While the IOC (International Olympic Committee) made some important decisions yesterday about the sport of skiing halfpipe, slopestylers were left hanging for their decision.

It was announced yesterday that skiing halfpipe for both men and women will be introduced to the Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014! The news has been generally welcomed by freeskiers who are excited about the prospect of winning some Olympic gold. This means that the IOC has accepted the first ever freeskiing event into the program so the competition is going to be hot to get that first gold and make Olympic history. There could be yet another freeskiing event to get the nod yet with the IOC still deciding the outcome of both ski and snowboard slopestyle. Expect a final decision at the end of May/beginning of June.

It’s not only freeskiing that has had an Olympic boost. The IOC executive board also decided that women will now have their own ski jump competition after an unsuccessful legal battle for it’s inclusion at the Vancouver games last year. The IOC’s argument had always been that there was not enough elite competitors in the sport but those involved made a strong case and the decision has now been turned. Team events in luge and figure skating and a mixed relay in biathlon will also be included in 2014. It’s set to be an exciting year for winter sports.

Skiing · Snowboarding

Celebrating all things ladies today as it’s the first day of the Roxy Chicken Jam in Mammoth Mountain brought to you by ROCKSTAR Energy Drink.

Pretty much the biggest women’s prize purse around of 50k, the Jam attracts the biggest names in the world of women’s snowboarding. Half-pipe and slopestyle events are the main focus with individual prizes of $15,000 for 1^st place. Now that would come in handy!

This is the 7^th year of the competition which is the USA’s only female specific snowboard competition. It has a competitive yet fun and festival-ly vibe with concerts, music this year from the awesome La Roux, mascot half-pipe competition, Roxy demo tests and athlete signings.

Top names such as Torah Bright, Kelly Clark, Billabong girls Jamie Anderson and the UK’s Jenny Jones will represent and Roxy’s newest and youngest female rider Ty Walker will compete – she is already one of the world’s top ten snowboarders and she makes us feel so very old…

For more information on the event and live coverage of the event go to http://www.roxy.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=3901732

Competition · Snowboarding

The looming Bec des Rosses back drop - Photo: D. Daher

The Nissan Freeride World Tour in partnership with Dakine has come to an end with Europeans dominating the competition pretty much from start to finish. The final stage of the competition was the Xtreme in Verbier on the legendary 500m, 55° Bec des Rosses north face. The conditions were near on perfect for the riders, both skiers and snowboarders, with fresh snow and clear blue skies.

The crowds gathered in the Col du Gentianes to watch the top freeriders in the world descend from the jagged ridge up at 3222m above sea level. Picking their line through the couloirs, cliffs and general demanding terrain and it was the French that impressed the most on the day, Xavier de la Rue winning the men’s snowboard category although he was eventually pushed down to third in the overall rankings, Austrian Mitch Toelderer was crowned the Men’s Snowboard Freeride World Champion 2011 having produced consistent results throughout the six events, of which only five he participated in.

Anne-Flore Marxer in her signature Billabong jacket for 2011/12. Photo: D.Daher

French/Swiss Billabong rider Anne Flore Marxer won the women’s snowboard category and the overall title becoming Women’s Snowboard World Freeride Champion 2011. Check out the video of her winning run below. Anne-Flore said after the competition, “The Bec des Rosses is by far the most beautiful face and the conditions today were without a doubt the best of the season. It’s important for me to point out that while this face is beautiful it’s far from being easy. I was thinking that I would take a steep line to take speed and jump a lot of cliffs but in the end I decided to be safe partly due to the sluff and hidden rocks. This title makes all my efforts this season worth it. The Freeride World Tour has been a great experience. I can’t wait to come back next year!”

It has been an awesome year for the Billabong girls, Anne-Flore winning here, Jamie Anderson winning countless contests her most recent a gold in the European X Games and the TTR World Champion Title earlier this month. And not forgetting the UK’s very own Jenny Jones who won us gold in the Winter X Games in Aspen earlier this year. She is hopefully heading to the Roxy Chicken Jam in Mammoth this weekend for another win!

