Nico Zacek, © Flo Breitenberger
. world ski news : Storming The Castle: Suzuki Nine Knights in Mottolino, Livigno - 16 Àïðèë 2012 - 21:18
FREESTYLE SKI. The world's best freeskiers wrapped up this year's Suzuki Nine Knights event in Italy with Kai Mahler coming out on top in the Big Air competition.
Nico Zacek, © Flo Breitenberger
Sixteen-year-old Swiss skier Mahler took home the title ahead of America's Gus Kenworthy in second and fellow Swiss Jonas Hunziker in third. Red Bull's Russ Henshaw finished one place off the podium in fourth.
© Klaus Polzer
A double 1080 tweaked mute and double 1260 japan with shifty gave Mahler 196.66 points and the teenager was delighted with the win.
"Today ends the perfect season for me," he said. "I came here and got to ski the perfect feature to try and dial the trick I wanted. I felt like I really had to step it up today with the other great skiers around me – I definitely couldn't take anything easy."
Elsewhere, Roy Kittler was awarded the 'MVP' award and Tom Wallisch was crowned 'Best Overall Ruler of the Week'.
by redbull.com
April 16, 2012
Suzuki Nine Knights 2012 – Big Air results
1. Kai Mahler 196.66 points
2. Gus Kenworthy 195.99
3. Jonas Hunziker 168.32
4. Russ Henshaw 165.66
5. Roy Kitler 163.62
6. Ben Valentin 160.66
7. Christian Bieri 158.66
8. Colby West 145.33
Results all categories: Wallisch “Ruler of the week”
After a great week here at Suzuki Nine Knights in Mottolino, Livigno we are slowly but surely starting to wrap things up. Most of you guys know by now the result of our Big Air competition on saturday: Kai Mahler (SUI) takes the win in front of Gus Kenworthy (USA) and Jonas Hunziker (SUI).
The podium guys being happy about their victory! © Klaus Polzer
Here is an overview on all riding category winners:
• Best Big Air overall: Tom Wallisch
• Best Rail rider overall: Gus Kenworthy
• Best Style trick: Lolo Favre (Flatspin 540 screamin´seaman, nose grab)
• Big Air contest: 1st Kai Mahler, 2nd Gus Kenworthy, 3rd Jonas Hunziker
• MVP of the week: Roy Kittler
The winner of probably the most important category of the event was the one and only Tom Wallisch. He received the title “Best overall ruler of the week on the kicker”...
... and he was stoked about his new Suzuki Nine Knights I pad and the special Nine Knights ring we got from Jewelry Köblinger in Innsbruck!
© Klaus Polzer
Gus is flying high above the Suzuki Nine Nights castello with a stylish nose grab. He got himself some new Dotz rims for his rail performance throughout the week!
Lolo proving us, that he well deserved the “best style” award! Thanks to Power Balance he will enjoy a great day at the “Oktoberfest” with ten of his friends in munich. Lolo also received some new Dotz rims & the Suzuki Nine Knights special edition ring.
© Klaus Polzer
Roy Kittler got the Suzuki Nine Knights “MVP” award. Roy was nominated at all other categories and definetly the rider with most hits on “il castello”. Props to Roy, who was skiing sick all week!!!
Check out the full contest wrap up video one more time...
Nine Knights Ski 2012 | Big Air Finals
by nineknights
nineknightsski.com
April 16, 2012
Suzuki Nine Knights Ski 2012 | Big Air Finals
It was a very successful event that put Italy on the map of the highest caliber of freeski contests. The atmosphere and the scenery on the mountain was truly spectacular at the thrilling Suzuki Nine Knights Big Air competition and it was a perfect ending to the fantastic Suzuki Nine Knights at Mottolino Fun Mountain. The event concluded on Saturday night with the photographers’ and riders’ awards presentation and a raging party in Livigno. Congratulations to all the competitors, we can’t wait to see you all again next year!
