The men’s halfpipe qualifications and semi-finals were happening today up on Crap Sogn Gion at the 11th Burton European Open. After yesterday’s cloudy skies, bluebird welcomed the riders this morning as well as a perfectly prepared superpipe. The young guns were the surprise of the week so far, and 20-years-old Finnish rider Ilkka-Eemeli Laari was the one to take top spot in the men’s halfpipe semi-finals today. He was the only one who threw down a double-cork in his run, the must-have trick of this season.

Ilkka-Eemeli Laari had already impressed judges in the halfpipe pre-qualifications which he clearly won. He continued his way into the semi-finals by placing 3rd in the halfpipe qualifications this morning. In the afternoon the top seeded invited riders met the qualified riders in the semi-finals and here it was his turn again. He advanced to the finals placing first with 5 points ahead of 2nd placed Swiss Olympic hopeful Markus Keller.

Ilkka-Emeli started off his winning run with a backside 5 mute, a frontside 12 tailgrab, a method air, a frontside 10 double cork and finished off with a haakon flip. Norwegian rookie Stale Sandbech (16-years-old) finished 3rd after placing first in the halfpipe qualifications this morning. Swatch TTR World Champion 08/09 and Finnish Olympian Peetu Piiroinen barely made it into the finals by qualifying 16th. Be sure that he will step it up for Saturday’s big show!

The BEO is continuing tomorrow, Friday, with the first big finals – slopestyle finals men & women. Be sure to expect some thrilling action.

Visit opensnowboarding.com for more information
 

Halfpipe semi final results (top 16 qualify for finals)

1, Laari Ilkka-Eemeli, Runs 1: 90.5, 2: 92.83, 3:-1
2, Keller Markus, Runs 1: 87.83, 2: 25.67, 3:-1
3, Sandbech Stale, Runs 1: 84.67, 2: 82.17, 3:-1
4, Haller Christian, Runs 1: 39.17, 2: 84.33, 3:-1
5, Korpi Janne, Runs 1: 82, 2: 55.5, 3:-1
6, Yoshida Masakaze, Runs 1: 81.5, 2: 72.17, 3:-1
7, Simmen Gian, Runs 1: 77.83, 2: 80, 3:-1
8, Hosokawa Kosuke, Runs 1: 77, 2: 78.67, 3:-1
9, Holvik Tore, Runs 1: 41, 2: 78.17, 3:-1
10, Burgener Patrick, Runs 1: 78, 2: 8.5, 3:-1
11, Malin Markus, Runs 1: 68.67, 2: 76.83, 3:-1
12, Mattila Risto, Runs 1: 67.33, 2: 75.67, 3:-1
13, Hoffmann Xaver, Runs 1: 73.17, 2: 74.5, 3:-1
14, Koski Markku, Runs 1: 72, 2: 42.33, 3:-1
15, Podladtchikov Iouri, Runs 1: 71.67, 2: 16.83, 3:-1
16, Piiroinen Peetu, Runs 1: 60.33, 2: 71.33, 3:-1
17, Grimsrud Per Iver, Runs 1: 8.83, 2: 68.17, 3:-1
18, Kilner Ben, Runs 1: 67.67, 2: 45.67, 3:-1
19, Longo Arthur, Runs 1: 66.67, 2: 24.17, 3:-1
20, Friberg Daniel, Runs 1: 66, 2: 14.5, 3:-1
21, Berger Sergio, Runs 1: 23.83, 2: 65.5, 3:-1
22, Schmidt Christophe, Runs 1: 64.67, 2: 62.5, 3:-1
23, Pietropoli Manuel, Runs 1: 64, 2: 49.67, 3:-1
24, Autti Antti, Runs 1: 63.17, 2: 47.83, 3:-1
25, Morgan Ethan, Runs 1: 32.5, 2: 59.33, 3:-1
26, Tevelle Maxence, Runs 1: 28.17, 2: 58.83, 3:-1
27, Lipsanen Janne, Runs 1: 55.33, 2: 57, 3:-1
28, Gittler Olivier, Runs 1: 56.33, 2: 37.5, 3:-1
29, Imhof Rafael, Runs 1: 56, 2: 53.5, 3:-1
30, Reid Charles, Runs 1: 55.67, 2: 40.83, 3:-1
31, Fassnacht Fabian, Runs 1: 52.83, 2: 35.83, 3:-1
32, Djité David, Runs 1: 50, 2: 16.67, 3:-1
33, Kleivdal Morten, Runs 1: 30.67, 2: 46.5, 3:-1
34, Luggen Levi, Runs 1: 22.17, 2: 44.33, 3:-1
35, Van Straten Rocco, Runs 1: 41.67, 2: 15, 3:-1
36, Schattschneider Clemens, Runs 1: 38.5, 2: 8.33, 3:-1
37, Braaten Gjermund, Runs 1: 36.67, 2: 34.83, 3:-1
38, Anthamatten Aurel, Runs 1: 9.67, 2: 23, 3:-1
39, Takahashi Motoki, Runs 1: 22.33, 2: 12.83, 3:-1
40, Hast Miikka, Runs 1: 16.17, 2: 21.83, 3:-1
41, Scherrer Jan, Runs 1: 20.33, 2: 17, 3:-1
42, Wakeham Dan, Runs 1: 14.83, 2: 8, 3:-1