Fri, 01/15/2010 - 11:17amBrits just miss out on BEO halfpipe finals

Ben Kilner and Dan Wakeham both just missed out on the halfpipe finals at the 11th Burton European Open yesterday

In bluebird conditions the two Brits put in amazing runs, and stomped some beastly tricks but unfortunately fell on their runs.

Having qualified in 4th position Kilner was looking strong for the semi finals, his first run was safe and while he didn't fall it was certainly not a finals run but his second run ws off the hook.

Opening up with a massive frontside tailbone and claiming in his run a massive front 10, Ben unfortunately fell on one of his last hits, leaving his highest score that of the first run and getting squeezed out of the finals.

Wakham was dropping more incredible style with textbook backside airs and front 5s but took a slam in both runs.

Despite the insane level of tricks going down, Markus Keller got the crowd roaring with a behmouth air to fakie on his first hit.

The young guns were the surprise of the week, and 20-year-old Finnish rider Ilkka-Eemeli Laari was the one to take top spot in the men’s halfpipe semi-finals. He was the only one who threw down a double-cork in his run, the must-have trick of this season.
 
Ilkka-Eemeli Laari had already impressed judges in the halfpipe pre-qualifications which he clearly won. He continued his way into the semi-finals by placing 3rd in the halfpipe qualifications this morning. In the afternoon the top seeded invited riders met the qualified riders in the semi-finals and here it was his turn again. He advanced to the finals placing first with 5 points ahead of 2nd placed Swiss Olympic hopeful Markus Keller. Ilkka-Emeli started off his winning run with a backside 5 mute, a frontside 12 tailgrab, a method air, a frontside 10 double cork and finished off with a haakon flip. Norwegian rookie Stale Sandbech (16-years-old) finished 3rd after placing first in the halfpipe qualifications this morning. Swatch TTR World Champion 08/09 and Finnish Olympian Peetu Piiroinen barely made it into the finals by qualifying 16th.
 
The BEO is continuing today, Friday, with the first big finals – slopestyle finals men & women. Be sure to expect some thrilling action.

 
Men’s Halfpipe Semi-Finals Results

1.     Laari Ilkka-Eemeli FIN BURTON 92.83
2.     Keller Markus SUI NITRO 87.83
3.     Sandbech Stale NOR OAKLEY 84.67
4.     Haller Christian SUI BURTON 84.33
5.     Korpi Janne FIN KISSMARK 82.00
6.     oshida Masakaze JPN KISSMARK 81.50
7.   Simmen Gian SUI ONEILL 80.00
8.   Hosokawa Kosuke JPN KISSMARK 78.67
9.   Holvik Tore NOR SWEET 78.17
10.  Burgener Patrick SUI NITRO 78.00
11. Malin Markus FIN KISSMARK 76.83
12. Mattila Risto FIN DRAKE 75.67
13. Hoffmann Xaver GER NITRO 74.50
14. Koski Markku FIN 32 SNOWBOARD 72.00
15. Podladtchikov Iouri SUI VOLCOM 71.67
16. Piiroinen Peetu FIN BURTON 71.33
 
If you can’t make it to Laax, watch the semi-finals and finals live on www.GO211.com:
Jan. 15th Live Web Cast start @ 11h15 (CET)
Jan. 16th Live Web Cast start @ 11h15 (CET)
If you don’t have the chance to watch it live, you can watch the replay at 8 pm (CET) or 2 pm (EST).
 
 
For more information on the Burton European, head to www.opensnowboarding.com. Follow the BEO on Twitter @ opensnowboard.
 
All images: Marcel Lämmerhirt