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Seppe Smits wins the Spring Battle in Flachauwinkl

Sun 10 April 11

The 8th edition of the 4Star Quiksilver Spring Battle in Flachauwinkl, Austria saw the Belgian rider, Seppe Smits, take home the slopestyle victory on Friday, April 1st, 2011

Seppe Smits wins the Spring Battle in Flachauwinkl © Photo: markus rohrbacher

Both the park setup and the riding were impressive at this springtime event with some of Europe’s best snowboarders competing for the $30,000 USD prize purse and up to 500 Swatch TTR World Ranking points. Slovenian, Marko Grilc, took second place and Finland’s, Ville Paumola, rounded out the podium in third.

The 34 riders who came for the open qualifications put on a good show of talent in sunny conditions at the Absolut park. Setting the standard for the super-finals Mario Wanger (AUT) qualified in first with a run that included a huge frontside 1080 and a backside 900. Slightly overcast conditions greeted the ten riders who made it through to the three-run super-finals taking place on Friday 1st of April.

As the day moved on the conditions improved and the crowds saw some top notch snowboarding, with the riders hitting the two large kickers and the jib section. For the first time at this event a live video judging took place in the evening at the local community hall. The bets were on for Seppe Smits who had nailed a huge cab 1260 and a backside 1080, and Marko Grilc (SLO), who stomped a backside double cork and a double backflip. Hundreds of people turned up to watch and cheer on the as the young Belgian received top scores leaving Marko in second and Ville Paumola in third place.

Seppe Smits, who remains in World No.3, enjoyed the chilled out event and showed off his stylish slopestyle riding skills and solid landings. Taking his careers first TTR event title is a bonus for Seppe, who has had a stellar season. He said after the prize giving “ It’s been a good season and the spring riding is just starting. And it’s great to be here at Spring Battle, I’ve been here for about five years and it’s such a fun contest, so to have the first TTR win of my life here at Spring Battle is pretty sick. To finish the season with a first place - with my first place ever that I got at a TTR contest - is pretty sick, so I’m super stoked on this result. ” Also, local riders were nailing some sweet runs, including Clemens Schattschneider who took fourth place and Mathias Weissenbacher, who placed fifth and moved up to TTR World No. 40. Both Clemens and Herbert Thaler (AUT), who placed sixth, moved into the TTR Top 70, and have set themselves in a good position for next season.

For more information visit www.ttrworldtour.com/
 

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