Two new world records were set at the “Perfect Hip” built for the Suzuki Nine Knights 2016. Two thousand viewers gathered on the Public Contest Day on Saturday the 2nd of April 2016, to watch the invited world’s best transition skiers and snowboarders reaching new jaw-dropping heights, flying over the 10 meters tall axe. Watles in South Tyrol, Italy saw of week of progression sessions, majestic cloudy sunsets and jib sessions on the downdays. On contest day it was Italian local hero, Christof Schenk who grabbed first place out of the skiers, while Belgian snowboarder Sebbe De Buck took the win among his peers.

 

 

Freeski Contest

“This is a once in a lifetime feature; the biggest hip ever built!” said the happy Schenk, who made the most of the 18m tall hip throughout the week, showing his uncanny comfort in the air. His best tricks included a double cork 1080, a double misty 1080 and an absolutely massive triple back flip that earned him the Buff Best Trick award. France’s Joffrey Pollet-Villard put up a tight battle for the top spot landing him second, while Felix Usterud (NOR), a first-timer in hip riding came in third. 

 

Ski World Record - Highest Ski Air on a Hip

Each session during the week saw the athletes boosting higher on each jump. The main battle emerged between Schenk and David Wise (USA) who set out to beat air-time loving Pollet-Villard, who already made a claim at the record on the first event day. Wise nailed the record by flying 14,2 meters above the coping, a whopping 3 meters higher than the existing record. “It was not a goal, but I decided to go as high as I possibly can, record or not. To take that title home is definitely the experience of a lifetime”, he said, adding that “the jump is just so well built. From the first time I hit it to the last, I was having fun.”

 

1. Christof Schenk (ITA): double misty 1080, double cork 1080

2. Joffrey Pollet-Villard (FRA): alley-oop 270, switch 540

3. Felix Usterud (NOR): double flatspin, alley-oop 450 double

4. Taylor Seaton (USA): cork 450 safety, switch 540 truck driver

 

SNOWBOARD 

Though the snowboarders were all neck and neck throughout the contest, De Buck’s amplitude, technical finesse, and style earned him first place. His tricks included a frontside 360 indy and a crowd pleasing double backflip. “It’s the most insane feature with the most insane people riding it,” concluded the jolly Belgian, “everybody was enjoying it which hyped me up to try some new tricks on this hip”. In second was local athlete Simon Gruber, followed by 4-time World Snowboard Tour Champion, Peetu Piiroinen (FIN). Meanwhile, Seppe Smits (BEL) took home the Buff Best Trick with a switch method, the only switch trick among the snowboarders.

 

Snowboard New World Record - Highest Snowboard Air on a Hip

The bar was set for Highest Snowboard Air on a hip and though Piiroinen and Gruber where within inches, it was first-time knight, swiss half-pipe extraordinaire Christian “Hitsch” Haller (SUI) who flew the highest out of the snowboarders, reaching 11,3m over the coping. “The conditions were ideal and I felt safe and comfortable. That is what lead me to go as big as I could,” he said, “the record thing is something cool, but for me it was personal and all about progressing.” 

 

1. Sebbe De Buck (BEL): double backflip, frontside 360 indy

2. Simon Gruber (ITA): backside 720 melon, backside air

3. Peetu Piiroinen (FIN): backside 360 nose, indy

4. Seppe Smits (BEL): switch backside air, frontside 540 nose 

5. Werni Stock (AUT): backside 360 indy

 

More info on www.nineknightsnow.com