In the men’s ski competition the podium in Verbier was a French exclusive with Aurelien Ducroz in the top spot followed by Dakine’s very own Jérémy Prévost and then Adrien Courier in 3^rd. Ducroz was crowned overall champ and Swedish lady freeride skier Janette Hargin won both the Xtreme and the World Title.

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Billabong · Skiing · Snowboarding

Jake in his new Billabong get-up!

Jake Terry is one of the UK’s most promising snowboard groms so Two Seasons and Billabong are proud to announce that he has become part of our team. Switching from DC outerwear, Jake will now be riding Billabong snow outerwear and will be supported by Two Seasons on his journey to becoming the next Scotty Lago or Antti Autti! Jake also rides for Flow Snowboards International Micron Team, Electric and The Snow Centre.

The first stop on his quest for snowboarding domination supported by his new sponsors is the British Champs in Laax which starts on Monday 20^th March. Good luck Jake!

Billabong · Snowboarding

Here’s the final list of confirmed riders for the Billabong Air+Style event to be held in Munich from 5^th February. Some fresh from the X Games, some new to the scene, the Air+Style promises to be a big competition with $75,000 of prize money and 1000 TTR World Tour points at stake…

1. Marko Grilc (SLO) Burton, Red Bull

2. Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) Nike 6.0, Burton

3. Werner Stock (AUT) Salomon, Bonfire

4. Elias Elhardt (GER) Nitro, Rip Curl

5. Markus Malin (FIN) 32 Snowboard Boots, Dragon

6. Janne Korpi (FIN) Kissmark

7. Sebastien Toutant (CAN) O´Neill, Red Bull

8. Seppe Smits (BEL) Red Bull, Burton

9. Scotty Lago (USA) Billabong

10. Staale Sandbech (NOR) Burn, Oakley, Rome

11. Mark McMorris (CAN) Oakley, Burton

12. Antti Autti (FIN) Billabong, NDK

13. Eric Willet (USA) O´Neill, O-Matic

14. Sage Kotsenburg (USA) Nike 6.0, Monster

15. Robbie Walker (AUS) Billabong

16. Peter König (AUT) Forum

Snowboarding

The Winter X Games 15 in Aspen has come to a close after five fun filled, action packed days.

There was so much going on it was crazy as always but there are definitely ten stand out moments from this years event, whether it’s a trick or an outfit or just someone who deserves a bit of recognition, all are moments that will be remembered in X Games history for years to come. So in reverse order…

10. Medals for Billabong Ladies Jenny Jones and Jamie Anderson

Jamie Anderson with her medal

Britains’s Jenny Jones got another X Games medal in the form of silver in the slopestyle competition in Aspen this year. The Bristol born snowboarder who got gold two years ago in the same competition, led until the last run of 20 year old Finnish rider Enni Rukajavi , who pipped her to the gold. A few thought Jones was robbed of the Gold but she was gracious in defeat. American Jamie Anderson who has recently signed for GNU snowboards, came third.

9. Shaun White’s Non-Qualification for the Men’s Slopestyle Finals

It was a huge surprise to many when the ‘flying tomato’ Shaun White sponsored by all things Burton and Oakley didn’t even qualify for the finals of the Men’s Slopestyle event. There were rumours last year that White wouldn’t even make an appearance at this year’s event but those long ginger trestles where in Aspen to show the Superpipe who’s boss (see below) even though he looked like he just wasn’t trying in the slopestyle!

8. The Back Flip Brothers

Caleb and Colton Moore pulled off an insane tandem back flip on a snowmobile during Colton Moore’s second run in the Snowmobile Best Trick competition.

7. Sarah Burke Wins Gold Again

Jenny Jones Slopestyle

Roxy skier Sarah Burke won another gold medal in the Womens Ski Superpipe Final. This was her first competition back after a shoulder injury having only been cleared to ski by her doctors two weeks earlier. The Canadian who recently married fellow pro skier and backcountry legend Rory Bushfield, made history by claiming her 6^th X Games medal. It was an all Canadian podium.

