BIG AIR CHUR celebrates a successful premiere. Everything fits. Everyone plays along. Commitment and perseverance are rewarded. For the organizers, the associations, the partners and especially for the main actors, the freestyle and music pros. Finally showing the fans live again what they are capable of, 160 riders, nine bands. Here is a short review that reflects to some extent how the first edition of this Incity event was, the kick-off of the freeskiers and snowboarders in the FIS Freestyle World Cup 2021/2022. In the picture also in the Event Wrap-Up-Edit to see and share.
3G was the motto, red bubble for the riders, safety at the top. Playing it safe also with the infrastructure: Max Kaiser and his team constructed a 1a ramp for the Obere Au, the sports area on the outskirts of Chur. Directly visible from the motorway, the 300-ton steel monster with a length of 140 metres and a height of 42.5 metres towers into the sky. Behind it, in kitschy orange, the Grisons mountain ranges before the final night. Below the crowd. 13,000 on Friday, 17,000 people on Saturday. Sold out. Spotlights on and go. What a start to the season!
Briefly about the mode: Wind delays the Freeski Quali into the early evening. The final of the top 8/10 then has two runs, the better one counts. In the snowboard final, also with the best eight women and ten men from the preliminary round, there are three runs. Two different tricks will be scored.
The top ladies score with experience, concentration and safe high-level tricks: Thus on the first place the Freeski World Cup overall winner Tess Ledeux and Snowboard X-Games Champion Kokomo Murase. In second place are two 30-year-old Olympic champions - freeski ace Sarah Höfflin and snowboard star Anna Gasser. Insiders expect this, but even the best on paper have to deliver first. New terrain, new season, Olympics in sight.
In the men's category the opposite is true: The top podium is conquered by two athletes who have never before won a World Cup or a contest at this level. One because he is only 16 years old, the other because someone always jumped in front of him: Matej Svancer and Jonas Bösiger are the first title heroes of the BIG AIR CHUR.
Youngster Matej Svancer shows absolute nerves of steel: He needs 99 points, he gets them and secures the victory with the last jump of the night, a nosebutter double 1800 safety. Respect.
Jonas Bösiger raises his arms after jump 2. He knows that he has put down two grenades and is now in the lead. Team mates and competitors are jumping on him with joy about the brilliant performance. For the decisive 3rd run, everyone gets excited. The hype is building! Mark McMorris slams a backside triple cork over the kicker. Sven Thorgren turns it up, moving him from 5th to the podium. Brock Crouch throws himself into the crowd without warning. Rene Rinnekangas (2nd) continues to trick after landing, "Handplant" for good measure. Then only Bösiger is left on top. With the victory in his pocket he is allowed to show a style trick at the end in front of his home crowd, that's the crowning glory.
Live music is mixed in with the sporting fireworks: German-language rap by Breitbild, Lo & Leduc, Nura and Danitsa creates a great atmosphere in the afternoon, and in the evening the main acts Apache 207, Jan Delay and Sido, Apache heat up the festival crowd.
A freestyle season opener can be this beautiful! The contests should go on like this.
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