Snowboarding is back and it feels oh so good. Kicking off the 08/09 Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour Season, The 5-Star Burton New Zealand Open Slopestyle Finals for both men and women took place on Friday afternoon at Snowpark, New Zealand, with riders pushing the bar right from the first whistle.

07/08 Women’s Swatch TTR World Tour Champion Jamie Anderson (USA) returned to the scene, dominating the competition for first place, with Mikkel Bang also taking home his first title of the season. Both riders claimed huge shares of the $50,000 prize purse and 850 TTR Ranking Points, earning them top spots in Swatch TTR World Rankings.

In conditions that favoured the well-seasoned and competitive-savvy rider, it became clear from the early rounds of the semi-finals which riders would pull away from the pack. Jamie Anderson continued to prove her Slopestyle prowess established last season, layering her buttery style all over each and every feature of the course. Back-to-back 5s, massive 3s and rail combos oozing with flavour, this was Jamie’s contest and with another Title in her collection, she extends her lead as Swatch TTR World No. 1 going into the 08/09 Season.

Cheryl Maas (NED) who placed second still made her mark however, pushing the limits with a sick BS7 Tailgrab that none else dared attempt earning her the spot of TTR World No.2. Sina Candrian (SUI) who was the only other female rider beside Maas to go for a 7, finished 6th in the Slopestyle moving her into TTR World No.3. Canadian female rider Spencer O’Brien took third with solid runs throughout to move up a staggering 90 places in the rankings to TTR World No.7.

Results:
1. Jamie Anderson (USA) 228.95
2. Cheryl Maas (NED) 209.35
3. Sina Candrian (SUI) 195.65
4. Ellery Hollingsworth (USA) 176.89
5. Jordie Karlinski (USA) 154.40