SNOWBOARD BIG AIR WORLD CUP. The first event of the 2014 Snowboard Jamboree presented by Mazda in collaboration with Videotron Mobile went down at the best imaginable venue last night with the ramp for the Big Air World Cup presented by Videotron Mobile being built right in the heart of Quebec, City.

photo: André-Olivier Lyra

Thousand of spectators had gathered around Park Îlot Fleurie watching the night finals under flood light where the best 12 qualifiers provided a magical night wowing the crowd by showcasing a bunch of 1080's – despite icy conditions.

photo: André-Olivier Lyra

And other than expected after his average performance in the qualifiers the day before, odds-on favourite for this kind of temperatures and snow conditions Petja Piiroinen (FIN) came out triumphant securing his career's first World Cup win in yesterday's sole big air contest of the 2014 FIS Snowboard Freestyle World Cup tour.

photo: André-Olivier Lyra

The 2011 FIS Snowboard World Champion earned a score of 161.75 for his backside double cork 1080 mute and frontside 1080 tail thus edging of Sweden's Mans Hedberg with the tiny advantage of .75 to second rank.

photo: André-Olivier Lyra

Not much, but just enough for for the flying Finn to step on top of the podium.

“I'm feeling great. It was a perfect day. I made it straight to the slopestyle finals this morning and now I just won the big air. I'm stoked,” Piiroinen, the younger brother of 2010 Olympic Halfpipe Silver medalist Peetu said.

photo: André-Olivier Lyra

However, the finals could have gone either way with Swedish ripper Hedberg earning a 161 for stomping a frontside double cork 1080 indy and a backside double cork 1080 mute in his fourth World Cup start.

photo: André-Olivier Lyra

But the 20-year-old wasn't disappointed at all after his career's first top-3 finish:

“It was good but hard. Well, I do like it when it's icy though. I'm very pleased with my first competition in Quebec City.”

photo: André-Olivier Lyra

Local hero Antoine Truchon (CAN), who had won the Big Air World Cup presented by Videotron Mobile two years ago, took third and thus his career's second World Cup podium with 156.25 for his frontside double cork 1080 indy and a switch backside double cork 1080.

photo: André-Olivier Lyra

The 2014 FIS Snowboard Freestyle World Cup tour continues today with the finals of the season's last Halfpipe World Cup contest at Stoneham at 1 PM ET (7 PM CET).

FISsnowboard.com
18 January 2014 13:02

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