Riders arrived in the Beijing’s Birds Nest for the Oakley and Shaun White present the Air & Style Beijing 2012. We followed Sage Kotsenburg, Chas Guldemond and the rest of the impressive rider field around the stadium and on their adventures around Beijing.
The world´s best snowboarders gathered in Beijing´s Bird´s Nest Olympic stadium today. With most of them returning to this 6Star World Snowboard Tour contest it did not take long for them to get accustomed to the further improved mega ramp, dropping in at 50 meters above stadium ground. Perfect snow and good weather allowed top riders such as Peetu Piroiinen, Seb Toutant, Seppe Smits, and last year´s winner Ulrik Badertscher to go big already in this initial practice session, showing huge backside 1080s. Giving their feedback to the ramp and snow crew will make for even better conditions in the second practice tomorrow and of course for the contest on Saturday, where for the third time the Oakley and Shaun White present Air & Style Beijing 2012 Champion will be crowned.
Last year´s champion Ulrik Badertscher had a good day of practice. Here are his impressions: “First day of practice was really good. The setup is great, a special thanks to the construction crew for making it possible. I am stoked to be back and I’ll try to go for a back to back win this year even though my competitors are really pushing it.”
For the first time all 24 riders will start in a head-to-head competition from round 1 on. 12 winners and 4 lucky losers will advance to round 2 and battle their way through to the Super Final of 4 riders. 1,000 World Snowboard Tour points, the dragon share of the 100,000 US-Dollar prize purse and the Ring Of Glory are waiting for the winner.
