Kiwi defends tour lead in Aussie

The 08/09 season of the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour is charging at full steam down under and the anticipation is rising for the first 4Star event on the
Tour, the Oakley Stylewars 2008. Taking place August 24th - 28th 2008 in Falls Creek, Australia, the 4-day lifestyle Slopestyle event, complete with intense snowboarding, parties and live music, is looking to be the highlight of the Southern Hemisphere.

With 500 Swatch TTR ranking points in the mix along with a $15 000 USD prize purse, Stylewars is sure to carry the competitive momentum set just recently at the 5Star Burton New Zealand Open and 3Star Billabong Snow Stock. Last season, Norwegian rider Torstein Horgmo blew apart the Falls Creek scene, and this year he’s back to claim it all again. But a hefty challenge Horgmo is sure to meet, as this year’s event is full to the brim with over 40 talented riders set to destroy the 3 – Kicker course.

Expect freestyle entrepreneur Travis Rice (USA) to make things spicy as current TTR World No. 2 Chas Guldemond (USA) attempts to get back the Tour Lead which was taken from him last week at the 3Star Billabong Snowstock by James Hamilton (NZE) Swatch TTR No. 4 Janne Korpi (FIN), TTR No. 13 Mikkel Bang (NOR), TTR No. 21 Sebastien Toutant (CAN), and TTR No. 40 Antti Autti (FIN) are sure to keep it interesting alongside a sick south-hemi contingent that includes the likes of TTR No. 26 Jake Koia (NZE) and Australian snowboarders Robbie Walker and Ryan Tiene.

Current leader of the Swatch TTR women’s ranking, Jamie Anderson (USA), will also take part in the men’s competition. Although there are no women’s points available at Stylewars simply due to the large scale of the competition features, she will show case her talent together with the guys. We are excited to see how the top female on the Tour will do.

Riders will be greeted with a relaxed, shred-friendly atmosphere, but even more exciting is the private, contest-purpose built Slopestyle course, already beefed up due to an excellent snow season thus far and set to exceed last year’s set up with increased quality and flow.

Also coming up soon on the Swatch TTR Tour is the 3Star Boost Mobile Sno Sho presented by Samsung, a one-night, under-the-lights, Big Air and Rail Showdown. Taking place August 29th to 30th at Perisher Blue, Australia, the event boasts a $30 000 USD prize purse and the longest rail seen in competition that is sure to spark some creative hits. Perisher Blue will also host the 5Star Burton Australian Open, starting off on September 1st.

For more information on the Swatch TTR 4Star Stylewars and the 3Star Sno Sho, along with inspiring videos, blogs, and ranking stats, head on over to www.ttrworldtour.com and keep yourself up to date.