The Burton European Open halfpipe qualifications took place yesterday on the fourth consecutive day of bluebird skies in Laax, Switzerland. The qualifications were a good mix of old school riders, with Lesley McKenna (GBR) teaching new school riders how its done by qualifying first in the women’s contest.

In the women’s qualification rounds, 50 riders vied for 13 spots to compete against top halfpipe riders including Kelly Clark (USA), Sina Candrian (SUI) and Jamie Anderson (USA). In the end, former pro rider and current Roxy coach Lesley McKenna showed she still has what it takes to compete by qualifying first. Lesley’s top run included a huge backside air, frontside 720, Cab 360, frontside air tailgrab. Lesley is one of a handful of riders at the 10th annual BEO who competed at the first BEO back in Innsbruck in 1999.

The men’s qualifications took place in two heats, with blasts from the past like former Burton pro rider Xaver Hoffman (GER) claiming spots to test their skills against halfpipe heavyweights like Shaun White (USA), Kevin Pearce (USA), Danny Davis (USA), Antti Autti (FIN) and current BGOS Champion Peetu Piiroinen (FIN).

The action at the BEO heats up on Wednesday, January 14th when top invited riders take to the halfpipe to compete against qualified riders in the semi-finals competition.

Women’s Halfpipe Qualification Results
1 McKenna, Lesley (GBR) ROXY 87.00
2 Sadar, Cilka (SLO) BURTON 85.67
3 Miwa, Akiko (JPN) ALLIAN 78.00
4 Haller, Ursina (SUI) K2 75.83
5 Nadig, Helen (SUI) 74.17
6 Wiik, Lisa (NOR) ROXY 73.50
7 Mittermueller, Silvia (GER) OAKLEY 68.17
8 Pancochova, Sarka (CZE) BERN UNLIMITED 67.00
9 Bleicher, Conny (GER) 686 64.67
10 Meusburger, Pia (AUT) STATIC 62.17
11 Purtschert, Nadja (SUI) ONEILL 59.67
12 Aubry, Emilie (SUI) ROXY 56.33
13 Norendal, Silje (NOR) ROXY 55.50