Henrik Harlaut (SWE), photo: Cyril Müller / freestyle.ch
. world ski news : freestyle.ch - A festival of flying heroes in Zurich - 24 September 2013 - 22:44
FREESTYLE.CH, Zurich, September 22, 2013 -- The heroes of the skies turned the second day of freestyle.ch Zurich 2013 in an unique action game. The sensational atmosphere on the Landiwiese, next to Lake Zurich, attracted 33.000 spectators to the freestyle festival. Under blue bird, sunshine and in a great atmosphere they celebrated the new freestyle.champs, Antoine Truchon (Snowboard), Henrik Harlaut (Freeski), Mathieu Rebeaud (FMX) and Anton Thelander (MTB).
Henrik Harlaut (SWE), photo: Cyril Müller / freestyle.ch
The freestyle family met for the 19th time on Landiwiese in Zurich to admire freestyle action over the big air and dirt jump, to see the stars of the scene up close, to explore the Label World and to enjoy moving themselves in the Swissmilk Skate Plaza and the LAAX Urban Stairset. Right in time for the contest clouds went away and blue skies, sunshine and a sensational atmosphere welcomed the international top riders. The 44 riders from 16 nations impressed the audience already in the qualifications with daring jumps. In the four major finals the 16 competitors set the bar higher again, to earn a part of the $ 100.000 prize-money.
Top freestyle action in Snowboard and Freeski Big Air, Freestyle Motocross and Mountainbike Dirt Jump
Among the snowboarders came out on top Antoine Truchon from Canada with a frontside double cork 1440 lean. Excited about his freestyle.champ title the 22-years-old said,,,The level of the final was really high, so I am even more stoked about my victory." Also the snowboard-judges were deeply impressed about the tricks, by far the pick of level at freestyle.ch. Second got Stale Sandbech from Norway, followed by Sage Kotsenburg from the USA.
The freeskiers equally fascinated the crowd and judges. Most of all Henrik Harlaut from Sweden. The previous year's winner defended his freestlye.champ title with a nosebutter double cork 1260 tail. He continues his success story in 2013, starting with the X-Games gold medal earlier this year. "I am on a lucky streak and super happy to win in front of this amazing crowd." Like last year, the 1S-year-old Kai Mahler from Switzerland got second. A spectacular performance was also offered by the guys on the dirt jump. After two exciting runs in the mountainbike finals the youngest rider, 19-year-old Anton Thelander, smiled from the top of the podium. His combination of a truckdriver, backflip tailwhip and a flair impressed most. In addition to the freeSTYLER.ch title from yesterday, Thelander can now also call himself freestyle.champ 20l3.
The same happened to Mathieu Rebeaud from Switzerland, yesterday's crossover.champion. The favourite among the men with the roaring motors left his competitors with a "flair" behind.
Freestyle action from lAAX Urban Stairset and the Swissmilk Skate Plaza
The concept, to bring the mountains into the city and to include the freestyle.ch spectators actively worked out perfectly. At the LAAX Urban Stairset the ambitious amateurs hit the rails. Professionals handed out advices. The snowboard contest, which was attended by 70 riders, was won by Thomas Coldebella and Joelle Juchli. With Laurent De Martin winning the freeski contest, a rider from the Swiss freeski team was on the podium. Also in the Swissmilk Skate Plaza all hell has broken loose: smiling faces of young kids next to veterans on their skateboards. Thanks to a backside noseblunt on the transition Kilian Zehnder won the skate session in the Mini Hip Closed Ramp.
Zurich can be proud of freestyle.ch
The proclaimed freestyle.ch Zurich 2013 motto "It's hero time" was a perfect choice, cause after a successful freestyle weekend heroes were not only the riders, but also everybody who witnessed and helped to make the event a go. With 33.000 spectators the number of visitors exceeded the organizers expectations. "The Zurich city can be proud of this event," said OK president Peter Hurlimann.
Press Release
freestyle.ch
Zurich, September 22, 2013