Raffa Cusini, © Klaus Polzer
Russ Henshaw dropping in, © Flo Breitenberger
Colby James West, © Flo Breitenberger
© Flo Breitenberger
© Flo Breitenberger
The full list of results and counted tricks is as follows:
1.Kai Mahler (Dub 1080 Mute, Dub 1260 Dub Japan Shifty)
2.Gus Kenworthy (Sw Dub Rodeo 1080 Japan, Dub 1440 Blunt)
3.Jonas Hunziker (Dub 1080 Dub Mute, Dub 1260 Safety)
4.Russ Henshaw (Dub 1080 Japan, Sw Dub 1080 Japan)
5.Roy Kittler (Sw Dub Wobble 9 Mute, Bio 1440 Blunt)
6.Ben Valentin (Dub 1260 Tail, Dub 1080 Safety)
7.Christian Bieri (Dub Flatspin 900 Japan to Tail, Cork 7 Reverse Mute)
8.Colby West (Dub 1080, Sw Misty 900 Mute)
by nineknights
nineknightsski.com
April 15, 2012
Suzuki Nine Knights | Storming The Castle
The world’s best freeski athletes have had some erratic weather to contend with as the competition in Livigno, Italy, rolls on...
The weather has been playing tricks on the Suzuki Nine Knights competitors, with beautiful sunny conditions turning to windy flat light within minutes. The freeskiers kept their cool, however, and performed exceptionally at every clear opportunity.
Wallisch, Zacek, West, Mahler, © Klaus Polzer
First up was a session on the main feature, the 27-metre kicker in the middle of the impressive Il Castello course. A big stand out was Russ Henshaw who went from styled-out cork 540 blunt grabs to double cork 1080 double japan grab – the first time he tried this trick!
Tom Wallisch was the first person to hit the gigantic hip and he proceeded to soar almost 10 meters above the take-off.
Event organizer Nico Zacek and many others joined the hip session sending airs higher than anyone thought possible.Gus Kenworthy and Jossi Wells, the final Knights come to storm the castle proceeded to have a little jib session of their own, searching for new creative ways to hit the rails. Kenworthy ruled the afternoon with some smooth 450 blunt grabs out of the rail.
Then things got even crazier with four people hitting the Castle at once, one on the hip, two on the quarterpipes and one on the kicker jump!
by redbull.com
April 13, 2012
THE SUZUKI NINE KNIGHTS GETS WELL UNDERWAY, WITH THE BEST SESSION YET GOING DOWN AT MOTTOLINO, LIVIGNO!
The weather has been playing mind tricks on everyone at the Suzuki Nine Knights, with beautiful sunny weather turning to windy flat light within minutes. The Knights kept their cool however, and performed exceptionally at every opportunity when the weather cleared at Mottolino Fun Mountain. Every single feature was sessioned on Tuesday and the athletes were beyond stoked about the best session yet on the unique obstacles.
Ben Valentin, © Klaus Polzer
First up was an awesome session on the main feature; the 27 meter kicker in the middle of the impressive “Il Castello”. A big stand out was Marker Völkl athlete Russ Henshaw who went from styled out cork 540 blunt grabs to double cork 1080 double japan grab – the first time he has tried this trick! The pretzel man Tom Wallisch used the opportune weather window to man up and be the first person to hit the gigantic hip. Everyone’s heart was in their throats as Tom proceeded to soar almost 10 meters above the take-off! The session was well and truly on, event organizer Nico Zacek and many others joined the hip session sending airs higher than anyone thought possible. Then things got even crazier with four people hitting the Castle at once, one on the hip, two on the quarterpipes and one on the kicker jump! There was an electric vibe amongst the athletes, who were beyond stoked on the first decent session.
Russ Henshaw, © Klaus Polzer
Tom Wallisch,© Klaus Polzer
Oystein Braaten, © Klaus Polzer
© Flo Breitenberger
The weather then turned to disagreeable windy flat light and the Knights decided to have a break and wait for better conditions. At lunch they were joined by Gus Kenworthy and Jossi Wells, the final Knights come to storm the castle. Both were itching to check out the feature and headed up even in the adverse conditions. They proceeded to have a little jib session of their own, searching for new creative ways to hit the rails. Soon everyone else joined them and decided to try out the canon rail to hip landing. Smith athlete Gus Kenworthy ruled the afternoon with some smooth 450 blunt grabs out of the rail. Hopes for a sunset photo shoot were extinguished when clouds covered the valley and the wind picked up even more. A group decision was made to call it a day, as everybody was very happy with the day’s results already.
Check out the best action from days one and two in this clip...
Suzuki Nine Knights Ski 2012 | Action day 1&2
by nineknights
nineknightsski.com
April 12, 2012