6. Torin-Yater Wallace Youngest Competitor In The Event This Year

The fifteen year old freshman at Aspen High School and the third youngest male ever to compete in the WXG relegated Simon Dumont into silver medal position (later to become bronze) in the Men’s Ski Superpipe Final after throwing down a double flip trick as his last trick on his last run of his first WXG. This = instant rise to fame. Respect!

5 ½. Simon Dumont’s Face

On Salomon skier Simon Dumont’s first run in the Ski Superpipe Finals he fell pretty much on his face after compressing every other part of his body off the coping, on attempting a massive trick at the end of a near perfect run. It was bad and so was the noise that he made when he hit the deck. Then when the judges scored fifteen year old Torin-Yater Wallace higher than him putting him out of contention for the gold he looked utterly bewildered. Needs to practise his ‘best looser’ face, to be fair he hasn’t really needed it much in the past.

5. Kevin Rolland’s Gold

Scotty Lago wired shut. Photo: Ned Cremin

It’s awesome to see European competitors do well in ‘all-American’ events so we are chuffed for Frenchie Kevin Rolland who smashed the Men’s Ski Superpipe competition apart. On his last run after having fallen on his previous two (like many of the other competitors) due to the twitchy, speediness of the pipe, he threw it down pulling out a near perfect run. Huge amplitude and style made up his run of a double cork 1080, alley-oop flat spin 360, switch 1080, switch 540 to double cork 1260.

4. Torstein Horgmo’s Triple Cork Back Flip

Just watching the live coverage of the Big Air event knowing that DC rider Torstein Horgmo had broken ribs made us nervous. Then he crashed on his second final jump and it made us wince. Then on his third and final big air he stomped a triple cork backflip!Talk about running on adrenaline, bet he hurt the next day.

3. Scotty Lago’s Wired Jaw

A wired shut jaw didn’t stop another Billabong rider by the name of Scotty Lago making history by competing in all four freestyle snowboard disciplines. He didn’t just compete, he won medals. Lago bagged gold in the Best Method competition by, you guessed it, throwing down the best method grab and he was just beaten by Shaun White in the Men’s Snowboard Superpipe. A week ago Lago probably thought he wouldn’t compete at all after getting a back flip wrong in the backcountry whilst filming for Travis Rice’s new film and smashing his jaw to bits. He has been eating through a straw since.

2. Shaun White does it again in THAT outfit

Lago, White and Vito with Kevin Pearce (left) Photo: Ned Cremin

There was more talk of Shaun White’s rather tight fitting, all black leather look than his actual gold medal winning run at this year’s WXG. Some liked it most didn’t, one thing is for sure and that is that it certainly didn’t affect his performance. He absolutely blew everyone away with the height he managed to get out of the pipe and with such ease he pulled an array of tricks out of his ever expanding bag that most can only dream of. A Double McTwist 1260 sealed it.

1. Kelly Clarke – First Ever Women to Land a 1080 in a Competition

It was her first gold medal for five years and it was worth the wait. This was Kelly Clarke’s night beating Gretchen Bleiler five times Superpipe gold medallist, and fellow American Elena Hight who got bronze. Her 1080 was thrown down with style and landed with ease and Kelly Clarke has now upped the standard for women pipe riders.

Check out the official X Games Rollout vid below for all their best bits.

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Next up in the X Games calendar is the X Games Europe in Tignes this coming March!

Skiing · Snowboarding · X Games

Men's ski podium. Photo: Dom Daher

So, the Freeride season has officially kicked off. The Freeride World Tour got off to a great start in Chamonix over the weekend as did the Red Bull Line Catcher 2011 where K2 skier Sean Pettit stole the show. Although there has been limited snowfall in the French and Italian Alps so far this season, temperatures dropped but there was excellent visibility for the first stage of the tour.

