SNOWBORD BIG AIR WORLD CUP. Rocco van Straten has caused a totally unexpected surprise at the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup host debut of Denver, Colorado. The Dutch rider secured the first ever win for his home country in the big air discipline thus claiming his chapter in the World Cup history books. With a total score of 53.0 points the 19-years-old kid edged off 2011 World Championships runner-up and Big Air Word Cup novice Zachary Stone of Canada (50.8) to the second rank. Michael Macho (AUT, 48.5) rounded out the podium as third thus securing his career’s best result so far.

After this historical triumph, Rocco van Straten, a Junior World Champion in both, lift and cable wakeboarding, was absolutely astonished. “I’m super happy. To be honest, I don’t know what to say. But one thing is for sure: this is the best moment in my whole life so far.”

However, the victory in the first big air competition on US-American soil after seven years (Mt. Bachelor, OR, 2004) wasn’t his first trick in the last weeks. Van Straten had also surprised at the last World Championships in Spain by placing fourth. “That definitely gave me a push although I had to fight the jetlag today. And then I end up first. I didn’t expect anything like this, but I was hoping for a top-5 result.”

The Dutchman sat in fifth after the first two jumps (of which the better one counts) having earned 25.1 points for his cab 900. In the decisive third run, he stomped a huge backside 1080 thus logging in another 27.9 points and also raising the bar for the four guys still to come. None of them had something in store to set against except of Michael Macho, who was the only one landing his trick in the sweet spot.

However, the leading man after the first two rounds only threw in a safety jump scoring 20.7 points for his backside 720 thus wrapping up the contest as third. Nevertheless, “Much” was pretty OK with the result. “I didn’t expect anything as I was lying in bed deathly ill with fever and also just survived the qualifiers by the skin of one’s teeth. Hiking up to the start was the worst today. So, I’m pretty happy.”

Big Air World Cup novice Zachary Stone was also pleased with the final ranking. Canada’s talent, who had impressed with backside 1260 and backside 1080 double cork, said right after the finals: “I’m super stoked and don’t really know what to say. I’m happy that I stayed on my feet.”

Due to the nice result at his first ever Big Air World Cup contest the 19-years-old WCS silver medallist added: “It’s nothing scheduled yet but I’m hoping that I’m able to compete at the season’s last big air in Quebec.”

The LG Snowboard FIS World Cup will continue in Korea. In Yongpyong, a new World Cup host, one snowboard cross race and one parallel giant slalom are scheduled between Feb 7th and 9th.

FISsnowboard.com
Thursday 27 January 2011