Rocking bands. Amazing riders. One colossal quarterpipe. The 2008 Swatch TTR 5-Star Billabong Air & Style Quarterpipe is preparing to set a new precedent for competitive riding.
On February 2nd, the Air & Style returns to the Bergisel Stadium in Innsbruck, Austria to host some of the best progressive riders around, ready to battle it out for Quarterpipe glory and a step up in the TTR Rankings. With a sizeable 50,000 Euro prize purse up for grabs, Innsbruck is set to witness some mind-blowing airs, with the potential for a new World Record height, currently held by Terje Haakonsen at 9.8m.
The 07/08 Tour season is progressing rapidly, and the riders are stepping up their game with a view to rising up the the rankings and becoming the Swatch TTR Tour Champion. Risto Mattila from Finland has already posted six very strong results, securing an unassailable lead going into the Billabong Air & Style. Only his highest six results are counted toward his point total, so in order to increase his lead Risto will have to finish first or second in Innsbruck. Given his record of Quarterpipe and Halfpipe finishes this season alone, a top podium result for Risto certainly isn’t out of the question.
Further down in the rankings, a few battles are set to be played out at the Billabong Air & Style Quarterpipe Session. TTR World No.2 is up for grabs between Andy Finch (USA), Kevin Pearce (USA), and Peetu Piiroinen (FIN), who have all recently won Quarterpipe and Halfpipe Titles and are all equally capable of winning the Billabong Air & Style Title.
The race for TTR Champion continues as other riders bring all they have to Innsbruck. Swiss rider Iouri Podladtchikov will be looking for a Top 5 finish at the Billabong Air & Style to move from World No.6 into the Swatch TTR Top 5. The TTR Top 10 will also see some drastic changes as Mason Aguirre (USA), Markus Keller (SUI), Marku Koski (FIN), Antti Autti (FIN) and Scotty Lago (USA) are sure to pull out stylish big air moves for a spot in the Swatch TTR Top 10.
On top of all the quarterpipe action, Queens of the Stone Age are set to rock the stadium with a 12,000 strong audience. Click on to the TTR website for results, tour ranking and exclusive behind-the-scenes video footage from the Billabong Air & Style Quarterpipe.
