AIR&STYLE. The Air & Style Beijing 2013 is over. What an amzing night of high tension action, unbelievable level of riding and another milestone in snowboarding history. Congrats to Sven Thorgren for the RIng of Glory, 1000 WST points and a big share of the $100.000 prize money. Sage Kotsenburg and Kim Rune Hansen finish 2nd and 3rd at the 6Star World Snowboard Tour Air & Style Beijing in the Olympic Bird´s nest Stadium.

Sven Thorgren stomping a backside 1440 mute, photo © Air and Style Beijing/Sven Thorgren/Air and Style Company/TTR

As mentioned above, Sven Thorgren is the winner of today´s Air & Style Beijing 2013. The Swedish rider prevailed in a world-class superfinal of the best four riders with a Backside 1440 Mute over Sage Kotsenburg, Kim Rune Hansen and Torgeir Bergrem. From Round 1 on he showed a very high level of performance on the world´s biggest artificial snowboard ramp. His victory at the 6Star World Snowboard Tour contest in front of a total of 13,000 thousand spectators pays off with 1,000 points for the World Snowboard Tour ranking and the major share of the 100,000 US-$ prize money.

Sven Thorgren said: „Today´s victory is the biggest success of my career. It is a dream come true. Winning with a trick that I never before had landed safely, makes this win svery special form me.”

Chinese rider He Wei, the first Chinese ever to compete in an Air & Style contest, finished 15th after a good performance. In Round 2 he lost against the winner Sven Thorgren.

Here is video highlight from the night >>>

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The World Snowboard Tour kicks off the 6 star season with the Air & Style Beijing

The first 6 star World Snowboard Tour event of the season just went down at the Birds Nest Stadium in Beijing China. The Air & Style Beijing again brought some of the world’s best snowboarders to one of the most unique contest venues of the season.

Air and Style Beijing Kicker, photo © Air and Style Beijing/Air and Style Company/TTR

With a heavy field of riders such as 2012 winner Yuki Kadono,Tim-Kevin Ravnjak, young American Nik Baden, Peetu Piiroinen, Eric Willet, Ulrik Badertscher and Halldor Helgason the contest got off to a blazing start. Using the same head to head format as last year, the riders had to come out swinging right out of the gate. The three run format allowed the riders plenty of chances to throw down, with double cork 1080’s and 1260’s being stomped instantly. The 12 winners of their head to head battle were joined in round two by the four lucky losers, who managed to sneak into the second round with the highest four losing scores.

Rounds two and three saw more amazing action as the riding kept heating up. The trick list was hard to keep up with every possible double cork, 1080 and 1260 variation going down. Round two saw some casualties as Gjermund Braaten, Yuki Kadono and Peetu Piiroinen were knocked out.

Round three stared with one of the most heated battles of the contest between fellow Americans Sage Kotsenburg and Eric Willett. Sage was able to hold off the challenge from Willet, stomping a crazy 1260 double japan. Joining Sage in the superfinal were Kim Rune Hansen, Torgeir Bergrem and young Swede Sven Thorgren.

The battle between the last 4 riders in the superfinal was intense to say the least. The level of riding was insane, and any of the riders could have won with the tricks that were being landed. When the dust settled, Torgeir Bergrem’s backside 1260 landed him in 4th place. Just .87 of a point separated Kim Rune Hansen and Sage Kotsenburg, with the judges deciding that Sage’s cab double cork 1260 japan was slightly better then Hansen’s switch backside 12.

Sage Kotsenburg, Sven Thorgren, Kim Rune Hansen, photo © Air and Style Beijing/Air and Style Company/TTR

Taking home the coveted Air & Style Ring of Glory was Sven Thorgren, who stomped a backside 1440 on his way to becoming the 2013 champion.

By Tyler Davis / RedBull.com
08 December 2013