2008 Billabong Air & Style Quarter Pipe: New Riders List
Shayne Pospisil replaces Danny Davis and Markku Koski replaces Terje Haakonsen
Innsbruck, Austria - Just some days ago Shayne Pospisil won not only the King of Quarter 08 but also the highest air in 9 meters height. Now, he will replace Danny Davis and come to Innsbruck real soon. Danny Davis will not be able to take part at the Billabong Air & Style 08 due to an injury.
Terje Haakonsen will not be able to participate at the Billabong Air & Style. A late and very difficult decision has been made on Saturday. As a consequence of a comparatively harmless fall in the middle of December Terje Haakonsen received an injury at the shoulder. Since that day Terje has not been riding again but nevertheless worked intensely on an early comeback. Unfortunately, it did not heal fast enough and thus the risk is too high. Scandinavian Rider Markku Koski might not be replacing Terje but he is a worthy representative.
The Swatch TTR FIVE(5)STAR Billabong Air & Style Quarterpipe 2008 is going to set a new precedent for competitive riding. On February 2nd 2008, the Air & Style returns to the Bergisel Stadium in Innsbruck, Austria and will host some of the best and most progressive riders around, ready to battle it out for Quarterpipe glory and climb the TTR Rankings. With 850 TTR ranking points going to the winner, and a 50 000 Euro prize purse, Innsbruck is about to witness the biggest and most stylish airs at a level that will blow minds, with the potential for a new World Record height, currently held by Terje Haakonsen at 9.8m.
The 07/08 Tour season is progressing rapidly, and things are coming down to the wire as riders are now posting all six required results needed to finish high in the rankings and have a shot at becoming the Swatch TTR Tour Champion. Risto Mattila from Finland has already posted six very strong results, securing an unassailable lead going into the Billabong Air & Style. Only his highest six results are counted toward his point total, therefore, in order to increase his lead in preparation for the rest of the tour, Risto will have to finish first or second in Innsbruck. Given his record of Quarterpipe and Halfpipe finishes this season alone, a top podium result for Risto certainly isn’t out of the question.
Further down in the rankings, we’ll see a few battles play out at the FIVE(5)STAR Billabong Air & Style Quarterpipe Session. TTR World No. 2 is up for grabs between Andy Finch (USA), Kevin Pearce (USA), and Peetu Piiroinen (FIN), who have all recently won Quarterpipe and Halfpipe Titles and are all equally capable of winning the Billabong Air & Style Title.
The race for TTR Champion continues as other riders bring all they have to Innsbruck. Swiss rider Iouri Podladtchikov will be looking for a Top 5 finish at the Billabong Air & Style to move from World No. 6 into the Swatch TTR Top 5. The TTR Top 10 will also see some drastic changes as Mason Aguirre (USA), Markus Keller (SUI), Markku Koski (FIN), Antti Autti (FIN), and Scotty Lago (USA) will fight with their stylish big-air moves for a spot in the Swatch TTR Top 10.
Arthur Longo from France will also be looking to make the Top 15 as local Austrian rider Werner Stock makes a huge leap from his current place at World No. 86 into the TTR Top 50. Steve Gruber from Austria has also been invited to compete, posting his second TTR result of the 07/08 season as German rider Alex Schmaltz posts his first.
On top of all the Tour suspense and big air quarterpipe action, Queens of the Stone Age are set to rock a stadium filled to the brim with a 12 000 strong audience.
New Riders List For Billabong Air & Style Quarterpipe 2008:
1. Kevin Pearce USA Burton
2. Pat Moore USA Forum
3. Andy Finch USA Palmer
4. Antti Autti FIN Flow/ Billabong
5. Risto Mattila FIN Flow/ Billabong
6. Scotty Lago USA Flow/ Billabong
7. Manuel Pietropoli ITA Burton
8. Shayne Pospisil USA Billabong
9. Markus Keller SUI Nitro
10. Arthur Longo FRA Apo Boards
11. Iouri Podladtchikov SUI SantaCruz
12. Mason Aguirre USA Burton
13. Kim Rune Hansen NOR Burton
14. Peetu Piiroinen FIN Burton
15. Daisuke Murakami JAP K2
16. Colin Frei SUI K2
17. Tore Holvik NOR Bataleon
18. Markku Koski FIN Quiksilver
19. Werner Stock AUT Salomon
20. Fredrik Austbö NOR Quiksilver
21. Alex Schmaltz GER Völkl
22. Steve Gruber AUT Ästhetiker
23. Stefano Munari ITA O`Neill
24. Matts Kulisek CAN Apo Boards