NZsnowboard.com

7th December 2006

TTR tour drama continues with back-to-back 6(SIX) Star snowboard action in Japan

The TTR tour drama continues with back-to-back 6(SIX) Star snowboard action as the Tokyo Dome, Japan gets ready to welcome Nicolas Mueller (SUI), Travis Rice (USA), Risto Mattila (FIN), Antti Autti (FIN), Shaun White (USA), and the world?s top riders to battle for a further 1000 TTR points at the Nissan X-Trail Jam, on 9^th-10^th December, 2006.

 
Following last weekend?s history-making 6(SIX) Star Nokia Air&Style, the stars of snowboarding are making their way from Germany to Tokyo to an anticipated weekend audience of 75,000 Japanese fans. Construction works has all-but completed on the Big Air and Quarterpipe set-up with 400 tons of shredded ice and 800 people working around-the-clock to ensure this will be the best Nissan X-Trail Jam to date.

 
Rider line-up includes the Top 5 riders of last year?s TTR Ranking List - Nissan X-Trail Jam 05 defending champion Nicolas Mueller (SUI); TTR World Snowboard Tour Champion 05/06 Mathieu Crepel (FRA); Finnish sensations, Risto Mattila and Antti Autti who, at the Tokyo Dome last year, took 2^nd and 4^th place respectively; and TTR 05/06 World Nr. 4, Andy Finch (USA). Fresh from his victory podium at the Nokia Air&Style, Travis Rice (USA) joins Olympic Halfpipe superstar Shaun White (USA); ultimate pipe-machine, Danny Kass (USA); Olympic bronze medalist, Markku Koski; and Heikki Sorsa looking to improve his third place at Nissan X-Trail Jam 05. Top international wildcards join six Japanese riders pre-qualified from a field of 16.

 
The combined result from both Quarterpipe and Big Air will accumulate to give an overall result to crown the victorious 6(SIX) Star Nissan X-Trail Jam title-holder with its all-important 1000 TTR points. Possible TTR Ranking List new placings, based on an average divisible by ?6? contest results, include a tightly-run competition between 9^th ranked Mueller who could move into TTR World Nr. 2 by taking a title win, and 11^th ranked Mattila, who could launch himself into TTR World Nr. 3 with a victory. Rice, White, Autti and Crepel all have the possibility to hit TTR Top 5 with the event win. The fierce competition between the world?s best riders is already in hot pursuit as they ride towards the desirable TTR World Snowboard Tour Champion title.

 
NISSAN X-TRAIL JAM RIDER LIST (16)

Nicolas MUELLER (SUI) BURTONARCUSNOKIA
Mathieu CREPEL (FRA) ROSSIGNOLQUIKSILVER
Risto MATTILA (FIN) FLOWBILLABONGSMITH
Antti AUTTI (FIN) BILLABONGFLOW
Travis RICE (USA) OAKLEYLIBTECHDC
Shaun WHITE (USA) BURTONVOLCOMOAKLEY
Heikki SORSA (FIN) BURTONOAKLEYGRAVIS
Andy FINCH (USA) PALMERRIPCURL
Markku KOSKI (FIN) QUIKSILVER32LIBTECH
Danny KASS (USA) QUIKSILVERGNUGRENADEVANS 

+ 6 Japanese Riders from a 16-rider field qualification