News

ONeill Evolution 2011 preparing for Davos

Wed 17 November 10

This year we're changing the Slopestyle radically into a 2-hit course following feedback from the riders for less but more challenging features, and a mix of day and night riding will bring variation and challenges for the riders.

ONeill Evolution 2011 preparing for Davos ©

From January 2nd until the 8th expect to be mesmerised as some of the best snowboarding talent in the world pushes the limits and take to the skies from the halfpipe and slopestyle sitting at the base of the Jakobshorn, in Davos, Switzerland.

“I can’t wait to see the setup this year,” says Canadian snowboarding star Seb Toots who missed the competition last year with a serious ankle injury. “O'Neill Evolution is gonna be a great contest like always,” he said. “It's in a really cool place in Switzerland and always such an amazing setup.”

Marko Grilc, 2nd in the Evolution 10 Slopestyle
Marko Grilc,winner of the Evolution 10 Slopestyle
Photo: Bernhard Ritzer/O'Neill

The 6 star Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour event is once again pushing new boundaries. The event for 2011 now holds a 6 star TTR rating for both the women’s Slopestyle as well as the Halfpipe. And this year also sees the 6 star rating for men extended to the 2-hit Slopestyle course for the first time.

“I'm even more excited than the years before,” said Seb Toots – known for his slopestyle prowess. “The 6 stars on the Slopestyle make the event even more important for the riders, and it's good for TTR points.”

Expect to see this 18-year-old flying out in Davos as he looks to make his mark on the 2011 season. “My ankle is doing well,” said Seb who held the World Number One position before his injury last season. “When I'm riding, I'm confident and I know that my ankle is good. I just need to work hard like last year to be up there again,” he said.

The Halfpipe finals will take place on Friday January 7th as 10 riders hit the 6 metre high, 130 metre long and 20 metre wide pipe which sits impressively at the base of the Jakobshorn.

Saturday sees a day of Slopestyle finals that will run into a floodlit night finale as the riders take to the skies under the gasps of the crowds gathered at the foot of the course.

“We always want to bring something new and exciting to this event,” said O’Neill Global Sportsmarketing Director, Bernhard Ritzer. “It’s called Evolution after all,” he said. “This year we’re changing the Slopestyle radically into a 2-hit course following feedback from the riders for less but more challenging features, and a mix of day and night riding will bring variation and challenges for the riders.”

In addition to the spectacular show ahead, there are also new developments behind the scenes. A new judging system – the Snowboard Live Scoring System (SLS) – will be introduced at all TTR 6 Star events, allowing everyone to see how judges give points by scoring each trick individually in a rider’s run, and adding a flow score for the overall impression of the run.

With the top ten Swatch TTR World Tour men invited and the top eight women, this is bound to be a week of non-stop action. So far confirmed for O’Neill Evolution 2011 are Seb Toots, Janne Korpi, Gian Simmen, Kjersti Buaas, Sharka Pancchova, Chanelle Sladics, Kelly Clark and Nadja Purtschert with more names to follow in the coming weeks.

For more information visit www.oneill.com/evolution

Top Riders Confirmed for Burton European Open 11

Fri 19 November 10, Laax, Switzerland

Top riders are nailing down plans to gather in LAAX for the 12th annual Burton European Open (BEO), the second event of this season’s Burton Global Open Series (BGOS) and a 6 Star TTR event

All Banff resorts now open

Fri 19 November 10, Lake Louise, Canada

Sunshine Village opened today after heavier than predicted snowfall all week long. Six lifts and over 35 runs are available, all covered in natural snow.

Changes at Squaw Valley for 2010/11

Sun 21 November 10, Squaw Valley, USA

Expanded Night Terrain Park, 3 new grooming machines, 39 new snow guns and various base improvements completes the changes for this season at Squaw

Copper superpipe opens

Sat 27 November 10, Copper Mountain, USA

Copper Mountain in Colorado, opened the first Superpipe in N. America for the 6th Consecutive Season on Thurday 25th Nov

Flumserberg opens for the season

Sun 28 November 10, Flumserberg, Switzerland

One of the closest resorts to Zurich, Flumserberg, opened at the weekend with 7 out of the main 10 lifts running and conditions pretty decent.

Davos, Switzerland

Snowboard Guide rating 10 out of 10 “The best overall resort in Switzerland offering something for everyone. Huge pisted area and excellent freeriding spread across 5 mountains, and not to mention the terrain park and 2 halpipes. Direct train services and good local services complete the package, but go mid-week to avoid the masses.”