot in tomorrow’s semi finals and an opportunity to ride for the 2010 Junior World Championship title -24Aug10
  • Junior Worldchamps 2010, Slopestyle Staale Sandbech Slopestyle kicks off the Junior World Champions
    Snow sports history was made today with the crowning of the first ever snowboard slopestyle junior world champions. Staale Sanbech (17) of Norway and Enni Rukajarvi (20) of Finland -21Aug10
Related categories

:: FIS Snowboard Junior Championships 2010 stories
:: Cardrona stories

News feed AddThis Feed Button Add to Google
Donate to Snow-camp

We've put a team together for the Everest Challenge on the 25th January in Morzine this year. Support team WSG by making a donation, and help us raise lots of money for Snow-camp

MORE INFORMATION
MAKE DONATION NOW!
Image Gallery
Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Click to enlarge
Click on an image to expand
FIS Snowboard Junior Championships 2010

19-31 August 10

The event, scheduled for 19-31 August, marks the first time a FIS World Championship will be staged in New Zealand, and also marks the first time that snowboarding and freestyle skiing will share the same stage in a World Championship.

Cardrona, New Zealand
Okay all round resort
Freeriding: 55% - No trees & some good off-piste
Freestyle: 80% - 2 Terrain parks & 4 pipes
Pistes: 55% - Some okay slopes
Related pages
Main headlines