NZSnowboard.com - The home of New Zealand Snowboarding

19th January 2009

Snowboarder Ben Stewart, 16, Whangamata, has posted one of his career best performances placing 11th in halfpipe  while competing among the best in the world at the 6-Star TTR World Tour Burton European Open in Laax, Switzerland.

Ben Stewart with a Method - Photo Credit: Tom Willmott

Qualifying in 14th position earlier this week, Stewart progressed to the 16-man finals joining Olympic gold medallists Gian Simmen, SUI, and Shaun White, USA, World Champion Mathieu Crepel, FRA, and 2008 TTR world tour champion Kevin Pearce, USA.
 
With the best run of three run final format Stewart went about his business landing his first run, and improving on amplitude in his second run at which point he was sitting in eighth place.  Attempting his first cab 1080 in competition in run three, Stewart unfortunately took off too early and crashed out.

On the frontline White and last years event winner Pearce battled for the top spot with Pearce eventually coming out on top with a spectacular last run of the day.  2008 FIS World Cup tour winner Iouri Podladtchikov, SUI, rounded out the podium in third.

Stewart will join New Zealand team-mates at the FIS World Championships next week in Korea, where he hopes to build on his performance.

For more information on the Burton European Open or the TTR World Tour visit www.opensnowboarding.com  or www.ttrworldtour.com
 
Snow Sports New Zealand is the official governing body and National Sports Organisation representing all snow sports in New Zealand. The NZ Snowboard Union is a member of Snow Sport New Zealand.







LINKS:
www.opensnowboarding.com
www.ttrworldtour.com