Billabong's Anne-Flore Marxer shows off her cheque! Photo: J.Bernard

At the Dakine sponsored Freeride World Tour, France dominated the podiums of the male ski and snowboard competitions and the rookie to the tour Swiss/French Billabong rider Anne Flore Marxer came in first in the womens snowboard round. Being in Chamonix it was extra special for the Frenchmen Aurélien Ducroz and Adrien Coirier who were first and second in the men’s ski event and also Xavier De Le Rue, Douds Charlet (from Chamonix) and Aurélien Routens who were placed first, second and third in the men’s snowboard event.

There are a lot more stages to the tour with the next stop for male skiers and snowboarders in St. Moritz in Switzerland on 30^th January. It then moves over to the USA and then into Russia where the snow should undoubtedly be better. We will be following closely.

Competition · Skiing · Snowboarding · Winter 2011

Jamie Anderson collecting her prize at the O'Neill Slopestyle Evolution in Davos, Switzerland.

Billabong’s Jamie Anderson (USA) won the 6Star TTR O’Neill Evolution Women’s Slopestyle title with a backside 540 mute to a switch frontside boardslide-to-backside boardslide. Now sitting in the World No. 3 position, Jamie was super excited and had this to say about her win, ” I am so ecstatic! I won the O’Neill Evolution!” said Jamie. ” The level of riding was awesome. I was scared! On the last run I was thinking I really need to land this run now. Congrats Jamie!

Davos · Jamie Anderson · Slopestyle · TTR

Billabong snowboarder Scotty Lago has pretty much put himself out of the Winter X Games 15 by coming up short on his third attempt of a backcountry switch double backside rodeo 1080. The incident happened whilst out filming with Travis Rice and Mark Landvik for Rice’s film for 2011, the sequel to his 2008 film ‘That’s It, That’s All’. Together the three had taken a week to build the huge kicker which sent them fifty foot up, the aim being for Rice to pull off a never seen before trick for the film.

It sounds like Lago smashed himself pretty bad, he fractured his jaw, chipped a bone in his chin, broke several teeth and cut his chin and tongue. The cuts required stitches and his jaw has been wired shut. Ouch! Regardless of this he managed to ride his skidoo twenty mountainous miles back to the town of Jackson, Wyoming before getting properly treated!

He was quoted as saying that he will ‘probably’ not be able to compete at the X Games as he ‘will be drinking through a straw for the next four weeks’. He was expected to do Billabong proud at the competition, being the only person to enter three separate snowboard events – SuperPipe, Slopestyle, and Big Air.

Here’s to a speedy recovery!

Billabong · Snowboarding · X Games

Winter X Games Real Snow competition is a new concept and competition added to this year’s Winter X Games in Aspen to be held at the end of this month. Snowboard videos have had such a huge influence on the development of all aspects of snowboarding over the last few years and have built a real culture around the sport since the first real revolutionary snowboard film, Apocalypse Snow.

Now US TV channel ESPN have joined together with the Winter X Games organizers to incorporate the two and during the competition the eight chosen athletes sections will be aired to millions of action sports fans across the world, showcasing rider and brand profiles. Additionally, all eight athletes will compete in the Snowboard Street competition live on Saturday night in Aspen at Winter X Games 15. Apart from the obvious expose there is $50,000 for first place and of course gold, silver and bronze X Games medals.

ThirtyTwo rider JP Walker is one of the chosen eight and at the age of 34, he is still rippin’ it, pushing the boundaries in his beloved sport. We love the vision this guy has to spot trick potential. Check out the segment from in the 2010 film People Creative’s Cheers below. Talking of ThirtyTwo go to our competitions tab on Facebook or the Two Seasons home page and ‘like’ us for the chance to win a limited edition 15th anniversary snowboard designed by Craig Metzger.

Other riders taking part in Real Snow are the legendery Jeremy Jones, Seth Huot, Joe Sexton, Nic Sauve, Louis-Felix Paradis, Dan Brisse and Simon Chamberlain. To see all riders parts go to the XGames YouTube channel and to play your part in the vote go to http://bit.ly/i4nfEt

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Snowboarding · Snowboards · X Games