After the shocking news of the only all girls 6star TTR event in Europe, the Roxy Chicken Jam, being cancelled, we’re more than glad we can this time give you some better news.
With the Chicken Jam gone, the competition season will be much shorter and more intense, coming to a close at the 6Stat Burton US Open in March for both men and women. But the huge whole the Chicken Jam has ripped, also has it’s good sides as it made events that were previously only open for men welcoming women to compete as well. That means the 6Star Oakley Arctic Challenge will feature a women’s slopestyle competition, the 6Star O’Neill Evolution will run both pipe and slopestyle for women and the 5Star Nescafé Champs Leysin will feature women’s slopestyle as well.
On a 4Star level, the Horsefeathers Pleasure Jam in Austria and the Ride Shakedown in the US will be open for girls too and the final of the Billabong Flaunt It series has moved up to a 4Star status, while the rest of the series, spread around the US and Canada with 3Stars. In addition some girls-only events that are running strong on the 3Star level include, the Rip Curl Sista Sessions in Mayrhofen, Austria on 19-23rd January and Catfight (previously known as Girlsessions) in Levi, Finland on 23-27 March 2011.
The WSF (World Snowboard Federation) in cooperation with TTR has also announced a new activation program for competing semi-top level riders, as well as, harnessing in more 1-2Star events by covering their event fee. The riders pilot group is led by Noora Vihervaara in Finland and it will this winter aim to create a mentoring system among Finnish female riders and create more media coverage through better level of riding and results. New 1Star events to join the tour include the Playground Jam in Avoriaz, France, Twisted Sisters in Tahko, Finland and Princess of the Park in Tignes, France. Also on the Swatch TTR Tour this season is the Ladies First Challenge, a series of girls only events in Switzerland, which will now be 1Star events finishing off with a 2Star final. There is also a brand new FB fanpage for these events “WSF Women Snowboard”. (this link needs to be changed)
One of the most important changes to take notice of when planning your season is the slight change in the number of results counting for the TTR ranking total. This year 7 results will count for both men and women, and the final 6Star event is the Burton US Open, where both male and female Swatch TTR Tour Champions will be crowned.
For more info check ttrworldtour.com
