TTR. Davos, Switzerland, Saturday 7th of January 2012. The World of professional snowboarding started 2012 with a bang as hard fought victories by Canadian, Mark McMorris, and American, Spencer O’Brien, to claim O’Neill Evolution Titles cap a week of action in Davos, Switzerland.

Spencer O'Brien wins O'Neill Evolution 2012 Women Final

Mark McMorris wins the O'Neill Evolution 2012

Despite weather challenges, the first major event on the 2012 TTR World Snowboard Tour brought the cream of international riders and the highest level of performance culminating at Saturday’s finals. Pushing the highest known technical limits, competition was fierce as riders vied for a share of the $125k USD prize purse, TTR Ranking points and seeding into the World Championships.

Mark McMorris (CAN), O'Neill Evolution 2012

The Women’s Final was blessed with he best riding conditions all week, and the eight Women who made the final took no time to demonstrate massive progression. Despite stiff competition, Spencer O’Brien lifted the bar from the first of her three runs, and continued to set the standard for the remainder of the finals.

Spencer O'Brien (CAN), O'Neill Evolution 2012

O’Brien’s first run, a landed frontside 720 nosebone to gapped lipslide, caught the imagination of the judges seeing her take home $20,000 USD and direct qualifications into the World Championships. Sina Candrian (SUI) was always dangerous, but failed to land her final run leaving her in 2nd while Anna Gasse (AUT) managed to fend of challengers to secure third.

There was an electric atmosphere surrounding the huge crowd at the foot of the Jakobshorn as incredible light show welcomed in the 16-man Night Final who were additionally treated to a rarely seen level of progressive freestyle snowboarding.

The atmosphere intensified as the lead swapped between Eric Willet (USA) and Mark McMorris (USA). Willet scored what looked like an unassailable 95.30pts with a switch backside doublecork 1260 to lipslide 270 in his second run, only for McMorris to edge in front of him with a score of 95.60pts with a bigger backside doublecork 1260 to lipslide 270. Seppe Smits (BEL) turned up the pressure, landing a cab 1440 mute to cab 270 fronside boardslide in his final run, but it was not enough to change the order of the podium, seeing McMorris pocket a cool $40,000 USD for his efforts.

Seppe Smits (BEL) Cab 1440, O'Neill Evolution 2012

The results also saw major Tour Lead changes on the TTR World Snowboarding Tour Ranking system, where Eric Willet moved to the top of the TTR Big Air Ranking, Christian Haller (SUI) moved into TTR Overall lead while Sina Candrian (SUI) and Seppe Smits (BEL) booked places at the World Snowboard Championships.

O'Neill Evolution 2012 Men Podium

O'Neill Evolution 2012 Women Podium

O'Neill Evolution 2012 slope in Davos, Switzerland

In what will be remembered as one of the most incredible O’Neill Evolutions to date, the celebrations are set to start and look certain to go well into the nigh.

O’Neill Evolution 2012
january 07, 2012, 08:00PM

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